Chapter Eleven: Revived Memories, Intangible Destiny!K

"Okay. How's it now?" Anko asked.

"Pretty well, Anko-san." Sakura answered. "It's just my feelings--- they have the major problem…"

"But that is of no match compared to the 6th Hokage!" Anko exclaimed. "Gomen! If only you'd see his suffering right now, probably you'll understand what I mean."

"I know and I feel it too."

"The loveliest couple in Konoha has a crisis." Anko replied softly. "Love will find a way!"

"Hai. Thanks for encouraging me,"

"How's that for the birthday lady?"

She smiled now. Hope and hope--- still remains to shed illumination on them.

March 28th. Sakura ponders on being plastically happy or what. She can also be frankly sad, but that and no other option her heart cries. As she looked at the fanciest kimono her parents once promised her to wear on her 18th birthday--- she felt pain within her. Her gaze averted on the kimono and proceeds to the teddy bear she placed on her dresser. She doesn't want to loose it. It's her Sasuke-kun's very first gift to her.

I wonder if we're together, what he will give me. Thrill captured her loneliness. She knew Sasuke wouldn't have something cheap in her eyes, for he always cherished her. But now--- everything seems to block their paths. Hurdles that continue to taunt them. One moment they just met accidentally in a dark forest, and then another wink made them lovers--- then once more separated by blocks of prohibition for them.

"Welcome home, sir!" every maid bowed down before the new young Hokage's presence. Whimsical look was shown in his face, and they became concerned of him.

"Sir, where is ma'am Mei Xia?" they asked.

"He--- went back… I mean, she's not really--- she's…" he can't tell for the truth hurts. "She's the real Princess Sakura Haruno…"

Everyone's surprised at his news. They knew he never joked.

"We both faked everything in order for her to escape--- but now, she's back with them," they noticed him clutched his fists, and that means he had felt affection for her and it developed too.

"Sasuke-bastard! Open this! Aren't you doing something? It's Sakura hime-sama's birthday! Better find a good present! Kakashi-sensei, Hinata-chan, Anko-san and I are going, so will you?" Naruto asked as he bangs his door.

"Sir Naruto, please don't drag your body too much," the mistress said "or it will be broken. Master Sasuke isn't really ready for anything now, let us just go away him."

"He's hopeless!" Naruto exclaimed and sighed heavily. "Okay, Hina-chan, Anko-san and sensei! We're going now!"

Sasuke was lying on his bed, holding a small box wrapped in fancy golden wrapper that he tosses upwards and catches every now and then. He is thinking twice on how he can talk to her without everyone knowing it, secretly. He'd bought the present already before, and it's now time to give it to her. How he wished she's just by his side right now! His daze is over, and he got ready for his sneak…

Sakura continuously looks outside. Nothing, no sign of him. She is already wearing the kimono, and ready to come out, with her long pink hair falling limply down to her waist… and with a simple clip located at her right side, adding an accent to her appearance. Subsequently, Lee knocked on the door, and he escorted her out to the garden. Reluctant, she took his hand and they went out.

The party isn't that grand, as Sakura wished, with close friends and family present. But some media were invited, and so there were flashes of camera as she and Lee approached the garden. Sakura had a premonition that her dad will insist the engagement this night, and she readied herself for it. She knew deep in her heart that the only man she loved is the one and only Sasuke Uchiha.

Sasuke leaped at the roofs of the houses going towards the Imperial Palace. He knew it won't be nice if he'd make a commotion at the party--- for he knew she'll back out in any manner. He looked around the place before going: about a hundred ninjas are surrounding the place. What excuse will he say in order to enter?

"Excuse me," he said his false alibi coldly "I came here as an official security--- so will you please…"

To his surprise, the door widely opened for him. The ninjas bowed before him, and his presence seems to take attention.

"Master Hokage, we're glad that you came here," the General or the Leader of the shinobis said.

"Oh," he said grimly, "Yeah… and please keep it a surprise? I want to surprise everyone, as a matter of fact, they knew their special guest ain't come… so---"

"Alright sir," he politely answered, even though the general is almost 20 years older than Sasuke.

"Domo Arigatou," he replied and went in.

He shoved his hands inside the pocket of his pants, decimating the arrangement of his blue polo that was once neat and orderly. He walked evenly and nudged every move he makes, seemingly that he's quite afraid of everything. He jumped up to the roof, and viewed his lonely princess beside her fiancé, and her parents. His eyes become grave and he knew it's a crucial time for her, as her dad goes in for the announcement.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, good evening…" he began "I am here to thank you all for attending this simple feast for my daughter's 18th birthday…"

"As she turns into a woman, I would also like to make a toast for her nearly approaching wedding with Rock Lee--- a young venturing businessman, who sworn to---" he paused, for in the middle of the speech, her runaway daughter really run once more, leaving her seat empty. Lee stood up, but the emperor shook his head, and then paused.

"Don't worry she can't run for the security I placed is powerful to stop her." He continued. "It's so hard to make her agree in the engagement, but however we hoped she'll learn to love the right man for him."

"NO." Sasuke said at once and he jumped down to meet Sakura.

Naruto dodged in disapproval, and insisted that Sasuke-bastard is the only guy for Hime-sama Sakura, but Hinata prevented him from wailing it loud. Anko held him tight and shut his mouth too. He still insists to move, but Kakashi told him it's not right. He stopped, feeling pity towards his friends.

As Sakura runs with her feet carrying her to any direction, tears are streaking all over, making her frantic and helpless in anyone's sight. A ninja felt her suffering too, and pitied her, but her tears can't be helped. Too late it was announced, too late for everything. If only she told her dad what she really feels, maybe it might be cancelled or something. But after a continuous running and weeping, she felt herself in the warm arms of that someone she truly love, looking up, it's Sasuke with his usual glare.

"Why do you cry?" he said in the: what's-the-reason manner with an anxious face, keeping his emotions hidden.

"You came back but it's too late…" she replied.

"But you told me its better late than never!" he shouted and he pulled her away so that she can look at him straight. "Ain't it? Ain't it?!"

The ninjas around them knew what they are in now, but they just kept silent and pretended that as nothing.

"YES!" she answered back, "I said! I said it…" her voice went down to a whisper.

"Then why?"

"I don't know!"

"I won't take that for a valid reason. I won't let you go till you tell me."

He holds her hands tight and waited for her reply. She still is crying and he hated to see it in front of him--- especially because of him. He picked out a handkerchief in his pocket, and apparently wiped her tears. She was touched by his act and then looked at him straight.

"Stop it… I hate to see you cry. Don't tell me the girl who bravely slapped my face whimpers for a very distinct reason."

She laughed at what he said.

"Are you joking? I now knew you're back. You remembered that awful thing to you? It was a slap of love and concern, nee?"

"Slap of love," he sneered. "Now tell me…"

"Hn?" she asked. She smiled. "Let's face it Sasuke-kun. I can't elope, it was announced, I will be married, it won't be right… but I… I love you still,"

"Then I say to you I love you too."

She clings to him and he embraced her tight, as if it will be the last one. The ninjas left them already, and Sasuke took the chance.

"You know the new Sasuke was my first kiss…" Sakura said.

"You want the first real one?" he asked and pulled her next to him and their faces are really near…

Right then, though, he didn't care. Those emerald eyes were still watching him warily, and he grabbed what he knew was his last and only chance.

He leaned across the very small distance between them, and captured her lips with his.

All her plans, all her self-control flew out as heat raced through her body. A slightly harried "What?"raced through her mind before she was on her back, kissing him back furiously. Because when Sasuke was still kissing her, that was all that mattered.

STOP! The voices in their heads screamed out, but both ignored. Let's see, pleasure or morality?

Sakura, this is the most selfish thing you've done. Get a hold of yourself. What about your parents? Her conscience screeched.

Who cares at the moment? She answered mentally.

You are damn selfish. Brat!

Sasuke stop! You've been selfish all your life but this just crosses the line.

Baka, shut up.

They broke away and stared at each other incredulously.

"Why are we doing this? It's wrong. Don't you get it? Rock Lee will suffer because of what we've done. The tradition…" Sakura cried out. Rock Lee was going to hate her and once they're married, she'll regret it all her life. All he gave is respect and her freedom--- even though…

"Why are you complaining? You wanted it as much as I did. If you didn't want it, what do you want Sakura? That we suffer? Living and having to restrain ourselves?" Sasuke circled his arms around her waist.

Sakura bit her lip. "Sasuke-kun, I can restrain myself… I want to be married with you, of course--- but…"

"What do you want?"

She froze. What I want? What I really want? She stared at his dark eyes.

He leaned forward and whispered tauntingly in her ear. "Tell me Sakura-chan, what do you want?"

Pickled sour plums and red bean dumpling sweet soup! She wanted to yell out, trying to change the whole subject of what she wanted to what she suddenly craved for. "You… red bean dumpling!" She suddenly blurted.

His lips curved up in a smile. "What did you say?"

"I said I wanted red bean dumpling. That's what I really, really want." She flailed her arms and slipped away from Sasuke's grasp.

He gave her an icy glare. "Sakura-chan, this is driving me insane. Can you tell me what you want?"

"Read my lips… I want red bean dumpling ---"

Sasuke placed a hand over her mouth. "Kami-sama Sakura-chan, you say red bean dumpling one more time I'm gonna…" He didn't finish.

"What?" Sakura asked tauntingly. "Red bean---"

He shot forward so their faces were centimeters apart.

She smiled goofily. "If I say it one more time, what will you do?"

He shrugged.

"Okay." She smiled craftily. "Sasu---"

He kissed her again. This time Sakura returned the kiss. When he pulled away, Sakura laughed. "I was about to say your name," She paused smiled and whispered. "Sasuke-kun."

He smiled in content upon hearing her say to his first name again, and let her go.

"You never told me, what you want."

Sakura was half listening. "You…what?" She replied and smiled teasingly. "Red bean dumpling."

Sasuke groaned in annoyance.

"Baka! Sasuke-kun!" Sakura yelped when Sasuke tackled her to the ground.

"Red bean dumpling." Sakura sang out.

"Hush." Sasuke ordered and clamped her mouth with his hand. He tightened his grip as she tried to wriggle out of his grasp. Sakura and Sasuke are still at the garden, savoring their last few moments together before her parents came and tell Sasuke: "You're still getting married!"

Sasuke could imagine their conversation. "Well Emperor, while we were together, Sakura and I hooked up. What will happen now?"

"You two? You're not right to be Hokage! Your license must cease." Twitch, twitch.

"Sakura-chan?" He asked, not sure why he wanted to talk to her. They hadn't really had a conversation since Sakura arrived.

"Mmm?" She mumbled and sighed loudly. She tucked a strand of hair behind her and smiled at Sasuke.

"I'm scared. I don't want to tell them. Let's just pretend this didn't happen." She pleaded.

Sasuke sadly shook his head and tipped her chin up. He leaned closer until their noses were touching.

"Can't keep it a secret." He replied and grazed her lips with his.

"Yes I can." She murmured stubbornly. "So goodbye, my dearest Hokage-sama."

Her eyes tell she's not willing to leave him and erase him in her heart…

A/N: Did they get too flirty here? Ha-ha! I want to put romantic scenes, but I'm not that good, people! Well sorry for that bows down I want some sort of cute things like that… anyway, I like the coupling!!! REVIEWS! I need it!!!