Chapter 1: Sakura's answer

Sakura couldn't bring herself to say something. Perhaps for the first time in her life she was absolutely speechless. A joke!, a voice cried in her head. He must be joking! But Sasuke never joked. In addition, she saw the earnest look in his eyes clearly. He was absolutely serious about this.

"Sasuke?" she whispered. She had spread her heart out before him back then and he had never given her a sign that he saw anything in her other than a bothersome companion. She had resigned herself already to the fact that Sasuke did not feel anything for her. Or was that wrong? It had to be, because otherwise he would not have asked her to marry him.

But his eyes were cold and empty. He awaited her answer without nervousness. But hadn't she already given him an answer? Hadn't she promised to do anything for him? Everything? Nevertheless he inquired, "Well, what do you say?"

She answered quietly, "Yes..."

He exhaled softly, somehow relieved. His reaction surprised her. "Good," he said simply.

She had imagined this moment ever since she had fallen in love with him. Had imagined how Sasuke would ask her to marry him and then embrace her and kiss her and never, ever let her go. Reality was sobering. Was that all? With trembling legs she knelt down and gathered the pieces of broken glass. When a pair of hands reached out to help her, she raised her head in surprise. Sasuke did not look her into the eyes.

Together they picked up what was remaining of the cup, and then Sasuke took his shirt and put it on.

Sakura observed him wordlessly. He had just proposed to her, dammit! And the only thing he had said to her since then was, "Good!!!" She was overwhelmed. So many thoughts ran through her head. She stammered, "We should talk... about it... tomorrow. I better go home..."

Without letting him answer she ran past him and left the apartment. Confused, she stormed off into the night, until she reached home. Trembling, she unlocked the door and met her mother on the way to her room, who asked her, "Sakura, what's the matter? You look troubled."

"It's nothing!," she called and slammed the door shut. In the quietness of her room, she finally became calm enough to think about it all. Sasuke wanted to marry her. It was what she had always dreamed about. Her hands trembled. Perhaps she should just wait until Sasuke got better. Perhaps that had been only an idea Sasuke hadn't entirely thought about. They would talk about it tomorrow. Until then it was best not to think at all about it.

Something dripped onto her thigh. And then the tears simply came. She did not even know whether she was crying of joy, or whether it was because of his coldness.

As she had planned it, the very next day she went to talk to Sasuke. She brought up all of her courage and asked him whether he had been serious. All he said was 'Yes' and so it was settled. They were going to get married.

Sakura wasn't sure how she would tell the others about this. She decided to have a talk with Kakashi and Naruto first, so she treated the two to some Ramen.

As usual Naruto plunged down the noodles while Kakashi did not seem to be hungry. He looked at Sakura somewhat distrustfully and asked: "You haven't invited us out for a long time... could there be something you want to tell us?"

Sakura hesitated. "I've got news... and I wanted to ask you two for advice. After all, you're my best friends." She gulped for air. "Sasuke... he... yesterday, he asked me to marry him."

"WHAAAAAAT?" Naruto spat his meal crosswise over the table. Kakashi only curved his brows. While Naruto struggled for air, Kakashi asked thoughtfully, "Are you serious? I didn't even know you were together."

"We weren't," she whispered. "He just asked me... just like that."

Kakashi did not seem very pleased. "And what did you say?"

"I said yes," she answered with her head lowered. She wanted to say more, but suddenly she was staring into a pair of teary blue eyes.

"Sakura-chaaaaan!?" Naruto whined. "You want to marry Sasuke? That cold-hearted bastard?! You can't do this to me!"

She had expected his reaction. After all, he had had a crush on her for quite a while, even though lately he had repeatedly gone out with Hinata. "You have Hinata, did you forget that?" she said, calming Naruto.

He shoved his lower lip forward and pouted. Kakashi interjected, "Are you really sure about this, Sakura? You know that Sasuke isn't the affectionate type..."

Somehow she felt like she had to defend him. "He has always protected me, and he wouldn't ask me to marry him without a reason! I always dreamed about having a family with Sasuke."

"You want to have kids???" Naruto howled.

Sakura gave him a smack to his head and continued to speak: "He might not show it, but I know he is actually warm-hearted. I love him and I want to marry him."

Kakashi sighed quietly, then smiled beneath his mask, patted her shoulder, and said, "Well then, I wish you guys good luck. May I hold the speech at your wedding?"

"Oh come on, you'd probably be late..." grumbled Sakura. She threw a glance at her clock and stood up quickly. "My goodness! I wanted to talk to my parents before lunch time. They still have no clue! Guys, wish me luck!" She whirled around and started to run, leaving the two men speechless.

Kakashi looked at Naruto, who had not touched his Ramen. "Aren't you going to eat?"

He pushed the dish away and said, "I'm not hungry." While Sakura had been with them, he had acted cheerful, but now he just looked sad.

"I thought you accepted the fact that Sakura is in love with Sasuke..." Kakashi said.

With his head lowered the boy answered: "I did." He put the chopsticks aside and unpleasant silence spread. Kakashi followed the trails of his own, dark thoughts. This idea of a wedding did not please him. Sasuke had never shown interest in Sakura or any other girl. Where did this sudden request come from? Was it because of the fact that he had defeated Itachi?

"She didn't look happy, did she?", Naruto said suddenly. Kakashi stared at him in awe. The young shinobi smiled sadly. "Sakura-chan. She did not look happy at all." Actually, he had just said out loud what Kakashi was thinking. So he had been right.

Sighing quietly, Sasuke opened his window and rose to the parapet wall of the balcony. As quietly as possible, he climbed downward and then let himself fall to the ground for the last few meters. He heard girls' voices coming from the front entrance and rolled his eyes. Since Sakura had spoken to her parents about the wedding, he hadn't had a single calm minute. The message had spread itself like a fire throughout the village and since then these fangirls kept knocking at his door to ask him directly whether the rumors were true or not.

He hated these shrieking, immature girls. Couldn't they leave him in peace at least in the evening?

He liked his apartment, because in such cases he always had another escape without having to use the front door. The voices became louder and he made sure to get away from the house as quickly as possible. Since he had spontaneously asked Sakura to marry him, he had hardly found a moment of quietness. He needed some time to arrange his own thoughts, and to find out why he had asked her after all. Yesterday he had met with the Hokage, Tsunade, and asked officially for permission for the marriage. It was actually a pure formality, but since he was now the head of the clan (even if at the same time he was the only living member), the Hokage had to agree.

Tsunade had been very pleased and had agreed to take care of the ceremony herself. Sasuke hadn't said anything. He hoped for a short, fast marriage; he had no interest to worry about that other nonsense. Sakura should simply become his wife.

He walked past the Ninja academy and was unwillingly reminded of old times. Sakura had been a child back then. But over the years she had grown up, particularly during the Chuunin exam and her fight against Ino, she had impressed him. Maybe he had already unconsciously decided back then that he would marry her. She was beautiful, there was no point in trying to deny that, and in addition she was strong and mature. She was ideal for his plans.

His view fell upon the swing, which hung on a tree not far from the entrance. At that time Naruto had been sitting there, after he had failed the graduation exam once again. Sasuke came to a hold, when the swing moved. Someone was sitting on it, with a lowered head. Surprised, Sasuke approached the swing and asked into the night. "Naruto? Is that you?"

"I saw you," Naruto said without a greeting. "Aren't you with Sakura?"

"She is at home," Sasuke said coolly.

Naruto snorted impatiently. "You guys don't look like a loving couple that's about to get married."

"Jealous?" Sasuke asked with a triumphant smile.

The blonde Ninja threw him a dark glance. "Cut the crap, Sasuke. I have accepted the fact that she does not like me, but you were never interested in her and you kept hurting her. I don't trust you." He rose from his swing and grabbed the collar of Sasuke's shirt. "If you hurt her, I'll finish you. Do you understand?"

Regaining his composure, Sasuke freed himself of Naruto's grip and scoffed, "You better sit back down on your swing, dobe. You don't stand a chance against me, so you better keep your empty threats to yourself."

"Since your return you're so cold, Sasuke," Naruto said. "Before, you were distant, but you cared for your friends and I always thought you had a good heart. Now you are so different. That's why I'm worried about Sakura-chan."

"Hn.", Sasuke muttered.

"I want you to honestly answer me one question," Naruto said. "Do you love Sakura?"

Sasuke threw him an icy look. "No."

…tbc…