Behind Those Eyes
Summary: Sakura is a strong and spirited sixteen year-old college student, working as a nightclub waitress. Becoming someone's mistress wasn't what she really wanted. All she wanted was true happiness. She doesn't want to pretend and lie anymore. Love seeks her but is it true love? Bad language, limes and violence!
The next chapter will be the last one.
Chapter Ten: I'm Still Waiting for Your Love
They always say that tomorrow will be a better day. But how much better can it get? Will it be able to change yesterday's past? No, it's just a silly remark. There's no such thing as a better tomorrow, there will never be.
"Gee Sakura, you need to brighten up a bit. Today's your big day! You must be happy!" Tayuya exclaimed encouragingly and assisted the sullen cherry-haired girl with the gown. Wedding gown. Sixteen and getting married today.
It seemed like she was living in another world, in another person's shoes. Who could have thought a situation like this would happen to her. Sakura sat down on the white couch and studied herself in the full-length mirror. All of a sudden she felt so out of place, so old, so reckless. She cringed at the sight of her despicable self and buried her head in her hands.
Today was the day she was going to walk down the long hallway of the chapel. Everyone was bound to stare disbelievingly and disapprovingly at her and her groom. Wondering why and how she ended up with this kind of guy and why on earth she married so fast. It happened so quickly, in a split second.
Sakura had woken up today to be embraced by Itachi. But did he really like her? Did he love her? Yesterday, he fooled her with all those sweet nothings, but they were such comforting words. They meant something when she had fallen from grace. She believed in them and agreed to marry him. Was it a mistake? But anything was better than being alone in this world.
Naruto and Sasuke. They would never like her. She was a bitch now. A low slut. The girl everyone's talking bad about. Just get married and everything will be solved. As simple as that. But the reality was, deep wounds took immense time to heal, for now, it felt as if old wounds and new were opening.
"Sakura, smile more. Look into the mirror, you're the prettiest girl in the whole world!" Tayuya smiled heartily. She was standing behind the couch, both hands on Sakura's shoulders, observing the bride in the mirror.
Sakura looked into the mirror with a sober expression and smiled weakly. She was straining to keep her eyes on the figure reflected in the mirror. The girl behind her sensed her uneasiness and lifted her hands from her shoulders to Sakura's hair. "No, no Sakura. Relax, today you're going to be someone's woman and live happily ever after. Just like in the fairy tales," Tayuya brushed her hair.
Sakura made an effort to roll her eyes, "You're still reading fairytales? Nah, I don't believe in happily ever after… that kind of shit…" Her eyes glazed over with sadness and she clenched her fist.
Tayuya looked up dreamily, "Well, I believe that every couple wants to live happily ever after with the one they love eternally. It's not shit, you'll know that after adapting to life as Mrs Uchiha."
Sakura paused. Love eternally? She wasn't even sure whether she loved him or liked him. She treated him as someone there to lean her head on. Someone who would be there for her but not romantically.
"But of course you love him, otherwise why did you agree to marry him?" Tayuya said, grinning, seeming to have guessed her thoughts. She continued brushing Sakura's hair, taking care to untangle the knots.
Sakura nodded shyly and looked down with shame. Nobody knew the truth behind the fake. The door suddenly burst open, one blonde-haired girl appeared at the doorway looking rather flustered and excited.
"Sakura! You good for nothing friend. You're getting married and you did not tell me! Luckily, Shikamaru told me!" Ino shouted across the dressing room. Her cheery voice had brightened the bleak atmosphere in a matter of moments.
Sakura smiled at the sight of Ino. At last, someone who truly knew her had finally arrived. "Sorry, it was a bit rushed…" Sakura stood up to apologize and bowed her head.
"Haha. I envy you, you can get married so early and Itachi is so rich." Ino jumped up and down.
"You can too with Shikamaru. No need to be envious," Sakura said sweetly, but inside she felt like she was going to break. Because this was not love.
Ino laughed, "Him? He's too lazy to think of future plans. And I've been feeling a bit unwell lately but never mind me, why do you look so gloomy?" Ino asked with an honest look of concern and walked over to Sakura. Tayuya disappeared out of the room, knowing that the two girls needed some privacy.
"Nothing… I just feel a bit unwell…" Sakura laughed forcedly.
"… Are you pregnant… that's why Itachi is marrying you?" Ino gasped.
Sakura shook her head with earnest, "No… I'm not. I'm just getting cold feet…" It was not Itachi, it was Gaara. She had done a pregnancy test and the results were negative.
Ino heaved a sigh of absolute relief and plopped herself on the couch beside Sakura, "That's good. But what about Naruto and Sasuke? Where have the hunks gone off to?"
She didn't know. "I don't know…" Sakura said sadly and shifted uncomfortably on the sofa. This was not a topic she wanted to touch on.
"I sense something's amiss… You like both of them?" Ino whispered and inspected her friend's face.
There was a moment's silence as Sakura studied the section of wall above Ino's shoulder. Her friend's worried face then slid into focus when she answered, "Of course not." But she didn't know. Someone please catch her when she falls.
"Really?" Ino enquired skeptically.
"Really," Sakura replied with a dull tone. In truth, she loved them. But it was too late now. It was too late to undo the past. They probably knew she was getting married today. She was going to have to say goodbye to true love.
"That's great. I always thought they were one night flings…" Ino mumbled, "But what about that promise we made?"
Promise? And then she remembered telling Naruto about the promise she made.
FLASHBACK – (from chapter 7)
Sakura ran all the way to the sandy beach, the aqua waters sparkling under the glare of the sun as she sat on the soft and warm sand. She looked at the people dressed in colorful swimming garments and said to Naruto reminiscently, "I still remember this beach where I and Ino went to when I was small…"
Naruto sat next to her, admiring her hair being blown back by the wind. She squeaked dreamily, "It was a very beautiful, exotic beach. It was near a romantic chapel. I heard that people who married in that chapel lived happily every after. Ino made a pact at the beach that she would marry here. You know what my pact is?"
Naruto touched her hair and growled, "No…"
Sakura stood up, clumps of sand attached to her pale legs. "I will meet my only one at this beach," She announced with a small smile. Naruto looked at her and asked, "Only one?" Sakura smiled wider, "The only one that truly loves me."
END OF FLASHBACK
Who cared about that promise now? She didn't know where the beach was now. She knew that instead of coconut tress lined on the beach, there were peach blossom trees.
"I don't know about you though but it's a promise and I don't want to break it. I will still marry at that chapel," Ino brightened up and she had a faraway look in her eyes.
"That's just like you… Ino," Sakura said softly. She was the one who should be envious, not Ino. Ino could marry the one she truly loved, not be caught up in something such as this.
"Come on, smile!" The blonde glanced across the room to the clock, "It's time already! Quick!" She quickly helped Sakura apply some light makeup and helped her straighten up her white satin gown. Sakura stood up and forced a smile.
Ino sighed and opened the door. Ino was her bridesmaid. She lifted Sakura's gown and walked smoothly behind her. The music had already started playing. The grand doors opened, showing the faces of anxious people.
Sakura looked across and rested her eyes on Itachi. He bore an emotionless expression but he still looked hot in the tuxedo. Sakura smiled weakly and walked with the music. The faster she got on this, the sooner this thing would end. She looked around and spotted Gaara who appeared rather nervous. Why should he worry, he's not even the one getting married…
Sakura stood alongside with Itachi. The music stopped. The twittering birds outside had flown away. The priest studied the both of them and raised his glasses, "If anyone doesn't oppose to this marriage, I will proceed on with the ceremony." There was no movement in the chapel, no mouths opened in the form of a protest, there was absolute silence.
"Right." He expertly flipped some pages, giving the impression he had done this procedure countless times. He cleared his throat and announced loudly, "Mr Uchiha Itachi, do you agree to take care of Miss Haruno Sakura under any circumstances? Do you agree to care and love her forever?"
Her husband-to-be said without any hesitation, "I do." He sounded like he was in a rush but why.
The priest then looked directly at Sakura, "Now Miss Haruno Sakura, do you agree to take care of Mr Uchiha Itachi under any circumstances? Do you agree to care and love him forever?"
Forever? This word didn't exist in her dictionary. A few seconds passed but they felt like hours and Sakura was still stoned, immobilized on the platform. It was like her lips had been super-glued shut, she could not bring herself to utter a word. Itachi glanced at Sakura, giving her his typical death glare. Quick, she needed to make up her mind.
"I-I…" She stuttered, but to her surprise, someone interrupted. She looked in bewilderment behind her, to the rows of seated people.
"I oppose!"
Sakura felt relieved, that voice sounded so familiar. She tried to locate the person but everything occurring around her felt like a dream. "She will not marry this bastard." Another familiar voice. Two people stood at the door, sunlight showered upon their hair and their friendly faces.
"Now, game's over, Itachi. Hand over Sakura," Naruto growled. Itachi sniggered, "Why should I?"
"You bastard! You already took away the nightclub and all our money. What about the rights we signed last week?" Sasuke shouted indignantly.
What rights? Gaara and Shikamaru appeared alongside Sasuke and Naruto. What's this? What's happening?
"You think you are smart by placing spies on me but I'm smarter. My bitches tortured you guys until you guys went mad," Itachi scowled as he balled his fists.
"Kin and Temari are lowdown sluts. Who wants to care about them?" Naruto gritted through his teeth.
"The rights… we gave you everything… Sakura belongs to us," Sasuke's tone pierced through Sakura's skin.
"You hear that, Sakura? They wanted to buy you. That's not love, is it?" Itachi smirked.
Naruto grabbed Sakura and looked straight into her eyes, "Don't believe him. We gave him everything so that you didn't need to be his mistress anymore. We wanted to tell you this but we could not find the right time."
"Then when is the right time? Why did you hide it from me? Why didn't you tell me I wasn't Itachi's mistress anymore? Then… that… THAT wouldn't have happened!" Sakura yelled, her temper was rising fast, but she did not make an attempt to hide her fury. She let go of Naruto's hands and screamed.
"Sakura…" Naruto tried to calm her down. Gaara glanced at Sakura, feeling guilty.
"Naruto, don't you want to know what 'THAT' is? Why not ask your good buddy, Gaara," Itachi said slyly. He knew he was winning the game.
Naruto grabbed hold of Gaara's collar and growled in his face, "GAARA! What did you do to her?" Gaara struggled out of Naruto's clutches and looked away.
"Then allow me to say it. Gaara, your best buddy, had sex with Sakura, the girl you love," Itachi said it slowly yet forcefully for effect.
"Gaara!" Sasuke dashed towards him. Gaara pushed away their fists like there was no tomorrow. He yelled desperately, "Itachi spiked my drink and gave me pills to drug Sakura!"
"I knew it all along you had feelings for Sakura!" Naruto shouted furiously, ignoring the red-head's explanation.
FLASHBACK – (From chapter 9)
Gaara placed his hands on her shoulders and smiled, "Nobody likes to lose to their friends. Especially in a game of love. I like you, Sakura."
END OF FLASHBACK
"He was drunk…" Sakura stuttered. Her voice surprised even herself.
"Was he really drunk?" Itachi spooked Sakura, "If he was really drunk, why would he remember to give you the pills?" He was not drunk but acted as one?
"Don't believe him, Sakura!" Gaara yelled. "You shut up, asshole!" Sasuke shouted.
I don't know what to believe anymore. Gaara and Shikamaru actually worked for Naruto and Sasuke? Gaara said he liked me in a drunken state. What about this marriage? What about this love? What about the promise?
"Sakura… maybe now you know the ugly truth. They lost everything just to get you back. But do you classify all this as love? How are you going to depend on them when you yourself were so poor?" Itachi smiled. "Say I do and end this insanity now."
"Sakura won't say yes. She doesn't even like you. Why are you forcing her? Why do you make her believe in you, bastard!" Naruto snapped.
No, I don't believe in him. I don't know whether this is love. It sounds like it but maybe it's just a dream. Maybe I've just been dreaming all along. Because I loved them and they didn't know!
Sakura looked up and saw Ino standing a good distance in front of her. She was mouthing the words, "Sakura, go for it. Remember what you are."
The priest who was getting impatient, said rudely, "Okay, those who opposed are of no use now. Please return to your seats and we can get this done." No one on the platform budged. The priest looked at Sakura and asked once more, "Now Miss Haruno Sakura, do you agree to take care of Mr Uchiha Itachi under any circumstances? Do you agree to care and love him forever?"
I've seen this in the movies but I don't know whether this would work. But if I never try, I'll never know the results.
Sasuke placed his hands on Sakura's shoulder and penetrated deeply into her eyes, "Sakura, please… don't agree." Sakura smiled lightly.
"Get your dirty hands away from my bride!" Itachi shouted.
No, his hands are not dirty. They're cold and shivering. Trembling with fear.
Sakura lifted up her gown slightly and glanced at the exit like it was her last hope. So near yet so far. Just a few steps and she could be out of here. She ran as swiftly and as freely as the gown would allow her.
"Sakura…" Naruto stared intently at the white image slowly fading into the light. No one stopped her, she didn't know why. But it felt great.
"I knew that Sakura would do something like this!" Ino nudged Shikamaru, smiling broadly.
"…" Was his lazy reply. "She'll never settle down at this age under any circumstances and she's the one who doesn't break promises."
"And what does breaking promises have to do with this?" Ino's boyfriend snorted. "… God, you're so shallow sometimes. But it's still my fault, I should have told her that you work for Naruto and Sasuke. I guess it must be tough not knowing anything," Ino said sadly and stared down at her shoes. Shikamaru patted her shoulder gently.
I finally did it. I never knew this would happen to me. Everyone's looking at me like I'm mad. But it's okay as long they're with me.
A/n: Finally, the truth comes to light. Since you read up to this point, please kindly post a review! Thanks.