A/N: A new day for a new chapter! Anyhow, lately I've updated like two chapters for Swept Away Paradise and a my first one shot fic of NaruHina. I was really bored at the moment and was reading some one shots of some other writers and so I decided that I should write one. I have lots of other one shots that I would like to write, but first I need to commit myself into completing What a Girl Really Wants and this and Swept Away in Paradise because there's going to be the final (third) installment of the whole Paradise series that I've created ever since the summer of eighth grade. Ahh...those good old sunny days. P Well, I understand that avid readers are now possibly busy with their schoolwork and probably does not have any time to go online and read some stories and I acknowledge that. Just get your homework done so you can have some free time! I've been procrastinating on my schoolwork too . doesn't anyone? Anyway, enjoy this chapter and please review!
Disclaimer: You know the routine. I don't own Naruto but I own the characters that you've never heard of.
Title: Chapter 12
Hinata sighed as she waited for Sasuke's answer to her question. Again she repeated it to ensure his response, "Sasuke? Do you agree about this situation?"
Not wanting to see his face because she knows how Sasuke feels about her own situation, the crimson haired girl stared at the dark carpet trying to fight back her tears.
"Please Sasuke...say yes...for my sake," she stared hard at the carpet as she held herself when everyone else in the group in the living room were waiting for Sasuke's answer. The rain was only getting worse, the silence crept over them like a sheet of darkness as the resonance of cold drops were audible in a repetition could be heard.
"Sasuke, are you going to agree or not?" an irritated voice grumbled out of Itachi's voice.
His younger brother in his usual meditating position stared coldly at his older brother for awhile and let out a deep sigh as if about to give his response. Sasuke looked at Sakura first into her hurt emerald eyes hoping to receive some moral support for his answer. He could tell that she didn't want to find the man who had committed this horrible crime.
Thinking back when he found her in the alleyway of the club that he had access to, he had no idea what was going on. He had just found Sakura putting her jacket on and heard some crying. She told him what had happened...well she didn't exactly inform him of her current condition. When he touched her, he could tell that this happened to her. Anyone who had carried out this illegal act had to be punished. However, with Sakura's kind nature, it was hard for Sasuke to obey her. He wanted to pin down the man who had done this and beat the crap out of him. As he thought back, her response panged him in the back of his head.
"Because I deserve it!" More tears flowed from Sakura's eyes.
Knowing his answer, he looked at Hinata, the new girl and told his answer.
"All right, if that is what you want," with his answer, he stood up and took a look at the poor victim one last time before he headed out into the cold pouring rain.
"Geez, he should at least be here for some support," Kaiya rolled her eyes as she scooted closer to Itachi who moved closer away from her.
"Well then, I guess we should just put this behind us then, right guys? No more painful memories." Kaede attempted to cheer everyone up in their current gloomy mood which correlated with the tone of the rain falling.
Shikamaru leaned closer to Sakura and put his right arm around her and whispered, "You ok?" The two shared their own little conversation while the others moved about. Ino got up and went to the bathroom to do her business while Kaiya and Hinata sat next to each other. Lee and Ten-Ten just sat silently against each other as they together listened to the symphonic sound of the rain while Kaede tried to strike up a conversation with Itachi, who very much wanted to be left alone.
"Yeah...I guess, thank you though...for everything tonight," Sakura slanted her position toward Shikamaru seeking for some comfort.
"Anything for a friend Sakura," he then planted a small kiss on her large forehead just as Ino walked into the living room witnessing the warm event. Not knowing that she saw them, Shikamaru squeezed his embrace with Sakura harder and then leaned against her in silence. Trying not to jump to conclusions, Ino took a deep breath to clear out her covetous thoughts and greeted them as she sat on one of Shikamaru's couches trying to hide her real emotion behind her optimistic face.
A black shimmering motorcycle cruised up onto a driveway that let to high white gates. The second passenger got out of the seat and went to a little machine that was attached to a wall of marble. She pressed a code and someone's voice was audible.
"Good evening, how may I help you?" the deep voice emerged.
"Aki, let me in, it's me pinkie," she informed her favorite confidante/butler who would always wake her up and provide her a hot warm breakfast and would cover for her when she went out late during his shift at the Haruno mansion.
"You parents are down in the dining hall, it's ok. I got it, I'll see you at the foyer in awhile," Aki answered back and in a few seconds, the high gates opened allowing Shikamaru and Sakura in.
When the motorcycle arrived at the entrance where there were steps up to the doors, Sakura took off the black helmet and gave it to Shikamaru. With a quick kiss on the cheek as a sign of her gratitude Sakura went into her home as Shikamaru stepped on his pedal and cruised away as the white gates closed behind him.
Helping Sakura take her coat off, Aki handed her a dry one and Sakura then headed to the dining hall to see her parents. When she arrived she realized that the room was dimmed into a darker shade of red because the walls were of that same color. There was a long mahogany dinner table with fancy chairs to provide accommodation with the furniture. Her parents were seated far on the opposite side of each other slowly finishing up their dinner.
Mrs. Haruno took a sip of wine out of a crisp clear glass and motioned her daughter to sit next to her as her husband was busy with some paperwork at the dinner table. Sakura sat next to her mother as Aki placed her dinner in front of her. Before Aki took the silver cover off to reveal her meal, Mrs. Haruno stopped him.
"It's all right Aki, your work here is done for tonight, your billing will be provided at the door, have a nice night Aki," she smiled as Mr. Haruno looked at the butler and nodded in agreement.
"All right Mrs. Haruno, I'll be back here at 5 AM, good night ma'am, sir, and young Sakura," he tipped his head in an angle to bid them farewell for the night and then left.
Sakura silently sat in her wooden chair and stared at her dinner. "If you do not feel like eating, we can throw it away," her father cruelly addressed to her as he finished his paperwork.
Mrs. Haruno butted in, "Dear, don't be too harsh on her, Sakura honey, I can reheat it for you if you're hungry later tonight, all right?" she caressed her daughter's cheek and grinned at her only daughter and child.
"Madam, this is no time to be soft to our daughter now, we have matters of importance to discuss tonight with her." Mr. Haruno took a big intake of his wine and as he set the glass down hard on the table, his wife winced as Sakura sat still.
Clearing his throat, Mr. Haruno placed his plate aside and put the silver covering over it and locked his hands together on the table as if proposing an idea for business. It was for business. That was her father, Mr. Haruno. Everything is all about profit and dealing.
"Sakura, daughter, your mother and I have received a notice from the principle and he explained to me how your grades have been declining, and your usual participation in Debates have been lessened to zero effort. Now, from the looks of that, something must have been going on, right Sakura?" Mr. Haruno let out a stern voice.
Mrs. Haruno helplessly looked at her daughter, Sakura had a blank expression on her face as she sat still.
Irritated by her zero response, he then raised his voice, "Sakura, is there anything that you haven't been telling your mother and I this past few months?" Sakura looked up at her father and said nothing.
"All right then, let me limit my words then," Mr. Haruno let out a deep sigh, "are you on drugs?"
Mrs. Haruno looked at her daughter, "Used to," Sakura answered. Her mother's face nearly turned white.
"Are you in an intimate relationship with anyone of the opposite sex?" he asked.
Sakura scoffed silently and answered, "No," her mother let out a sigh of relief.
"Are you then in a compromising intimate relationship with anyone of the same sex?"
"No," Sakura looked at her father in the eyes, Mrs. and Mr. Haruno was satisfied.
"Are you having sex?" he continued to harp her.
Sakura let out a disturbing laugh that frightened her mother but not her father, "What kind of question is that?"
"It's a question that I'm asking for you to answer with complete honesty," Mr. Haruno answered.
"Then, no." she smiled grimly.
"All right then, are you pregnant?" when Mrs. Haruno heard her husband ask this, she held onto the handles of her chair to wait for Sakura's reaction.
Sakura took a few seconds to recollect her thoughts and then answered, "No Dad, I'm not pregnant,"
"Good, good, that's good to hear Sakura," Mr. Haruno leaned back against his chair.
Annoyed with this Sakura shot back at her father, "Is there a REASON behind these ridiculous questions that you have just made up in your head since the moment I walked in here? If so, I'd be glad to hear your selfish answers," Sakura eyed her father.
"Sakura, don't irate your father now," Mrs. Haruno begged her daughter.
"I can take care of myself Mom, and why did you marry this man anyway? All he cares about is dominating his rival companies and looting blood money and placing them into his own company, and lies and cheats with his partners to settle a deal that will only benefit him and himself only?" Sakura retorted.
"That...is...ENOUGH," Mr. Haruno yelled at the women. He let out a deep breath and tried to clear his head, "Sakura, the reason why I'm asking you this is because I have received a wonderful and generous proposition for myself, your mother, and yourself as well,"
"Well no doubt about that, of course it's generous because it'll benefit you, you greedy selfish bastard!" Sakura crossed her arms.
Ignoring her harsh remarks, Mr. Haruno continued on, "My partners have settled a mutual agreement between both of our companies. As you can see, there is this certain organization that I have been trying to dominate, however for 20 years of my poor efforts, I've never managed to fulfill that goal. Until this morning, the boss of that called me and we settled for coffee to talk about business matters," Mr. Haruno leaned closer against the table.
"And what does that have to do with us? Don't involve us into your bloody business," Sakura rolled her eyes.
"However the circumstances of the agreement, is that it involves you Sakura dear," his father smiled.
Sakura cocked one eyebrow up and thought for a second and then laughed at the silly idea she had thought of.
"Ha Ha, what...am I going to have to be in an arranged marriage with the son of that owner? YEAH RIGHT," Sakura laughed. When she was finished she looked at her father, he had a serious face on.
"Oh, HELL NO. HELL NO dad. I'm not going to marry that bastard!" Sakura shook her head in dismay and horror, "I am not going to be your key to this company, no way in hell! Dad!" Sakura felt a tear fall down from her cheek.
Mr. Haruno looked down and nodded, "He is age 20, a fine young man, and is recently studying at Tokyo University trying to earn his degree in international business, it'll be a fine match made in heaven,"
"Heh, more like hell!" Sakura hollered at him, she looked at her mother who tried to hold back her tears, "Mom? Mommy? You know that you don't want me to marry this guy, please mom, tell this bastard here that I'm not going to include myself in this business deal!" Sakura pleaded.
Covering her face in shame, Mrs. Haruno couldn't hold back her tears, "I'm so sorry my daughter!"
Shocked, Sakura wished that this whole event was just a nightmare and she'll wake up in any minute now.
It was real.
Not being able to handle this Sakura got up from her chair and took a pitiful look at her sorrowful mother who is in tears and her cruel hearted father.
"Sakura!" Mr. Haruno said.
Ignoring him, Sakura ran away from the dining hall heading toward the exit door.
"SAKURA!" Mr. Haruno got up from his seat as his wife cried even more.
All that was heard was the sobbing from Mrs. Haruno and the hard slam of the door from Sakura shutting the door possibly on her home...and her family.