Disclaimer : Don't own, don't sue, kay?

A/N : Before you go on any further, bare in mind that this fic will be in flashback style. That means the events coming up was supposed to happen before the prologue took place, kay?

Chapter 1 - Confusion

She stared at the slice of cake on the plate in front of her. A distant look was in her eyes as her mind wandered to a certain someone. She wondered what he's doing at the moment. 'Probably training again' her mind scoffed.

She pondered on how long has it been since he asked her. Was it a day, two maybe? Or perhaps it was a week ago? And she still has yet to answer him. She unconciously bit her lower lip, as she frowned. What was it that was stopping her from giving him an answer? This was what she had wanted all along, wasn't it? Hadn't she been dreaming of this moment ever since she was little? Wasn't this that motivated her to get stronger all the while? Then what was she doing, stalling around? Why couldn't she simply said 'yes'?

She could see how surprised he was when she asked for time to think it through. However perfect he masked it, she could tell. She herself was shocked with her own answer, so she couldn't really blame him for it now, can she. Yet, she still wondered why.

She sighed. 'How did things turn out this way?'

She had thought that she'd only needed to calm down, before reaching her decision, yet, when he'd asked again, she'd only apologized and asked for more time. She knew he was bothered by her answer, so was she. She bit her lip again, he won't wait forever. She'd need to come up with an answer sooner or later. He'd given her enough time already, it wasn't in his nature to wait so patiently for so long, that she was positive.

Ino watched as her best friend sighed, again. The gesture was beginning to frustrate her. Here she was, patiently waiting for already half an hour, but the girl in front of her still hasn't said a word on why she'd requested the meeting today. She hadn't even touched her cake, for crying out loud! What a way to waste an afternoon. An idea flashed through her mind, and she grinned, eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. Eyeing the girl across her, she gripped the handle of her fork tightly, and stretched it across the table towards that delectable, srumpilitious looking strawberry on her friend's piece of cake. It was only a few milimeters away, when another fork interfered, barring the way towards said strawberry.

"What are you trying to do Ino-pig?" the voice hissed angrily.

She looked up from her gaze on the prize into the blazing eyes of one pissed off Haruno Sakura. She knew that would get her attention. She grinned, retracted her fork, and waved her other hand around in a dismissing gesture.

"You were staring at it for too long, so I decided to save it, before you burn it down with that eyes of yours." she replied, in a somewhat joking manner.

"Hm." the girl merely snorted, before stabbing the strawberry with her own fork. "You, were trying to steal my strawberry," she said vehemently, waving the fork around in front of Ino's face, complete with strawberry and all, before continuing, "Nobody steals my away strawberry from me, got that!" With that, she propmtly put the berry in her mouth, chewing the poor defenceless strawberry away into pieces. Oh well, there goes the strawberry...

Ino merely grinned at her bestfriend's childish antics. Sakura and her strawberries, nobody can tear them apart. That done, she cleared her throat purposefully.

Sakura had swallowed the mush down, and was now looking at her pointedly. She knew what was coming. They weren't bestfriends and rivals for such a long time for nothing, you know. And sure enough, what came next wasn't the least bit surprising to her.

"So, what's up?" She'd asked so cheerfully, that Sakura nearly rolled her eyes, out of habit.

She watched as Sakura tensed up ever so slightly, and began to cut through her cake with such concentration, that she had thought she'd lost her again.

"Sasuke" was the only word that came out of her mouth as she pushed a piece of cake into it, and began to chew solemnly.

She watched, with an eyebrow raised at the girl's frown. "What's with him?" She gently prodded her to continue.

The girl sighed and looked at her. "He..."

"He...?"

Another sigh escaped her lips. Ino was getting impatient. She drew a deep breath, she should get this over with, it's getting nowhere. Exhaling slowly, she looked at Ino. Ever so slowly, the words came from her mouth, as if it was forcefully dragged out by a rope.

"He asked me to marry him..." she trailed off, eyes on the cake.

Now, it was Ino's turn to frown. No, she is NOT jealous of her. Rather, she was happy for her, yet, something was bugging at the back of her mind.

"What did you say?" she needed to know. Hopefully, her friend wasn't as hasty as she was years ago, where things concerning Sasuke was.

"I asked for time to think." was the reply, to her relief. Though she wondered why so.

"I don't know why, I'd thought that I'd say 'yes' immediately. But instead, I asked for time, and I still don't have an answer for him. What do I do?" the girl lamented.

"What'd put you off from answering?" she inquired.

The girl shrugged, gaze back at her cake, stabbed another piece with her fork, and put it her mouth. Silently chewing, and thinking. She swallowed, and took a sip from her drink. What was it that was holding her back from answering? Did she not love him? No, she deffinitely does. She did loved him, and she still do love him. But what about him?

"I thought you loved him..." the statement seemed to have snapped her out. She narrowed her eyes at Ino. "I DO love him." She shot back, hissing angrily. What exactly was Ino-pig trying to say?

"Aah...And does HE loves you?" she asked, albeit knowingly.

Sakura gaped at her. Then she snapped her jaw shut and frowned. That's what it was that's gnawing at her mind. Did HE loves her just as SHE loves him? She shook her head.

'He must do, right? Why would he asked her to marry him if he do not?'

'Maybe, he just wanted to use you as a tool to help him revive his clan.' Someone somewhere said, in the back of her mind.

'NO. No, that can't be true, right? He MUST love me'

'Denials...denials...what good would it do you?'

Her heart sank. She knew she was denying it, but she wanted to believe. She wanted to believe that he loves her, just as much as she him, to want to start a family with her.

Ino watched as her friend debated with her innerself. She didn't want to say it, but somebody has to. Moreover, Sakura needs to wake up and smell the roses. She loves the girl, she's like a sister to her, and she'd be damned if she'd just sit back and let her ruin her own life. So, preparing for the worst, she ploughed on, hoping her friend would understand her good intentions.

"You know, Sakura. I don't wanna see you hurt." she'd started. "What if he doesn't love you? What if he's just using you to revive his clan?"

She stared at her best friend. She blinked.

'She's right, you know...' Inner Sakura smirked, taunting her.

She smiled, bitterly. Yes, she knew, she acknowledged it. But still, she loves him, and if that's what it takes to fulfill her childhood dream, then by Kami, she'll do it. Haven't she done it many times already? Sacrificing her feelings for him.

'Won't be the first time' Inner Sakura snorted haughtily.

'Besides, love can be nurtured after marriage, right?' she replied, trying to keep positive about this.

'You wish...'

'You're being too negative' she repriminded her ownself.

'All right, all right...yes, it can. But what makes you think he won't continue being an ice block that he already is?' the other pressed on.

'I have faith in him, why can't you?'

for once, it was quiet.

"Sakura?"

The voice of her friend called her back. She smiled at Ino. She'd made up her mind.

"Ino, I've made up my mind. I WILL marry him. Regardless of what he feels for me, I'd still love him. And, loving someone meant wanting happiness and the best for that person, right? If this is what makes him happy, then, I'll do it." She rushed, before Ino could interrupt.

The girl's face was a mix of dismay and sorrow for her. She wanted her to be happy, not make some guy happy and be miserable herself. NO. She won't have it.

"But Sakura, what about YOUR happiness? I'm your friend and I don't wanna see you miserable your whole life, just because you made a mistake of marrying the wrong guy! I wanna see you happy, GOD DAMMIT, FOREHEAD GIRL!" she'd started to shout in protest.

But her friend just flashed her that sweet smile of her's. Determination evident in her beautiful eyes, as she patted her hand on the table comfortingly. She understood. Her friend understood her worry for her.

"Don't you understand Ino? His happiness is my happiness. His pain is my pain. I love him, and that's all that mattered to me." She had replied in that soft voice of her's. "Besides, we shinobis are all mere tools for a means anyway. I'd rather be a tool for someone that I love, than for something I have no feelings for whatsoever."

"But..." she had started to protest again, but was cut off by her.

"No buts, I'm going to marry him, whether everyone likes it or not. And you know what, if he really doesn't love me now, I'll make him fall in love with me." she continued, grinning mischieviously.

Ino sighed. There's no arguing with Sakura once she'd made up her mind. She's just as stubborn as the guy she'll be marrying. She mused on what Sakura has up her sleeve. She grinned. That's one of the things she admires about her, she's so damned stubborn. And she's proud of her.

"You know what, Sakura. I have faith in you." was all she said, before turning her attention towards her own neglected slice of cake.

She smiled. It meant a lot to her, to have Ino's faith in her. With a new determination, she tackled her cake. The evening went by pleasantly and in a much more cheerful mood for the two girls, as they finished their tea and spent time strolling around.

Later that evening, a certain Uchiha prodigy was seen looking around for a certain pink haired medic nin. As he passed the park, he could see her distinct pink hair glowing against the sunset. The colour standing out, albeit the near likeness to the many arrays of shades of the setting sun, giving it an almost ethereal look.

As he made his way silently towards her, he wondered slightly if she could sense him. His musing was answered when she patted the spot on the grass next to her, when he finally reached her. He sat down without a sound, eyes on her. She kept her face towards the sun, not turning to look at him.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" she breathed, a contented smile on her face.

He turned his gaze towards the sight before him. Breathing deep the evening scent, he answered, "Ah."

Silence engulfed the two figures, a comfort of swirling emotions went unspoken. A few moments went by, neither willing to break the peaceful atmosphere among them. Both caught up in the midst of it, bathing in the tranquilizing caresses of the setting sun.

"Sakura..." He breathed, breaking the silence.

"Sasuke?" she'd asked, asking him to continue whatever it was that he had wanted to say.

He sighed inaudibly, preparing himself for whatever it was that's coming next. He turned and looked at her. She was watching him, her eyes unwavering. He held her gaze, silently indicating to her that his next words are serious.

"What's your answer, Sakura?" was all he asked. Eyes fixed unto her own as he waited for her answer.

Still holding his gaze, she opened her mouth, lips trembling ever so slightly, he noticed.

"Yes, I accept..." she had answered, so quietly, that he had doubted his hearings at first. But the look in her eyes confirmed it. She had accepted his proposal. She was willing to marry him, even though she was doubting his reasons. And that's all that mattered to him, her acceptance.

A soft 'Hn' was all she heard before he got up and disappeared from view.

A/N : So, how's the new chappie? Like it? Hate it? Do review and tell me, ne? Oh, And I need minna-san tachi to give me your views on whether or not Itachi should die. I have ideas involving fights between the Uchiha kyoudai, but I haven't decided whether to kill Itachi off or not, so tell me kay? And does anybody know what's a wakizashi? I know Katana, Kodachi and Tachi, but I have no idea whatsoever a Wakizashi is supposed to be. Help me guys, kay? And thanks for all your reviews, it got me high on this fic, thus the update. Love you guys, Muah...

Over and Out

Sekiryu