Arranged Meetings
Disclaimer: As always, I don't own anything but the plot.
A/N: Woot this will be my longest chapter to date, ten whole pages . This might be the last chapter unless I get a fair amount of reviews telling me against, or unless I get a brilliant idea on how to continue.
Sorry about the lack of updating but I broke my wrist during school soccer (I'm a goalie) and I've been busy with exams and all that other good stuff. But hopefully this chapter might make up for the lack of them.
Thanks to all my faithful reviewers who gave me all the encouraging me to continue on with this fanfic, so know I will present you with the final chapter -.
Italics -thoughts
Sakura sat in the special spot of hers at the park, hidden within the veil of sakura blossoms. She recalled her sensei's answer from earlier when she asked him how he would make an important decision.
The wind blew her hair gently, concealing her face which was etched in thought as her sensei's words played over in her head.
Flashback
"Well, I'm torn between two things, and I can only have one. I don't know which to choose, how would you go about deciding something like that?" Sakura asked not knowing what to expect from the copy cat ninja.
"Hm." Kakashi said rubbing his concealed chin that was hidden from underneath his mask.
"Well Sakura it depends on what two things you're stuck between, and how much you want it." He said wondering what in the world Sakura could be stuck between.
Sakura was having difficulty in how to ask Kakashi without giving away her current situation. "Uh...well, how would you decide if you were to choose between something that you would be with for the rest of your life, where both of the things are really close to you and you didn't know how your life would be without one of them?" Sakura answered hoping that her sensei was kept in the dark as much as possible.
"Well then, if I were to spend the rest of my life with it, then I suppose that I would go with my gut feeling. I've always relied on it in my past and it has not yet failed me."
Sakura smiled at her sensei and thanked him for the advice, then walked away like the other two had done. She knew that no one could tell her the answer to this question. It was her decision alone, but she had never really been good at making decisions and often pondering over them until the last moment.
Walking without a clear destination, her feet led her to that oh-so-familiar-park with trees that she had been named after. "Why do these things always happen to me?" She asked herself silently.
End of Flashback
"Gut feeling huh? Then why isn't my gut telling me anything." She leaned her head back so that it rested against the tree trunk. She laughed at herself as she thought on how she did all her previous decisions- 'Inny-meeny-minny-moo.' If only that would work, unfortunately she had done it so many times in the past that she already knew the answer by from which one she starts off with. The idea of visiting Ino's flower shop to purchase a flower came to mind, one with many petals, that way she could delay it for a while. Although with her current situation, was wasting time such a good idea? Well, she wouldn't be wasting that much time right?
Jumping down from the tree, she started heading towards the flower shop. She reached into her pocket for her wallet and found that she would have enough to purchase a bouquet of flowers, so she definitely had enough for one. Walking over to the cement walkway that went round the park and through it, Sakura turned left seeing it was the fastest way to get back into the busy town area. Being in her own world as always, Sakura almost walked right past a bush full of Camellia Can Can's. A smile quickly spread over Sakura's face, these flowers had tonnes of petals and the best part was that they were close by and free. Plucking two of them from the bush, Sakura placed one in her hair while holding the other and walked back to the tree.
Sasuke
Itachi
Sasuke
Itachi
Sasuke
Itachi
Sakura continued with this for a while, saying the names over and over in her head as another petal was plucked from the flower. Soon she was down to the last couple petals; a queasy and exciting feeling came over her at seeing the small amount of petals. It means she would have her answer any second now. Picking off a petal she continued with the little mantra in her head.
Itachi
Sasuke
"Itachi"
"Sasuke"
"Itachi"
"…Sasuke"
Sakura finished holding the final petal between her thumb and index finger. Halfway through plucking the small amount of petals, She had, without even realizing it, started to say their names out loud, the pitch in her voice went higher and higher as she had neared the end.
Well the flowers never lied, her choice was made and it was Sasuke. Her Sasuke-kun, but somehow she felt like the flower was only picking him because he lived in the same village as it does. Maybe the flower was in fact a Sasuke fan...flower? Before her rant in her head could continue, Sakura remembered that she was talking about a flower, and that flowers didn't know much about anything but the small area they were in. A smile spread across her face.
"Sasuke-kun it is." This way, she wouldn't feel like a traitor by marrying an S-ranked criminal.
Feeling as if a giant burden had been lifted off her shoulders, Sakura could now enjoy her final five days of freedom. A small smile spread across her face once again. How many people married their first true love? Hell, Sakura hadn't even dated Sasuke or anyone else, and now she was supposed to get married? Shaking her head and dismissing the thoughts, Sakura smiled and headed back to the town with the flower still in her hair. Heading to the ramen shop, Sakura was sure that Naruto was finished eating. After all, she had spent two hours leaning on the tree, staying in that stupid position, her back felt quite stiff. Seeing the empty stool that the loud ninja always sat on, Sakura felt a little sad, a part of her aches for company that she had not had in a while thanks to her dilemma. Sitting down in the spot where she always sat, right in-between Sasuke-kun and Naruto, she ordered a shrimp ramen. Sakura found herself having a nice conversation with the owner's daughter (a/n does anyone know her name, I know it's mentioned in the anime). Without even realizing it, an hour went by. Leaving the shop, Sakura found herself wandering the streets that would eventually take her home. Twisting the door knob, Sakura found it locked for the first time, her mother would always be home before she came back from ninja training. Sakura immediately began to worry.
What could have happened?
Was she kidnapped, being tortured, or was she DEAD!
Calming herself down before things got out of hand, Sakura went around the side, heading towards the back entrance where there was a rock pathway leading around her yard.
First stone, second, third, fourth, fifth, ah the sixth!
Sakura squatted down and lifted up the sixth tile and pulled out a key of the ground.
Walking over to the side door, Sakura opened it and walked towards the front door to take off her shoes and also to check if her mother was there. She wasn't.
Maybe she went shopping.
There should be a note ne?
Thinking of the most logical spot her mother would put a note Sakura walked into the kitchen, but there was no note, instead, there was blood. At the sight of the crimson liquid, sirens rang in Sakura's head. As her feet began to shuffle forward in a painfully slow motion, a ring came from the living room scaring the hell out of Sakura.
"It's only the telephone." Sakura said to herself, trying to calm down her frantically beating heart. Picking up the phone Sakura spoke into it and waited to hear who it was.
"Moshi moshi?" but no reply came, so she tried again.
"Moshi Moshi!"
"Are you Haruno Sakura?" Who was that? She had never heard their voice before in her life.
"H-hai." Sakura answered hesitantly.
"This is Konohagakure Hospital, your mother is here with a minor injury and we need someone to come pick her up." Sakura let out a breath that she didn't know she had been holding, or maybe she did and was trying to kill herself, but we all know she's not suicidal so it's definitely not the latter.
"Alright, I'll be right over." Placing the phone back on the hook, Sakura walked back over to the door and slid her shoes back on before heading out. Now that she thought back on her overreaction; Sakura could only laugh at her foolishness.
It didn't take to long for Sakura to reach the hospital since she was a ninja after all. She had ran on the rooftops since it was faster. Once she reached the front reception desk and was able to get the attention of the secretary on the other side, Sakura asked what room her mother was in.
"Room 2-13." the lady said flashing a smile before returning to her tedious job. Walking up the flight of stairs to the second floor, Sakura looked at the room numbers until she reached room 13. The door was wide open with her mother sitting on a bed reading a magazine with two of her left fingers tied together with gauze.
"Oka-san, what happened?" Sakura questioned as she stepped out of the door way and into the room.
"Oh Sakura, when did you get here?" Her mother asked looking up from her book, which slightly reminded her of a certain perverted sensei. After shaking the image off immediately and yelling at herself for even thinking of her mother being like Kakashi-sensei, Sakura focused on the question her mother just asked.
"The hospital phoned, asking me to pick you up."
"Ah." was all her mother said before placing the magazine back on the side table and standing up.
"So what exactly happened to your hand oka-san?" Sakura asked knowing she wouldn't receive an answer unless she asked the question.
"Oh, well it was quite simple, I was just outside trimming the hedges and accidentally cut my fingers, I then ran to the kitchen to grab a cloth so I could apply pressure before heading down here." Her mother said waving her hands here and there unconsciously, but winced everytime she tried to pull her two bandaged finger apart, since she wasn't used of them being tied together.
As expected, Sakura's remaining five days went by quite fast. She did all things she would normally do; training, hang out with Ino-pig, going on missions, and so on. Before she knew it, the fateful day had come, with rain, cloudy skies, and the loud beeping of the pink haired kunoichi's alarm clock. A prearranged agreement with the Hokage allowed Sakura and Sasuke to go on a 'mission' to a near by village in fire country. Swinging her backpack on her shoulders that was supposedly full with mission supplies, Sakura headed off to the gate where she would be meeting up with Sasuke. Sakura had difficulty trying to force down the butterflies in her stomach, why should she be nervous?
Maybe because you're turning down a S-class criminal?
Shoving the idea to the back of her head, Sakura continued on seeing Sasuke already waiting at the gate for her. His stoic figure stood, acting as if it was just another mission and it wasn't life changing or important at all.
"Ready to go?" Sakura questioned as she stopped there in front of Sasuke, he merely nodded and waited for her to take the lead; something that rarely happened, therefore Sakura took full advantage of it and began walking again.
The two of them sped off towards the location that had been previously marked by the missing Nin's kunai, once they were finally able to get rid of Naruto, who was also waiting at the gate. He had been questioning why the old lady had only sent the two of them on the mission. The butterflies in Sakura's stomach seemed to double with each step they took, taking them closer to their location.
Are you sure you can trust a flower to make a decision for the rest of your life?
Sakura shook her head trying to rid the thoughts from her head; after all it was a bit late to change her mind.
How sure are you that Sasuke didn't just say that to be able to beat his brother at something?
How do we know that he's not a great actor by making that scene look so real when you asked him how he feels about you?
Sakura was really starting to get tired of the constant voices in her head which were questioning her decision on the matter.
At least consult with a coin.
She decided it was better to focus on how she would tell the brothers on who she chose instead of all the other things that went on in her head. However, no matter how hard she tried her mind just kept wandering back to it. Feeling Sasuke stopped beside her, Sakura also followed his actions and looked around for the kunai on the ground, but found none.
"Sasuke-kun I don't think this is the right spot. There is no kunai here." But he shook his head in a dismissing manner.
"Sakura, who did you choose?" At hearing this, Sakura almost fell off the branch that she was currently standing on.
"Well… Sasuke-kun, you see, that would be cheating if I told you now." She smiled and began travelling again. Feeling Sasuke's chakra not moving, Sakura stopped again.
"You won't get to find out who it is if you just stand there." Sakura stated in a matter of fact voice.
"Hn." was the reply and he pointed in another direction, signaling that she was going the wrong way. A nervous smile and sweatdrop were the only things Sakura could manage to do as she altered her course to the direction Sasuke was pointing in. The remainder of the journey was just as quiet as the beginning and Sakura was still unable to find a decent way to tell the boys who she'd chosen. She decided she would just wing it; things never worked out too well when people practiced things in their head anyway. Both of them slowed their pace as they felt Itachi's chakra coming from ahead. The clearing came into view along with a black cloak with red clouds on it. Sasuke clenched his fists trying to fight the urge to activate his sharingan and fight his brother to put an end to the only other remaining Uchiha. However luckily, or unluckily, Sakura spoke, taking him out of his thoughts of revenge.
"Hello Itachi-kun." He briefly nodded and turned in their direction, showing her he was listening.
"I really don't know what to say, so I'll just give you my answer." Sakura began taking in a breath trying to calm herself down. She could see the smirk out of the corner of her eye, now doubt it was the first part of her statement.
"This decision was probably the hardest decision I've ever had to make for my future, or my life but in the end, I-I its Sasuke-kun" Sakura said regaining her composure near the end, having almost lost it when she began stuttering again. There was a silence for a bit, and Sakura almost thought that they hadn't heard her, but then again she was dealing with two Uchiha's.
You can't take it back now.
Sasuke then smirked, and acted as if the decision was obvious, making sure to cover up all the previous feelings of uneasiness he had. Itachi merely nodded as if it really didn't matter to him. His ice cold emotionless mask replaced back onto his face, the face that Sakura had seen on him before which held some emotions was now gone- burned and the ashes blown away by the wind.
"Then I have no further use here." He simply said and disappeared, leaving the two in the clearing.
A light breeze lifted Sakura's hair so that is tickled her face. Tucking it behind her ear, she turned around and smiled at Sasuke, as if nothing was different. But this breeze might be the last of the emotions Itachi once held, the ashes. The smirk that once covered Sasuke's face was gone now as well and he simply turned around in the direction they came from.
"What should we do now?" Sakura asked, her question holding two meanings. One, it was too early for them to go back now, this mission was supposed to last at least five hours and it had only been two in a half. Two, what would happen once they get back to Konoha, would it be official or would he just act like he did now, which ever one Sasuke choose to answer was up to him.
"We can walk back to Konoha." Sasuke answered choosing the first meaning, as Sakura figured, though she really wanted him to answer the second, but you don't receive answers unless you ask the question specifically.
"Right." her smile faltered slightly at how he hadn't changed and that little moment she had with him in his secret area seemed to have meant nothing.
"Lead the way." Sakura didn't really feel like walking ahead this time. He started walking ahead as Sakura followed him. Maybe she had been hanging around with him too long or something, Sakura noticed that she had her own mask too which she placed it back on. With a 'smile', she was acting like the cheerful Sakura she always was.
"So what happens now Sasuke-kun? With us?" Sakura looked at the foliage around as the rain finally came through the clouds, drenching the couple. Wanting to avoid getting a cold, both of them sped up, while Sasuke did not answer her question just yet. After a good ten minutes of travelling Sasuke finally answered, it seemed he was trying to find an answer but the only thing that came out was-
"I don't know."
By the time the duo reached the Konoha gates again, and hour and a half later, both were soaked by the rain that had been falling done on them.
"I guess it's true when they say 'it doesn't rain, it pours,' ne Sasuke-kun?" Sakura grumbled, and made sure to address him to make sure he was still there and not dying from hypothermia.
"Hn."
Yup he's still there.
"You can go home. I'll head to the Hokage and inform her of what happened." Sakura offered, but of course, Sasuke would see this as a sign of weakness that Sakura thought he was too cold to do this.
"No, I'll come." Sakura nodded, she had expected that answer, but when he continued speaking, she knew that maybe something was wrong.
"I'm not that cold, but you look like you should head home to get some warmer clothing." Sakura's jaw felt like it was going to fall to the ground with her eyes bulging out, but her face quickly returned to a happy one with a smile.
"I'm alright, no worries." Both continued walking in silence as they approached the building with the fire character marking on it. Normal missions would be done by now, so they went straight to the Hokage's office. But once they got there they heard voices on the other side. One was obviously Tsunade but the other one sounded like, Sakura's mom. The voices stopped suddenly when they heard Shizine knock on the door telling them that Sakura and Sasuke were back. As the Hokage called them in, Shizune nodded and left.
They entered the room and walked passed an excited Emiko who just smiled at them sweetly before closing the door behind her. Sakura gave her mom a questioning look but was met with a door closing in her face.
"Seeing as you're still here, I suppose that you choose Uchiha Sasuke." The blond haired Godaime said from behind her desk, snapping Sakura out of her reverie.
"Hai."
"Very well then, you are dismissed." Both of them bowed and left the room.
Just before they both parted way Sakura spoke again about their situation.
"Will we tell Naruto about us? Or do you want it to remain a secret?" Sasuke seemed to contemplate his answer for a bit before giving her a reply that would suffice.
"We'll let the dobe figure out on his own. As for us, it's not a secret but don't go blabbing it off to everyone." He turned to a different direction as he casually waved over his shoulder, not even bothering to look back. He was more concerned with getting home, and into some dry clothing. It took all his will power to not to shiver with her, and was quite thankful to the warmth that he felt while inside the Hokage's office. Once he turned a corner, Sasuke sped off towards his home, in the lonely Uchiha complex.
Sakura smiled, the only way Naruto would be able to find out is if someone spelled it out for him. Picking up the pace she headed to her house, the idea of a nice hot bath and hot chocolate sounded like music to her ears. Once she had finally made it to her front door, Sakura was soaked to the point where she would have been warmer walking around naked. Twisting the door handle, Sakura then took off her shoes and tilted them so the water would fall out, before placing them inside next to all the other pairs of shoes neatly lined up.
"Tadiama." Sakura called without putting barely any effort or cheeriness into it, just to let her parents know she was home.
"Okaeri-nasai Sakura, the kettle's on if you want something to drink."
"Thanks mom." Sakura said trudging up the steps leaving a small river in her wake.
Since we really don't need to know what happens at night, lets fast forward to the next morning on the bridge where they are waiting for their late sensei.
Naruto's eyes shifted back and forth between his two team mates. It was obvious something had happened on the mission they were sent on yesterday, but what could it possibly be? Crossing his arms over his chest he nodded. It had to be that Sakura finally realized her undying love for him, and Sasuke was just jealous. The big foxy grin covered his face as he shuffled towards Sakura.
"Sakura-chan, it's..." but he was cut off as their sensei appeared, followed by the tradition 'Yo' and Sakura yelling at him while Naruto just grumbled about his horrible timing.
"Well you see, an old woman stopped and asked me to marry her granddaughter and..."
"LAIR!" Both Naruto and Sakura chorused, while Sasuke rolled his eyes, what was with all this talk about marriage lately?
They went to their normal training ground by the memorial and Kakashi claimed that they were going to spar, then quickly pulled out his orange book while they picked their partners.
"Sasuke-teme! Today is the day you will be defeated by the great Uzumaki…" but he was cut off yet again, when Sasuke merely replied-
"Sakura be my partner today." Naruto looked shocked, and Kakashi even looked up from his book. Sasuke would never train with Sakura, even though she had gotten stronger, he would just normally fight with Naruto because he lasted longer then Sakura.
"You sure?" Sakura questioned as her face turned from carefree to concentrated.
"I wouldn't have said so If I wasn't." Sasuke stated while slowly walking away waiting for Sakura to follow, which of course she did.
"We can talk while we spar, and try to keep up." Sasuke said getting into his fighting stance while Sakura ran at him.
"What did you want to talk about?" Sakura asked dodging his fist and catching his foot while trying to avoid an attack straight to her mid section, but failing miserably.
"Move to the Uchiha complex." Was all Sasuke said while doing a quick set of hand seals for his favourite jutsu.
"Katon: Ryukka No Jutsu."
Sakura was still in shock from what he had just said that she was almost hit dead on by the fire attack.
"Do What!" Sakura asked appearing behind him after using the kawamari no jutsu.
"I don't like to repeat myself." he replied throwing some kunai in her direction, while he went in for an attack from behind.
"You serious? Wait, sorry." Sakura remembered what he said before when she asked if he was sure when he told her that they were going to spar. Obviously, this was the reason why he told her to be his partner- he was in his element and while fighting, it was easier for him to say it.
Grr everything is happening so fast, change is good but not all at once.
Back flipping a couple of times, Sakura squatted in her ready position and waiting for an attack from Sasuke. She could see a small pattern, attack, attack, back up, and do something with the legs. Attacking forward while he was backing up, her fist skimmed his shoulder as he attempted to evade.
This is a once in a lifetime offer from Sasuke-kun though, I don't honestly think that he would say it again, but I don't want to leave home just yet.
"Sasuke-kun, I...ugh." She said as she was hit in the side and stumbled a bit. She was in a battle, how could she let her guard down? It was foolish of her.
"Can I stay in my house for maybe a year or two more. I think that I'm still…" This was her chance, she saw a quick change in his face, grabbing his fist she flung it to the side, while flipping over his other hand and kicking him in the chest. He slid back from the force of her kick before turning and running up a tree to maintain momentum. He bit the inside flesh of his lip trying to keep concentration on this fight.
"If that's what you want."
The fight resumed until Sakura was getting low on chakra and called it quits, and they all headed to Ichikaru, minus Kakashi-sensei who said he had other things to do.
"One miso please." Sakura ordered and sat down between Naruto and Sasuke.
You wouldn't have to deal with this awkwardness with Sasuke if you had just chosen Itachi.
But Sakura shook that thought from her head because if she was with Itachi then things would be worse with Sasuke, because she choose his evil brother that he wanted to kill. Yup, things could be a lot worse, but somehow she wanted that. But her mind was cleared when three large bowls of steaming ramen were placed down in front of them.
"Itadakimasu."
Here they were again as always, standing in front of Tsunade with Naruto complaining about the missions we've be receiving, well not that they were complaining because it was true all of them had been D-ranked.
"Fine Naruto if it will shut you up, I have just received a mission from the village hidden in the pine. It's C-ranked and not a bad one either, your mission is to get the daimyo's daughter back and a scroll that she had with her, that is highly valuable."
"THANK YOU TSUNADE-BAA-CHAN YOU WON'T REGRET IT!" Naruto yelled, deafening all of them.
"I better not." She replied waving them out. Once they had exited the building Kakashi told them that they had an hour to pack and to meet up by the gate for their departure, they all nodded. Both Naruto and Sakura gave him a glare signaling that he was supposed to be there in an hour as well, but since it was Kakashi they knew it wouldn't happen.
And here they were, an hour later standing in front of the gate waiting for their missing sensei.
"I wish he would at least be on time for missions" Sakura sighed as she leaned against the gate. Sure Kakashi was an excellent ninja but that barely made up for the fact that he was always late. Where had it come from? It didn't really matter since Kakashi showed up then with the familiar 'Yo!' And they departed for their mission.
The village of pine was near the border of fire country and would take about one and a half days to get their going at their present pace. Sure they could have gone faster, and the trip could have been quieter but they got their none the less and all in one piece too!
After learning that the princess had been stolen by a group of dropout chuunins, the mission was rather easy for the trio and their sensei since they had all been training hard and they where all chuunin level, some maybe higher. The mission was done with by the end of the second day there in the village. Since they had plenty of time they decided to depart the day after, or the fourth day. But enough of the mission, since it's over and not important, lets deal with Sakura's situation with Sasuke.
Currently, nothing had really happened. Sakura and Sasuke had gone on one date to a café and had done nothing else much. Of course, with all that they had done, Naruto still had no clue of what was happening, but something tells him that the perverted man who hides behind his book knows something. Hiding behind his book as always, he just sat by and observed how this will progress.
"Sasuke-kun do you want to look at the village with me?" Sakura asked trying to get some alone time with him. She had to try since she knew that the solitary man in front of her would never ask or even think of it.
"Hn." he stuffed his hands in his pockets and shaking his head.
"Alright then, I guess it's really not that interesting anyway." Sakura smiled, but it was obviously a fake one trying to make things look alright on the outside while inside she was feeling different.
"I'll go with you Sakura-chan!" Naruto said wanting to view the village, but the only response he got was a hit in the head saying that she didn't want to go with him. She knew it was mean, but hitting him had become like a second reflex to her.
Somehow this didn't feel right, but then again, what did she imagine her life with Sasuke would be? Did she honestly think that she could melt his cold heart and save him? She was just a teammate, something convenient. That thought kept running through her head, though each time she would dismiss it, reminding herself of the time when he told her that he liked her. It would be impossible for him to say that if he didn't feel the same way, right? But nothing was different, nothing had changed and that excuse was old now ever since she had time to think of so many loopholes with her situation. Clenching her fists she smiled and started walking towards the village saying she was just going to visit the princess to see how she was. A watchful eye was glancing in her direction, worry was evident in that eye, but it turned back to the pages before him. Sakura would be alright, she was had trained hard to prove herself and he was proud of her.
Wandering towards the village, she passed right through and went straight to forest that surrounded the area. Was that little voice in her head correct, would her life have been better if she had chosen Itachi? Nonsense, he was a criminal and she would probably be dead once Sasuke was out of reach. But alas, it was too late now, and she couldn't search Itachi out and tell him she changed her mind. Hopeless. That was the word that came to her mind in describing her situation. Wait. She felt a chakra, just for a split of a second but it was there. She knew this chakra.
"Itachi?" She questioned reaching into her pouch to draw a kunai.
"Since when did I give you permission to call me so casually?" The smooth voice said from behind her. Twirling around, Sakura looked into the direction she had heard his voice but he wasn't there. She felt a pang of disappointment in her heart, until she felt his warm breath on her ear.
"Hello again Sakura." Her heart felt like it had stopped for those quick seconds that she felt him near her, and she felt herself longing to be in his arms again. As she watched him appear in front of her she loosened her grip on the kunai, but still kept it out just in case the situation got ugly.
"How do you find you choice with my otouto?" Sakura froze. How was she supposed to answer this? Sure she could spout lies and say everything was fine and dandy but he would see through her, she always felt like he did with those pinwheel red eyes. But then again she also couldn't say that she hated it, he would probably smirk at her and tell her something like what did you expect? Finally, finding a decent choice of words Sakura looked at his face but she faltered, the words were stuck in her throat.
He arched one of his delicate eyebrows as he looked at her, waiting for an answer, but he already knew what she was thinking.
"Things are going fine, we we're just taking our time." She finally said, her voice not as steady as she had wanted it to be.
"Is that so?" He watched as she looked to the ground again, those long pink strands covering her face. Her hand that was barely holding the kunai was shaking, her grip on the weapon tightened before she let it drop to the ground.
"No. Things aren't alright." She sputtered out as she looked at him her eyes glossy she was obviously trying to hold back tears in an internal struggle she was having with herself.
"I thought things would get better after he told me he loved me. But now he seems even further away. Even though he is standing right next to me, he feels beyond my reach. I thought that I could help him, melt his cold heart, but it appears not." She looked up to the sky as a tear finally escaped cascading down her pale cheek.
"I guess I was thinking too much and I over looked one main thing. It's Sasuke, he will always be cold, even if he kills you, people don't change. I-I didn't want to betray the village, that is one of the reasons I chose him, but I don't know if it was worth it anymore." Finally her emerald irises met his and the image before him almost made him want take a picture. They would always paint pictures of angels, but this was a sad angel a once in a life time thing, and he never wanted to see her like this again.
"People do change Sakura, it's usually so small that it's barely noticeable to the outside world, but to the person, it feels like a drastic change. I've changed." Itachi said never breaking eye contact with her. Her knees gave out as her entire body felt weak, but she never hit the hard ground under her, as two strong hands caught her and held her securely. These were the arms of the man she loved, and somehow she would make it up to him, she wanted to be with him, no matter what it took, she could make it work.
"I love you, Itachi." She whispered it wasn't loud but he heard it. Her knuckles turned white from gripping his cloak tightly, she didn't want to let him go, Sakura felt like this was her only chance to make amends, and she wouldn't let it pass her by.
He didn't reply to her answer, she knew he couldn't, it was the type of man he was. From the way he was still embracing her and holding her tightly, she knew that he at least felt some sort of love towards her. Looking down at her he gently grabbed her chin and tilted it up to meet his gaze.
"Sakura..." he said as he watched her take off the ring that bound her to Sasuke. Her hand then went to his cheek and he brought his lips towards her's. She didn't have to think twice about this, about them like she did with Sasuke. She met his lips with her's in a passionate kiss. This felt right. There was no questions about it, and as he lifted her up in his arms and took her away, not once did she think that he would hurt her or that things wouldn't turn out right. She smiled at him, wiping the tears from her eyes, and let him take her away. They could make it work, even if he was a missing nin and she, a ninja of Konoha. They could make it work.
Misekake no jibun wa sotto sutete tada arinomama de…
Not all arranged marriages are bad, some actually do turn out well, and from the looks of this one, they might just make it.
-Misekake no jibun wa sotto sutete tada arinomama de Gently throw away that mask you're wearing and just be who you are now (disillusion – fate/stay night OP)
The End
Woot this is longer then my Leave a Light on Fanfic, which is dedicated to Sasu/Saku because I feel sorry for him, in all my fics he just doesn't seem to win. Poor Sasuke. Hope you Review, because I lie and say it gives me brilliant story ideas.