Wooh! The next chapter! Hope you like it!
"UGH!" Sakura yelled to the mirror. She had been trying on dresses for the past hour. Every dress she had tried on her mother, and Shikamaru's mother would disagree on it. Sometimes one would like it and the other hated it. Neither could decide. Isn't this supposed to be my wedding dress not theirs? She thought bitterly to herself. "Mom! I'm sick of trying on dresses!" Sakura groaned to her mother. At the moment Sakura was wearing a bright pink wedding dress. It looked absolutely horrible on her. The bright pink didn't at all bring out her features, and was way to girly for her liking. Plus, wasn't a wedding dress supposed to be all white?
"Sakura, stop your whining. This is a very important process! We have to get this right. You don't want to look bad in front of Shikamaru do you?" Her mother asked.
"Well, no I don't want to look bad, but isn't this supposed to be my choice not yours?" Sakura countered.
"Of course it is. But honey, honestly a mother knows best." Her mother said smiling smugly to herself. Shikamaru's mother of course agreed.
"Whatever! I'm going to try on one more dress and if neither of you agree with it, I'm leaving." Sakura yelled with a huff, leaving to go try on another dress. Sakura was sick of trying on dresses. Yes, she needed to find one for the wedding which was in a eight days. Her parents informed her of this yesterday. She was in a great deal of surprise when she found out.
~ Yesterday ~
"Sakura! Come in here!" Sakura groaned but walked into the living room were both her parents sat. Takeshi looked rather bored sitting next to his wife. No doubt the wedding planning was driving him nuts. He was happy for his daughter but all the planning gave him a headache. He couldn't understand how women can go through all of this stress. How can one have a hard time choosing the guest list? You pick people and invite them. But of course women have to make it more complicated then it needed it to be.
"Yes mother? What do you want?" Sakura asked her voice sounding irritated.
"Come sit." Hana gestured for her daughter to sit in the arm chair across for them. "I have some great news about the wedding!" She gushed to her daughter, who didn't at all seem excited about it. Of course Sakura's realization/dream earlier that morning changed her mind about everything, but she still didn't want to get involved at all with the wedding. It would drive her insane, sitting there and planning it all.
"What about the wedding?"
"We set a date!" Hana squealed. Takeshi sent his daughter a look that clearly said 'why did I marry this women'. "We set it for July 30th!" Sakura's jaw dropped open in surprise. She defiantly wasn't expecting that. "Honey close your mouth! That is not very lady like!" Hana scolded.
"Wha—What? Why so soon?" Sakura muttered. "I mean we just got engaged a few days ago! What's the rush?"
"Well you see.. Ayumi and I think that the sooner you get married the better!"
"But that's nine days away! Isn't that too soon. How are you going to get this all done in nine days?" Sakura yelled exasperated.
"Honey, Ayumi and I have been planning this wedding for months!" Hana told her daughter.
"Months!" Sakura yelled. "How have you been planning this wedding for months? I mean I would have found out by now, and we just got engaged?"
"Well, your hardly home when we do plan it. We have to be prepared. Do you honestly think we are that dumb. Who do you think we are? We are more then prepared for this wedding." Hana said frowning at her daughter.
"Sorry.. but honestly I should have found out."
"Well, Ayumi and I hid it quite well. Even your father didn't know about the planning until a month ago."
"I wish I didn't know about it at all." Takeshi muttered. His wife sent him a look, and he shut up. Never mess with your wife when they are planning a wedding. It will clearly get you killed!
"I see, if that's all I think I'm going to go to my room." Sakura began to leave the room, but was stopped by her mothers voice. 'What now?' She thought.
"I wasn't done yet! I have more news!" Hana said cheerfully once again. The noise began to ring in Sakura's ears becoming an annoyance.
"And that is?" Sakura tried to make herself sound normal but it came out more irritated and angry sounding.
"Don't use that tone with me, and tomorrow do you have any plans?" She asked her daughter.
"No, but I was thinking about helping out at the hospital again. Tsunade gave me the day off, but I think I'll go in anyways."
"Don't go in. I have set an appointment to try on dresses tomorrow." Sakura groaned loudly. She hated trying on clothing. She rather spend the day with Shikamaru then go dress hunting.
"Fine." She said reluctantly leaving the room.
~Present~
That's how Sakura ended up at the dress shop. It was a painful process for Sakura, but she's survived it so far. Putting on the final dress, Sakura looked in the mirror that was hung in the dressing room. The dress was beautiful. It was a strapless dress that fit perfectly. A light pink bow hung loosely on her waist. It wasn't your typical wedding dress, but Sakura found it to be perfect! Sakura twirled around in a circle like a little girl. Which was kind of hard because of the length of the dress. She chuckled to herself, smiling brightly. Walking out of the dressing room, both the mothers looked at Sakura in surprise. Their mouths hung open briefly, before turning into huge grins.
"That's perfect." Hana yelled, while Ayumi yelled, "Simply beautiful!" They both ran over and gushed over the dress.
"Do you like it?" Sakura asked shyly.
"Of course we do! This is defiantly the dress!" Hana said reassuring her daughter. Sakura smiled twirling for them slowly. She was extremely happy with the choice.
"Good because this is the last dress I'm ever trying on." The others laughed at her words. I can't wait for Shikamaru to see me in this! Sakura thought happily.
~Parents are a Drag~
Shikamaru sighed as he finished his duties for the day. What Ino had told him was making him second guess himself about Sakura. Did she really like him? Or was Ino just trying to make him feel better because he liked Sakura? Now he had to know how she felt. So as much work as it would be he had given himself his own mission; go snooping around to figure out Sakura's feelings toward him. The main problem; where to start?
Maybe I'll just start with her room, Shikamaru thought as he headed to the Haruno household.
~Parents are a Drag~
"Hey dobe where's Sakura?" Sasuke questioned as they returned home from their week long mission. Sakura always met them at the gates when she couldn't go with them but here they were at the gates and no Sakura.
"I don't know teme maybe you finally scared her away." Naruto replied making fun of the poor boys attraction to the pinkette.
"Cut it out you two." Kakashi told them not taking his eyes from his book. "Shes headed this way."
"Wha? How do you-"
"Naruto!" Sakura shouted cutting off what Naruto was asking. Before he knew it Sakura was in his arms hugging him. Chuckling, Naruto hugged her back.
"Hey Sakura!"
"Man I missed you." Sakura said then let go and looked up at the other two males. "I missed you guys too Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke."
"Sakura how many times do I have to tell you that I'm no longer your sensei." Kakashi stated but a hint of a smile was on his face. Sakura blushed and rubbed the back of her head sheepishly.
"Sorry old habits die hard..."
"What are you talking about Sakura he was hardly a sensei to us, still always reading those pervy books of his." Naruto said to her and Kakashi sweat dropped. I get no respect, Kakashi thought sadly.
"He was still our sensei Naruto and just look how you turned out, you can't say Kakashi didn't have some influence over your improvement." Sakura said to him and Kakashi threw his arm around Sakura at her statement.
"That Naruto is why Sakura is my favorite pupil." Kakashi told him and Naruto started whining.
"Why were you so late?" Sasuke questioned interrupting the three. Sakura looked at him as she remembered why she was late before she turned away and blushed.
"I was trying on dresses..." Sakura mumbled not looking at any of them.
"Did you just say what I think you said Sakura?" Naruto asked incredulously and Sakura nodded sadly. "What were you trying on dresses for?"
"Oh right you all don't know." Sakura said remembering they were all gone when all this happened. The three just looked at her confused waiting for her to explain. "I'm getting married."
"Your what!" Sasuke surprisingly shouted in disbelief, the other two stunned silent.
"Well my parents had arranged it for me when I was a baby..." Sakura told them.
"Who's the lucky guy that's marrying my Sakura?" Naruto questioned wrapping his arm around Sakura and holding her to him. Besides Shikamaru, Naruto was Sakura's absolute best friend.
"Um...Shikamaru." Sakura muttered quietly slightly embarrassed. Naruto blinked and looked down at her.
"Shikamaru Nara? The laziest shinobi in our year and possibly ever?" Naruto exclaimed and Sakura sighed but nodded. "Do you want to get married to him?"
"I don't know Naruto. I thought I didn't, but some things happened and well it might not be that bad."
"You can't get married to him!" Sasuke shouted getting everyone's attention. He was hardly ever concerned about the pinkette's affairs. So why now?
~Parents are a Drag~
Shikamaru sighed as he searched some more. Her room had things of little value in discovering her feelings toward him. He noticed a few things he had given her a long time ago in her room and that gave him hope. If she still kept the gifts he gave her then she might like him but then it could just be because they were best friends. To be sure he then went around asking people that were close to her.
Some of them gave him hope, like Hinata.
"Shikamaru is this about Sakura?" Hinata asked as he beat around the bush on what he wanted with her. Sighing Shikamaru nodded.
"Does she ever talk about you know the wedding?" Shikamaru questioned her and Hinata laughed knowing what he really wanted.
"She never flat out says it but I believe Sakura likes you more than she lets on."
"How do you know?" Shikamaru asked wanting something more solid then an 'I believe.'
"Well when we talked about the wedding she began ranting about you and how lazy you are but she had that sort of fondness she has when she talks about you. She probably doesn't even know she does it but even when she's irritated at you it sounds like she doesn't actually care." Hinata told him smiling. "I hope that helps Shikamaru but I have to go, Kiba wanted to train."
"Thank you Hinata." Shikamaru said as she left him.
He was quite happy about that bit of information and he wished he had stopped with Hinata. Instead he moved onto Sai one of Sakura's old teammates.
"Sai has Sakura ever talked to you about the wedding?" Shikamaru asked flinching at his fake smile when Sai turned to him.
"Ugly was ranting about it in the forest earlier this week punching the crap out of everything in her path and I believe she was talking about you when she yelled bastard and good for nothing lazy ass."
"Uh thanks Sai." Shikamaru stated a bit discouraged as he walked away.
So now he planned on doing a little spying. Naruto and the rest of her squad was coming home from their mission today and Sakura always met up with them at the gate upon their return. He was sure Sakura would tell them about it and he wanted to see her reactions. He was left disappointed after five minutes and Sakura had yet to mention it. That was until Uchiha asked her this,
"Why were you so late?"
Shikamaru had no idea this question would lead to what he wanted to know and despite his dislike for the Uchiha he thanked him.
"I was trying on dresses..." Sakura mumbled looking embarrassed. Shikamaru mentally laughed so as to not expose him as he thought about Sakura trying on dresses.
"Why were you trying on dresses?" Naruto asked and Sakura's eyes lit up as she remembered what she had neglected to tell them.
"Oh right you all don't know." Sakura said and the three looked at her expectantly and Shikamaru wished she would just spit it out already. "I'm getting married."
"Your what!" Uchiha shouted in disbelief making Shikamaru frown. He knew Sasuke liked Sakura still. Even after he beat him to a pulp and warned him to stay away Shikamaru knew he was still giving Sakura signals albeit more subtle ones. Sakura didn't seem bothered.
"Well my parents had arranged it for me when I was a baby..." She said like that was the only explanation he needed. Sasuke fumed silently but Naruto brightened up and pulled Sakura to his side.
"Who's the lucky guy that's marrying my Sakura?" Naruto questioned and Sakura blushed looking away from him but in direct view of Shikamaru so he saw her blush. Interesting...Shikamaru thought with a smirk as she grew embarrassed.
"Um...Shikamaru." Sakura muttered growing more embarrassed and a sort of pride filled him at his ability to make Sakura so flustered. He even was able to ignore Naruto's comment about him being the laziest ninja especially after he asked the question he'd been dying to know.
"Do you want to get married to him?"
"I don't know Naruto. I thought I didn't but some things happened and well it might not be that bad." Sakura replied and Shikamaru smiled. So she wasn't sure, and she was leaning towards wanting to be with him. Shikamaru didn't know what happened to change her mind but he thanked whatever did because now he could try and convince her he wasn't that bad. Even though he wasn't excited about the effort it would take, for Sakura, it was worth it. But a certain Uchiha had ruin his moment.
"You can't get married to him!" He shouted and Shikamaru wanted to strangle him. Sakura rose an eyebrow at him.
"Why not Sasuke?"
"He's too lazy, he wouldn't be able to treat you right, the way you should be treated." Sasuke said and Sakura's brow knitted in confusion and Shikamaru cursed the Uchiha. Why can't he just leave my Sakura alone! Shikamaru thought shocking himself.
"How is that?"
"With love, I love you Sakura." Sasuke admitted and Sakura looked at him in shock.
"Woah Sasuke...That is so out of character for you." Sakura admitted not sure what to really say to that.
"Sakura I can treat you so much better than Shikamaru, you can't marry him."
"Back off Uchiha." Shikamaru snarled joining the group. He had enough and he was pissed that Sasuke was trying to take Sakura from him. Sakura looked at him in surprise as he stalked toward Sasuke. Biting her lip Sakura tried thinking of a way to stop him, she rarely saw Shikamaru get this angry but when he did it wasn't a pretty sight.
"Or what Nara? It's her choice, she should know she has options." Sasuke spat.
"Ehehe guys calm down." Naruto said getting in between the two. They both just turned their glares to him.
"Stay out of this dobe."
"Get out of the way Naruto." Shikamaru agreed. Naruto stayed put but as soon as the two tried to attack him he jumped out of the way giving the two access to the other.
"It's an arranged marriage Nara you don't have rights to her!" Sasuke shouted dodging Shikamaru's shadow.
"I know that!" Shikamaru shouted punching him from behind. "Telling her lies is what I'm mad about!"
"You think I don't love her. I wouldn't have made myself look like an idiot if I didn't!" Sasuke growled punching Shikamaru back.
"No, that I wouldn't take care of her! I'm lazy not stupid!" Shikamaru yelled finally capturing Sasuke in his shadow. The shadow formed into a hand that slowly wormed its way to Sasuke's neck intent on choking him. The hand gripped Sasuke's neck when Sakura stood in front of Shikamaru blocking his concentration and causing him to release the jutsu. She held her hand out to him to help him up from his kneeling position he was always in after using his shadow jutsu and he took it.
"That's enough Shikamaru." Sakura told him her voice not giving any hints on what she was thinking. After he was upright she turned away from him and towards Sasuke. "Sasuke, I'm flattered that you care so much about me, but I don't love you."
"So your going to marry him." Sasuke responded with a sneer as he looked at Shikamaru.
"It's complicated." Sakura said before turning to Naruto and Kakashi who was surprisingly still there. "Our traditional ramen trip later?" Sakura questioned and Naruto broke out in a grin.
"Of course Sakura! It's my treat this time." Naruto said hugging Sakura one last time. Kakashi smiled at her giving a small nod and a wave before he disappeared in smoke. Smiling at her teammates she turned to Shikamaru.
"Come on Shikamaru, let's go find Choji and some clouds." Sakura suggested walking away leaving him to follow after he glared at the Uchiha one last time.
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