EDIT: This is the edited chapter because the previous one was just that bad. So yeah, I decided that it had to be re-written
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Chapter 7
– Liar –
"I do," Naruto stated, his heart clenching, screaming as he observed Hinata's joyous grin. She smiled widely, her pale lavender eyes bright, shining and gleaming. Her long, dark locks were elegantly draped upon her head, tendrils cascading to her face. A silver tiara held some locks in place as it shone. A floor-length, white netted veil was connected to the diamond tiara and reached the floor. Simple yet graceful make-up had been applied to her smooth, pale skin and she radiated beauty.
A figure-hugging white, beaded bodice, cream white dress hung to the floor and the thin, straight skirt had a slit in it which reached mid-thigh. Numerous silver bracelets clung to her arms and glittered had been applied to her skin, illuminating the Hyuuga. She was stunning, gorgeous and elegant, and attracted all's attention.
All except Naruto
His gaze remained fixed upon the pinkette nearby his 'wife'. She'd never been more regal than today, considering he hadn't seen her for two entire months. A knee-high pastel pink silk dress embraced her. It was one-shoulder only, the bodice made with flowing silk in different layers. The skirt was partly puffed before touching her thighs like a bubble dress.
Her rosette locks were loose, gently framing her angelic face. She wore no band, leaving her locks to hang naturally and unrestricted. They'd only applied light make-up, merely enhancing her abundant natural beauty. She wore the chain he'd given her and it glinted in the soft light.
They hadn't spoken since the night of her birthday
She'd deduced they had no chance at a relationship, she didn't feel for him as he felt for her. It wouldn't have worked. She would've given so much in vain while he'd be-able to leave unharmed. She wouldn't take that risk.
It had saddened him greatly, so much that he'd nearly considered taking his life. Yet he'd stopped himself, there was so much more he'd to live for. He had Hinata, Shikamaru, Ino, Kiba and those he cared for. 'And if I died, then I wouldn't be-able to see Sakura-chan,' he thought grimly, glimpsing the pinkette.
She glimpsed him in return, blinking sultry. He gulped and squirmed underneath her captivating gaze. She had a hold upon him, an effect, and it'd never dull. He pried his attention from her and forced it to Hinata. She smiled widely, her eyes shone and she radiated happiness.
Guilt overrode his system. She loved him. She adored him with her entire, big heart. She'd be the perfect, handbook wife and she'd do it happily. She'd never cheat, never step wrong and always grant his wishes, whatever they were. She'd find his favorite foods and cook them; she'd decorate the house his way and do his wishes. She'd be the doting, loving wife.
He didn't deserve her
Not one teeny, tiny bit
He needed to stop this. He needed to stop her fantasy so she'd see him in different eyes. He knew she thought him as perfect. He could do no wrong in her eyes. She deserved way better than himself.
Yet he couldn't. 'I've got to think of the club,' he thought feebly. 'They need me.'
"I now pronounce you husband and wife."
-----
"Geez," Tenten Kunai whined, "How long does it take to get married?" she questioned the incoming blonde, arms folded and eyes narrowed. "I've been waiting out here for the past hour!" She was impatient and she'd considered crashing the wedding but common sense forbade her. 'I swear I'm going to hit him,' the brunette thought, 'I'm going to hit him for taking so long.'
Naruto nodded weakly, forcefully grinning, "I'm sorry," he whimpered pathetically. Guilt still consumed him, enveloping him wickedly as he contemplated his situation. It shouldn't have happened. He shouldn't have wed Hinata, yet this mistake was irreversible. 'I've got to live with this decision now,' he thought, 'Forever.'
Tenten felt immediate sympathy for him; he seemed broken, internally broken as he approached. His usually brilliant blue eyes were dull, grayed and clouded. His hair seemed like straw, rough, uncombed and dead. He was pale and he'd lost weight, a considerable amount. She frowned softly, feeling deep regret for Naruto. 'He just got married, shouldn't he be happy?' she questioned herself.
"Hey Naruto," she whispered, taking a timid step toward him, "Are you okay?" she queried with concern. "You can't ride as me in a bike race if you're all depro you know," she teased, hoping to cheer him up. He simply shrugged with a feeble laugh.
"I'm fine Tenten-san," he responded, his voice lacking life. "I've just got a bit of a bug and I'll be fine soon!" he continued with sickeningly forced cheerfulness. "I promise I'll be good enough to ride in the race tomorrow," he stated, trying to reassure her. "I know how important this is for you."
She nodded in response, unable to speak. 'He's not okay,' she deduced. 'He's putting on such an act, he's trying to be so strong,' she thought with immense sadness welling. "You know," she began, "You don't have to ride in the race tomorrow. I'm sure I'd be-able to beat Akatsuki with some luck."
Naruto shook his head, "No, no, no I can do it. Racing is my thing; I'll be fine by tomorrow." He knew he wouldn't but he'd lie anyway. He'd lie to fool everyone into believing he was fine as he wished for none to worry about him. It was his mistake, his fault and no-one else's. He'd fix his own mistake without involving anyone.
With a sigh, Tenten gave up. She wouldn't convince him otherwise as his mind was set. She could only pray he'd really be fine come tomorrow. "Naruto I'm worried," she insisted as she took a step toward him.
She was thoroughly shocked when the blonde collapsed into her arms.
His tears soaked her and his almost emaciated form shook wildly as he wailed. Tenten hesitantly embraced him, unsure of what to do. She'd never been in this situation. She slowly pulled them to the floor and allowed Naruto to curl in her lap as she held him.
"I… I've l…ost… er," the racer stammered, "I… n…eed Sa…" he couldn't finish as Tenten silenced him.
"Don't try and talk, just let it all out," she offered, smiling down at him. "I promise that you'll feel much better after crying everything out." Naruto nodded before complying.
Tenten could only hold him as he cried. She could only attempt to comfort him. 'I'm so sorry Naruto,' she thought, 'I don't know how this girl you're crying about feels about you.'
All she knew that the girl wasn't his wife.
-----
Soft, gentle music filled the elaborately decorated hall. Various nobles gracefully stepped to the soothing rhythm, including Naruto and Hinata. They swayed, stepped and moved fluidly and without pause. They'd seemed to be one entity, one being as they danced. Yet they lacked passion, they lacked love in their movements. Only one noticed this, Sakura Haruno.
She breathed deeply, inhaling Sasuke's scent as they waltzed. She'd forgiven the Uchiha heir and they'd become king and queen again.
'Sasuke loves me,' she thought as they danced, 'I should start appreciating his love.' She sniffed softly, holding back the oncoming tears as her heels clicked against the golden-white marble floor. Her dress ruffled accordingly, accentuating her natural curves as they moved. Sasuke's hand held her lower-back possessively and she whimpered. His touch burned her, pained her while they danced. 'I can't keep wishing for a love I can't have.'
Sasuke didn't love her, and she knew this. Deep, deep inside she knew this. She was Sasuke's 'accessory' and all knew this. Yet she couldn't care, she'd marry him if he asked. She'd lost Naruto and none would compare to the carefree, boyish man she loved. 'I'd rather be loved for being his accessory than not loved at all.'
"Sakura," Sasuke's sensual voice called, "Are you okay? You seem distracted," he cooed. 'Tch, she's been silent this entire night. Ever since the wedding ceremony she hasn't been speaking, she seems somewhat sick too. I can't have her like this while we are here. People will think I force her to go out when she's sick.'
"I'm fine Sasuke-kun," she rapidly responded, smiling sweetly. "I'm just thinking today, about Hinata and I," she lied. Luckily, she'd practiced lying her entire life and so it came naturally. 'He's got to believe me; I can't have him being suspicious.'
Sasuke nodded slowly, "Hn," he grunted. 'Well they have been best friends for a long time so maybe she's feeling left out now that Hinata's married?' he asked himself rhetorically. 'Of course she's going to fell left out. Hinata and Naruto will be very busy together from now on.'
It was then that the music changed, changing the dance.
Sasuke frowned, "I've got to go Sakura, it's a partner swap," he informed while pecking her reddened cheek. He then left her, moving to the next available girl. It was Hanabi Hyuuga. He grinned wickedly as he approached, watching her smile sensually.
Sakura sighed as he departed, waiting for her next partner. She gazed downward, observing the marble underfoot. 'Everything's been so beautifully arranged for today and Hinata's been so happy today,' she remembered, 'I should be happy too. I should be so happy for her.' Tears began welling as she trembled, 'But she's marrying the man I love, she's marrying-
"Naruto," she whimpered, feeling a presence before her. She hesitantly gazed upward before her eyes widened wildly. The sun-kissed blonde stood in front of her, his eyes tear filled, his lip trembling and his body unmoving. Sakura wished to embrace him, throw herself at him yet she held back. She couldn't. Naruto was her's no more. She opened her mouth to speak yet no sound came. 'Why do you always appear like that?'
"Can I have this dance?" he questioned, his voice whispering. Sakura nodded in response, allowing him to touch her. Naruto gently clasped her body, positioning himself accordingly before they slowly swayed.
Time seemed frozen as they moved, all anger fading with each passing second. Immense longing filled both as they stumbled closer to one another, Sakura's head buried deeply upon the blonde's chest and Naruto's arms grasping her lovingly. This felt right. This felt destined, this felt perfect. His hold tightened slightly, edging them closer still.
"Sakura-chan," Naruto whimpered, "Sakura-chan," he repeated while moving. He could speak nothing else, just her name rolled from his tongue. 'Sakura-chan it's been so long,' he thought, reaching out to caress her cheek. She molded her face into his outstretched hand, sniffing consistently.
'I can't be without you,' he silently mumbled, 'After crying today I realized how much I need you. How I can't seem to function properly without you. I know I just married Hinata but I need you. I'll divorce her right now if you want because I want you, I love you,' is what he wished to speak aloud, yet the words couldn't form.
'No,' Sakura demanded, 'You can't fall under his charm again,' she thought, fighting the tears. 'You can't give into him. He broke you once, don't let him do it again!' she nodded in agreement. He wouldn't hurt her twice. She wouldn't allow it. So, wistfully she moved her face from his grasp and looked upward to his face, melting at his boyish, loving smile.
'He tried to break up your friendship with Hinata,' she recalled, 'He left you alone that morning.'
So she pushed onward, "Tell me something Naruto," she stated determinedly.
He nodded tenderly, his smile widening, "Anything."
"Tell me it's over."
------
Tell me it's over
Tell me it's over
…
Tell me it's over…
Those cruel words repeated themselves within Naruto's mind as he undressed; loosening the white tie he wore. He'd released the pinkette at that, before nodding, knowing she wanted that reaction. He'd then lied, telling her that it was over, that they'd stood no chance.
She'd begun crying, her tears smudging her mascara as she backed from him. He noted that she'd mouthed a 'thank-you' to him before fleeing, her heels echoing against the marble. He'd watched her, making no attempt to pursue the pinkette as the music changed again.
No-one had seemed to observe the scene and none questioned him. The night had continued flawlessly and he'd held all emotion as the limo arrived to receive Hinata and himself. The trip had been silent; Hinata had blushed while twiddling her thumbs anxiously before smiling at him. She'd planned something, this he knew. Yet he couldn't care what she'd conducted.
All that mattered was his crushed, shattered and fragmented heart.
When they'd reached the hotel, he'd mechanically carried her into the 5-star building and booked them into their room. Then he'd robotically stepped toward the elevator, ignoring the amazed stares and taken her to the suite. She'd giggled madly while blushing furiously before arriving at the room. She'd then excused herself, entering the golden-coated bathroom and sliding the doors closed.
He'd merely flopped to the bed and begun lifelessly undressing, preparing himself to just sleep. 'All I wanna do is sleep, sleep away the pain,' he thought, gazing at the star-shaped lights above. All other lights had been dimmed and the stars sparkled romantically. The room oozed romance and he knew what was expected of him. Yet he didn't want this. He didn't want Hinata's innocence.
He wanted Sakura, Sakura Haruno.
"Naruto-kun?" a timid, yet forced sultry voice echoed through the lavender-scented room. He slowly turned his head to face Hinata before his dull eyes widened. She wore some sort of expensive, lacy black lingerie as she stood in the doorway, blushing shyly. Her hair was loose, cascading over her shoulders elegantly. Light, carefully applied make-up coated her face beautifully.
Yet it was an empty beauty, an unappreciated beauty.
Any man would've assaulted the milky-skinned, flawless Hyuuga yet Naruto felt no urge to love her – only sinful lust. His desire grew as his eyes clouded, losing all self-restraint when she approached. She was somewhat unsteady as she neared yet this made her all the more desirable.
Once she reached him she hesitantly grasped his shoulders and kissed him. He willingly returned the gesture, deepening the kiss rapidly. 'She tastes different to Sakura,' he noted disappointedly. 'If only it was.'
Hinata pushed him downward, unaffected by his responses. 'I want to show Naruto how much I love him,' she thought, unbuttoning the rest of his shirt. 'I want to show him this love I've held for him for all these years,' she reasoned as she touched his bare chest.
Naruto allowed her free rein, it's what she wanted. 'I won't fight her,' he thought, 'She's wanted me for years now. She should be allowed what she wants. She should be allowed because I don't deserve her. I don't love her in the way she wants,' he realized pitifully, 'So I'll just keep her under the illusion for a bit longer.'
"I love you Naruto-kun," Hinata whispered shyly, watching his reaction curiously. 'I wonder if he'll say it back to me this time.'
Naruto's eyes widened as his mind cleared. 'Love?' he stated to himself. 'If I really loved her I wouldn't let her be doing this,' he thought while slowly rising, gently releasing himself from Hinata. She seemed confused, disappointed and curious at his reaction.
"It's been a long day," he said slowly, "Let's just sleep tonight." The Hyuuga nodded weakly before climbing off him, ignoring the rejection she felt.
-----
It's really over
It's really over
…
It's really over…
Naruto's cold words came to Sakura's mind as she wailed, her cries filling the lonely Haruno mansion. Her parents had arrived yet, thus the pinkette was alone within the house's walls.
She felt numb. She felt closed off from all except the agonizing emotional pain coursing through her veins. Her body felt frozen, as though she'd been placed in a freezer with the thermostat at 2 degrees. Yet the pain hadn't frozen, it hadn't stopped as she iced-over.
The pinkette glimpsed the thin, sharp knife in hand, watching it glimmer evilly in the faded lighting. She then slowly brought the blade to her wrist and placed it over her silken skin. 'So I'm going to do exactly what I always said was just a way of getting attention.'
'Well maybe, just maybe, all those kids can't be wrong about this.'
She shivered as the cold metal touched her yet she moved not. 'I wanted him to say it wasn't over,' she thought dully. 'I wanted him to take me and we'd runaway together.' She tilted her head sideways, her eyes diluting.
Then she blindly plunged the blade downward before slicing a thin, deep cut into her skin. She did this several times before dropping the knife and using her free hand to clutch her wrist. Soon the wounds began to bleed crimson. The blood came slowly at first and then it oozed out the wounds violently. Sakura did nothing to halt the flowing blood; she merely enjoyed the immense adrenaline it brought her.
She no longer felt the emotional agony; it had now been overwhelmed by pulsating physical self-harm. She grinned slowly, relishing the change of pain, relishing the relief flowing through her.
Yet, inside, though she kept ignoring it, she knew this was wrong.
So this chapter changed quite bit from the last chapter and well I hope it clarifies things and makes things a bit easier to understand. And hopefully it is just better than the other one which I'm quite ashamed of.
Love
Lorey*