I don't own Naruto.
They walked down the long corridors that lead to the throne room. Sakura knew very well what was going to happen, and Naruto knew that she knew as well. Their mother has yet another suitor/suitors for Sakura.
"Listen," Naruto started "Just be calm when you meet them, and keep an open mind. And please don't start with the tantrums." He finished while showing her his pleading face.
She gave him one of her most charming smiles. "Now come on brother, would I seriously throw a tantrum in the mist of guests?" She said sweetly while they turned a corner leading to another long corridor.
"Wouldn't be the first time." He mumbled.
"What was that?" she asked jokingly.
He sweat dropped. "I said that I think you will do an excellent job." Nice save Naruto. He mentally high fived himself.
"Ya, okay." She joked mockingly as they entered the throne room.
"Sakura!" Her mother greeted her.
Three men tuned around to face her. They all looked to be the same age as her, which is a change for once. One of them had raven black hair, all spiked up in a strange fashion. He had deep, almost black, eyes, and was about a whole head taller than her. He was very handsome.
Another had red hair, almost like Gaara's, only not that red. He was extremely handsome as well. He had boyish features, but his height proved him to not looking like a child. He was a couple inches taller than Sakura, and has deep brown eyes.
The last man was a couple inches taller than her as well, and had brown hair, red markings on his face, and dark brown eyes. He too was pretty handsome.
"Men, this is my daughter Sakura." The queen stated.
"Pleasure to meet you princess. I am Prince Sasuke Uchiha." The raven haired man introduced himself, then bowed and kissed Sakura's hand. "Very nice to meet you Prince Sasuke." Sakura replied and bowed as well.
"Hello your majesty, I am Prince Sasori Akasuna." The red headed man introduced himself, bowed then kissed her hand. "Very nice to meet you as well Prince Sasori." Sakura answered, then returned the bow.
"And your highness, I am Prince Kiba Inuzuka." He bowed respectfully, then kissed her hand. "Pleasure to meet you Prince Kiba." Sakura bowed for the last time.
"They will be staying with us for a few days," The Queen started "so I recommend that you make them feel at home."
"Yes ma'am." Sakura replied with a bow.
"Neji," Sakura's mother started "show these young men to their rooms please."
"Yes, your highness." He respectfully bowed. "This way gentlemen."
X X X X X X X X X X
Sakura collapsed onto her bed after getting changed. "What a day this has been." She said out loud, then openly sighed. "Maybe tomorrow will be better…..ya right."
*KNOCK* *KNOCK*
"Just a minute!" she shouted as she scrambled off of her bed to answer the door.
"Oh, mother. What are you doing here?" Sakura asked surprised.
"Just taking a night stroll, and thought I would check up on you." She answered.
"Oh. Well it is getting pretty late. You should probably be getting to bed soon." Sakura said.
"Well actually Sakura, I was meaning to talk to you about something." Her mother said as she walked into Sakura's room, followed by Sakura shutting the door behind her.
"Yes, what is it mother?" She asked, a little concerned.
The Queen sat down on the bed and motioned for Sakura to do the same. "When you father died, we were all desperately heartbroken. But I think that it has diffidently had the greatest effect on you. I know how you and he used to be really close, and I think that it's extremely hard for you to let him go. More than anything, I Just want you to be happy Sakura. Not just because I'm your mother, but because I love you." She side hugged her daughter. "And I think that if you marry, you will obtain that happiness you used to have, once more."
Sakura got up, walked across the room, and turned around to face her mother.
"But I don't want to marry anyone! I'm only 18! I have my whole life in front of me, and I want to have my own adventures, find my own true love." Sakura stated.
The Queen sighed. "I guess it is your decision. Maybe you'll change your mind someday. Alright sweetie. You just sleep on it okay." The queen got up and hugged her daughter once more.
"Okay mother, I'll think about it again. Good night." Sakura replied.
"Goodnight." The Queen said with a smile, then walked out closing the door behind her.
Sakura again looked at the bracelet her father gave her a couple of days before he died. This has been a nightly habit. Daddy, why did you have to go? You were everything to me and your kingdom. And we all miss you very much. And why do I have to marry? Can't I just enjoy life while I'm young? Soon after she was done looking, she jumped into bed, and drifted off to sleep.
X X X X X X X X X X
"So give me all of the juicy details." Gaara asked acting excited, folding his hands neatly on the table.
"You are such a strange man, you know that right?" she asked him while they both laughed. "Anyways, there were three men, all princes. One had raven black hair with black eyes. Another had red hair, not as red as yours of course, and he also had brown eyes. And the last one had brown hair, red markings on his face, and dark brown eyes. They were all taller than me. Enough details for you?" She finished with a smirk.
"Yes, I believe so. And I kind of expected them to be taller than you." He stated teasingly.
"What is that supposed to mean!"
"That you're really short." He smirked.
"You are by far the meanest friend I have ever had!" Sakura said while crossing her arms.
"Try the only friend you've ever had." He shot back.
This made Sakura scoff. "You know, I did say yesterday that I might fire you! So you better be careful!" She teased.
"Ya, I'll try." He teased back.
*Crunch* "Someone is coming." She stated.
"Get down!" she whispered. She got on the ground, then noticed that Gaara wasn't following, so she pulled him to the ground as well.
"Ow! You're a very aggressive princess, you know that right." He whispered.
"Oh shut up." She replied, still whispering.
They were crawling on the ground, trying to make an escape when "Princess?"
This made Sakura shoot straight up, and dust herself off. Gaara soon did the same.
"Oh, Prince Sasori, what brings you here?" Sakura asked with a charming smile. "Just exploring. But I must ask what it is that you are doing?" He raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Oh, I dropped something, and this stable boy was helping me find it." She lied. Gaara just played along.
"Ah, yes. I remember you. You took my horse when we came riding in. Gaara, was it?" He asked said stable boy.
"Yes sir, that is correct." Gaara replied, then bowed respectfully.
"Well do you two need any help?" Sasori asked.
"No thanks. We got everything under control." Sakura answered with a reinsuring smile.
"So I see, carry on then." He bowed at Sakura, then soon left.
"Very smooth princess." Gaara said once Prince Sasori was out of hearing distance.
"What!" Sakura asked…loudly.
"'Oh, I dropped something, and this stable boy was helping me find it', you could have been a little bit more explanatory, you know, actually make him believe it!" He replied, mocking her.
"He believed it!" she stated.
"Ya, okay." He said sarcastically, making Sakura fold her arms and pout.
"Well, you didn't speak like a poet either!" She shot back.
"And how so?"
"'Yes sir, that is correct' you sounded so stiff!" She returned.
He scoffed. "Like you could have done any better."
"Whatever." She replied as they started walking through the garden.
Sakura turned around and walked backwards so that she was facing him.
"You know, there is a dance tonight. Why don't you come? It will be fuuuunnnnn." She said, playfully swinging her arms.
"You know, you're gonna fall or something. Anyways, I don't know about tonight. I'll probably be busy." He said, amused with what she was doing with her arms.
"But everyone's going, so you probably won't have anything to do." She shot back. "Plus you don't have to dress up or anything. It's just a little get-to-gather." She smiled back at him.
"Fine. I'll try my best to be there." He replied with a good guy smile, which made Sakura giggle.
"No, you WILL be there. And you WILL have fun." She replied. "I got to go. See you at the dance Gaara!"
"Alright, see you then I guess." He shouted after her, and then went back to work.