I do not own Naruto. If I did, I would explode of happiness!...Anyways,…Enjoy!
Sakura walked swiftly through the corridors, making sure no one needs help preparing for the dance tonight. It's going to be so fun!
A familiar blonde caught her sight. "Hey Naruto!" she yelled after her brother, trying to catch up with him. "Oh, hey Sakura. Do you need anything?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. "Nope, not really. Just on my way to the garden to help out anyone there," Sakura stated while helping Naruto carry some supplies.
"Alright. Well be careful then," he replied.
"Oh, Naruto. You're such an older brother sometimes," she finished with her famous smile.
"Hey, it's my job to make sure the princess is alive and happy," he said in a matter-of-factly way.
"Your job? So you don't do it voluntarily? It's alright, I know you love me," she said with a smirk. "I wouldn't push it that far," he shot back. "Hey!" "Just joking, you do know I love you," he finished with a laugh. "Yes, yes I do. Well I should probably get going. I don't really have time to waste the day away. Bye Naruto." "Bye Sakura."
X X X X X X X X X X
"Hey Shino, you're coming tonight right?" Sakura asked him as she helped out some of the maids with carry some boxes over to the old abandoned building behind the castle were the dance was going to take place that night.
"You know it Sakura!" he replied in a cheerful voice. "What about you Shikamaru?" she asked the commander of their kingdoms army. "You know that I wouldn't miss it for the world!" he exclaimed as well.
"That's great to hear guys, see you tonight then," she replied with a smile. "See you tonight then!"
"Bye Sakura!" both men said as she continued walking with the maid.
Both of the girls made it to the building, and started moving things around so that there was room to dance.
"Hello again princess," she heard a familiar male voice coming from behind her. "Oh, hello Prince Sasuke. What brings you here?" she asked and bowed respectfully.
"Nothing really, I heard that there is going to be a dance tonight, and I was just wondering how the decorating was going," he answered truthfully while looking around the building, a smile lightening up his handsome face.
"Oh, it's going very well thanks. And you are invited as well you know? Along with Prince Kiba, and Prince Sasori," she returned, giving him a friendly smile.
"I'll make sure that I make it tonight then. I'm sure it will be fun," he replied, the smile still plastered on his face. "Well, I must be going then. Got to get ready for tonight," Sasuke stated and said his goodbyes, then walked back towards the place he just came from.
X X X X X X X X X X
"Hey Naruto! I'm going to head down to the dance, are you going to be coming soon?" Sakura yelled outside her brother's room.
"Ya, just a minute!" he yelled back. Moments later, he walked out and joined Sakura in walking to the dance.
There were people everywhere! With lively music playing, and people dancing in a big circle. Looking around, Sakura saw maids, workers, Neji, Shikamaru, and the three princes.
She was about to enter the dancing circle, when a flash of red caught her eye.
Gaara! He actually came for once! He had his back turned to her, and was talking to some of the other stable boys that he works with. So she walked casually up to him without him noticing. She was going to tap his shoulder and surprise him, but those plans soon failed when the other stable boys seemed to notice her behind him, and bowed respectfully. This made Gaara turn around and smirk upon seeing the pink haired princess trying to sneak up on him, but failed to do so.
"Hello Princess. Is there something I can do for you?" he asked arrogantly, his friends letting out a few laughs, due to they knew all about Gaara and Sakura's friendship, and were only some of the few that did…other than a couple of trustworthy maids who knew as well.
"You could dance with me," she replied, "and stop acting like a know-it-all," She finished with a smirk of her own, then grabbed his hand and started dragging him towards the middle of the dancing floor. "Sakura, are you sure that this is such a good idea?" he whispered so only she could hear.
"Gaara, everyone's dancing, it won't look any different to them," "But you're the princess, Sakura, and I'm just a stable boy," he whispered. "Ya, exactly. Nobody sees you any different than a stable boy. That's why it would be alright to dance just one dance," she finished.
"Fine. I hope your right," he finished with a smirk. They finally entered the dance floor, the crowd splitting up a bit for the princes and her partner. Meanwhile, a new lively song started, which indicated the start of a new dance.
With twirls and laughter, Sakura and Gaara danced away having as much fun as possible. And after the dance was over, they bowed to each other, but instead of going their separate ways, they both headed towards a vacant location to talk. These parties are some of the only times they get to talk in public, and not have to worry about their friendship being revealed.
"So, having fun yet?" She smirked arrogantly at Gaara, who was sitting right next to her. He sighed sarcastically. "I guess," he said dully, earning a playful punch from Sakura. "See! I told you that you would have fun!" she exclaimed. "Ya, whatever," he added with his famous smirk that lit up his handsome face.
There was another presence all of the sudden. "Oh, hello Prince Kiba," she said with a bow. "Hello Princess," he bowed back, "May I ask you for a dance?'" he offered his hand, and Sakura feeling as if she had to, took it. Before she left, she turned her head and silently nodded to Gaara, who in returned nodded back.
Kiba led her to the dance floor and they waited for the previous song to end before they continued to dance to the next one.
"So Princess, how are you today?" he asked out of the blue, surprising Sakura. "I'm very well thanks. And you?" "I'm doing just wonderful." A smile formed on his face.
X X X X X X X X X X
Sakura noticed that she has started to feel really comfortable around this prince. Which is a good thing. After talking to him for a while, he is actually a really nice guy, who is also extremely funny, and fun to be around.
"So Princess Sakura, can I ask you a question?" he asked as he twirled her around once. "You can just call me Sakura, and sure you can," she gave him one of her famous smiles. "How do you feel about this whole arranged marriage thing?" he asked casually.
Her smile immediately vanished, and made her pause and think for a moment because she was not expecting a question like this at all.
"Actually… I don't like it, not at all," She stated truthfully. "Is that so? To tell you the truth, neither am I," he finished with honest eyes. "Really?" she asked out of total disbelief of what he was saying.
"Yes. I don't think that you can truly be happy with someone who your parents picked out for you. I think that you have to find your own true love." He stated. "That's what I've been telling my mother all along!" Sakura said with a huge grin on her face, completely overjoyed to finally meet someone who knows exactly how she feels.
"Really? That's terrific! I'm glad I meant you Sakura, you're one of the few people I know who understands what it's like to be forced to marry someone you barely even know," he finished, now having the same huge grin on his face as her's.
"Maybe we can change our parent's minds, and we could find our own true loves," she said enthusiastically. "Yes! Maybe we can!" With that, the song ended, and so did their dance.
"I hope you find your true love Kiba," she said after they bowed again. "And the same goes with you," he replied, then they gave each other a friendly hug. "I hope to see you again Princess," he finished. "And I hope to see you as well. Goodbye Kiba." She said, then they both walked away.
"What was that all about?" Gaara asked when she came back. "I found out that one of my suitors feels the same way I do, and now I have one less man to worry about marrying," she replied.
"Well that's good news. But what are you going to do about the other two?" he asked curiously.
"Just hope for the best I guess," Sakura replied as they started to make their way out to the garden where they could hear each other a little better.