A plan going horribly wrong
''Naruto, I can't believe I see you, again! I am so moved…'' Sakura said in wet eyes, as she and Naruto walked in circles around the small gardens.
''Sakura-chan, likewise. I was so worried when I learnt that you had been lost. And now look at you, safe and sound at Sasuke's wedding. Things really changed fast. It feels like yesterday when you left Konoha with your dad.'' Naruto said, his face light up by a sudden overtake of nostalgia.
''Aww, Naruto-kun, let's not dwell in the past. What's gone, is gone. By the way I heard you and Hinata started dating again. I am so happy about this.'' Sakura said smiling, but not being able to prevent herself from thinking how it had gone so wrong with her and Sasuke, in the same time.
''Thanks, Sakura-chan. Hinata is a wonderful person and I can see me spending the rest of my life with her.'' Naruto whispered in relief.
''But…what about her family? I mean you know how things are.'''Sakura said.
''Me and Hina have talked about this. She is ready to do anything in order to get them to accept us. Even run away with me, if she must. But please, don't tell anyone else about this. I don't want people getting in our way, now.'' Naruto whispered, a slight hint of concern coloring his voice.
Sakura's eyes widened as she listened to him but then nodded, regaining her calm and cheery composure.
''Don't worry, Naruto-kun. I won't tell anyone, I promise. And if you guys do that, you will have my full support. Money-wise, as well, if needed.'' Sakura said patting Naruto's back.
Naruto looked at her in grateful eyes.''Really, Sakura-chan? But that's too much. I mean thanks and all but…we'd rather stand on our own feet, if you get my point.''
''Oh, don't worry, Naruto. I do get it. But in case you are in great need, I'll always be there for you. You and Hinata are my dear friends, so you can count on me.'' Sakura said.
''Sakura-chan, thanks so much. You see that's why I like you, you're nothing like that teme Sasuke. When I told him about that, he told me to go back to kindergarden, and to stay there this time.'' Naruto sneered, in the memory.
Sakura couldnt help but burst out in laughs, as Naruto's comment gave her some joy. But then remebering Sasuke, her mood fell back down as fast.
Naruto observed her mood change in curious eyes. ''What's wrong, Sakura-chan?'' he asked in a low tone, leaning in.
''Oh, nothing, don't worry. It's just that Sasuke…'' then Sakura realised she was about to spill out things she shouldnt in that particular day and shut her mouth.
''Sasuke what? Did that teme hurt you? He's so gonna get it!'' Naruto's hot headed self showed up.
''No, no, it's nothing like that. Don't worry, Naruto…I just remembered the old times.'' Sakura said faking a smile.
''The old times?'' Naruto crooked his head to the side, confused.
''Yeah…you know…when we all hanged out and stuff back then at school. It feels nolstagic, that's all.'' Sakura finished in a barely heard tone.
''Oh, that! I know how you feel, Sakura-chan! But me and the teme still hang out at times. You should join us, some day! I'll bring my Hina too and you can bring Ino and we will have a great time.'' Naruto's loud voice gave her a headache, no matter his good intentions.
''Uh, yeah, sure.'' Sakura said trying to avoid the theme, she wasnt looking forward to such a situation but she didnt want Naruto to realise anything, either. After all, it was too late. Too late…
She chatted with Naruto a while more but soon the guests were called to the dining room, after they were notified that the dinner was ready.
''I so hope that bastard Sasuke remembered to tell them to make ramen as main dish, like I told him!'' Naruto said literally running towards the big long table.
Sakura looked at her rude friend embarrased but laughed it off. Naruto was too funny to get mad at him.
She walked at her own pace and soon she was seated on the table, at a post opposite from Sasuke and his fiance and next to Naruto. Her parents were towards the end of the table and they seemed busy examining the strange dishes.
''What? No ramen?'' Naruto yelled causing the elders to give him annoyed glares.
Sakura elbowed Naruto softly, giving him the hint till he finally calmed down and started behaving more like his age.
Everyone soon started eating, and people would chat among them, making it impossible to hear what everyone was saying, unless they were sitting next to you or close.
Sakura avoided to look at Sasuke or his fiance, the whole time, too devoted to her food, which she was just playing around with, not feeling that much hungry. But still, it was better than Nao's face.
She heard a female one coughing, then tilted her head up to see Nao's satisfied expression for having got her attention, finally.
''So,…Saruka, is it?'' Nao began, looking at Sakura in cold eyes.
Sakura felt her cheeks reddening in anger.
''It's Sakura.'' The pinkette replied in an equally if not colder, tone.
''Oh, excuse me. Sasuke never talked to me about you, so you see I got some things wrong.'' Nao continued, poison lacing her voice, just as her gaze.
Sasuke started feeling annoyed, as the air was alerting for an upcoming cat fight which he wasnt very much in the mood to witness.
''Oh, weird.'' Sakura said before she could control herself. She knew she shouldnt be doing this. Sasuke would soon get a kid, damnit! And she was trying to put doubts in his fiance'.
Sasuke's surprised eyes immediately shot at her but he fast regained his composure.
Nao's eyes had got a deadly emotion flowing in them.
''We used to be classmates back at High school.'' Sasuke said, rushing to fix things.
''Oh, is that so? I am surprised you remember, Sasuke-kun.'' Nao said, faking a surprise.
Sakura looked at Sasuke , expectantly. No matter the gravity of the situation, witnessing him blowing her off as something so unimportant really hurt her.
''I wouldn't if Naruto didn't keep reminding me about it ever since or return to Konoha.'' Sasuke smirked, avoiding Sakura's hurt glare.
''Yes, we used to be good friends and still are…'' Naruto butt in finally catching up at the conversation but completely oblivious to the undertoned tension.
What? Sakura's heart shrank in her, causing her a nauseating feeling but also anger to explode in her next gesture.
''But Naruto wasn't with you at the island, Sasuke-san.'' Sakura said, looking into Sasuke's surprised eyes, determined. If he wanted to play his little mind games, she'd join along. She wouldnt have her pride stepped down so much on a single night, even if he was about to get married and have a kid.
And it seemed as if her plan succeded, because Nao immediately shot an accusing, full of doubt glare at Sasuke, who had frozen on spot, too akward to say anything.
Ha, get that both of you, idiots!
Sakura thought.
She remembers! Sasuke thought in fear, his stomach turning into knobs.
Naruto also shot a confused glance, but to Sakura.
''Excuse me now, I shall make my way to the bathroom.'' Sakura said, not leaving anyone time to say anything, as she got up in full pride and walked away gracefully.
As he watched her walk away, secretly burning in anger, Sasuke took hold of Nao's hand under the table, pleading her silently to not make a scene in front of everyone.
Nao seemed to be in a mood to act mature for once, because she pretended as if nothing had happened and continued to eat her food, after pushing Sasuke's hand away.
Once, Sakura was on the second floor, lost among some corridors, she let her tears run down, feeling so frustrated with Sasuke's indifferent and cold behavior to her.
How dare he? How dare he brush me off like that! Do I mean nothing to him anymore?
Calm down, gurl. Calm down! He is going to have a kid and become a married man! What business do you have with him? That's just not right!
Still! We have some history! He cant go on acting all careless about it! I… I am not that trivial…to him… I'm…not…
Or maybe I am…
Sakura fought inwardly with her inner self, as she leaned against a wall, hiding her face in her hands. The tears kept falling, making her feel even more self pity and angst.
''What's with that sad face? Shouldn't you be happy for your childhood friend's wedding?'' Sakura recognised Itachi's characteristical voice, and she immediatelly shot her face up to look at him.
His voice was laced with irony and something about his current intentions unnerved her.
''Did you follow me?'' she raised an eye brow, trying to read the situation.
''Not at all, I just happened to be going to the bathroom. After all, this is my house, isn't it?'' Itachi said, the same irony lacing his soft voice.
''Anyways, I do am happy for your brother. This has nothing to do with him.I dont get where you got that from.'' Sakura said, wipping her tears away.
''My pretty cherry blossom, my lil bro may be stupid but this doesn't mean I am, as well. You see, from the first moment I saw you looking at him, I realized your feelings about him.'' Itachi said slowly closing the distance between him and Sakura.
Sakura took a few steps back.
''He is an old friend. That's all there is to it, Itachi-sama.'' Sakura said avoiding his gaze.
''Are you sure that's all, milady?'' Itachi said, going even closer until they were breath away.
The sudden proximity confused Sakura but she didnt move, too akward to run away.
''I am positive, yes.'' Sakura said, forcing herself to give him a determined glare but failing.
''If that's the case, I guess you will have no problem with this.'' Itachi said, and Sakura shivered as his cool breath caressed her nose.
''This?'' she must have seemed dumbfounded, she figured. But before she had time to do anything else, Itachi grabbed her shoulders softly and pulled her in a kiss.
At first, she was too shocked to break away, not really realizing what was going on. But after the first 3 seconds had passed, she pulled away with force, slapping Itachi's hands away from her.
''What are you doing?'' she asked in a curious but also accusing tone, trying to catch her breath and recover from the shock that was still coloring her cheeks a blushing red.
'' Hmm, not bad. Not bad at all, my dear cherry blossom. That's all I wanted to see.'' Itachi said, taking some steps back to recreate the comfortable distance between them.
Sakura looked at him as if he was a mad man.
''What are you talking about? Explain, now!'' she demanded, now anger coloring her voice, as her eyes fixated accusingly on him.
''It's simple, you see. I wanted to test what your intentions for my brother were. You see, I knew you still had a sort of feelings for him, but what I couldn't tell was whether those were feelings of love or revenge. It turns out it must have been the first.'' Itachi explained, causing Sakura to glare at him even more.
'''Huh? What?'' she asked, still not realising the deal behind this.
''You see, earlier at the dinner, I ''misheard'' your conversation with my brother's fiance and you seemed to be in a mood to light up fires between the couple. That led me to think you came here with intention to create problems to Sasuke, in order to get back at him. So, as you very well guessed before I followed you here, in order to test things out.
If you were here, wanting to hurt him, then I'd think that you wouldn't push me away when I kissed you, if that meant you could rub it later on at Sasuke's face in order to hurt him. But, despite my expectations, you didn't accept me, which proves that your words before at the table were a spur of the moment, provoked by Sasuke's behavior to you. So don't worry, that's all I needed to know.'' Itachi finished, smirking satisfied at Sakura.
Sakura couldnt help but gape like an idiot at how smart that man could be. Now she realised that his position in society and his job weren't at all random.
But still, she tried to deny it.
''Well, if that's what you wanted to test with that oh so unmanly way, Itachi-sama, then rest assured that I take no interest into ruining your brother's wedding. That would be so unlike me. But next time you want to find out stuff, don't go using people like that. People aren't toys.'' Sakura said wipping of her mouth, anger still not leaving her eyes as she glared at Itachi.
''You got a point, miss Haruno. But the road to hell is paved with good intentions, don't they say?''
Sakura didnt know how to reply to that but she soon realised she didnt have the time for that, even if she wanted to, since she heard someone clapping their hands in a sarcastic motion.
Both her and Itachi shot their glances towards the direction of the sound, only to see Nao grinning evilly at them.
''Well done, Haruno Sakura. I am glad you finally proved what you like I wasn't sure of it. '' she said, as both Sakura and Itachi gave her a confused glare.
''What? Huh?'' Sakura asked, feeling her patience wearing thin.
But was that the house of the lunatics?
''You know very well what I am talking about. No point in denying it. I was here, I saw you kissing Itachi. And may I add, how unlady like of you. Using the bathroom excuse to kiss in secret with a rich stranger. Well done, indeed.'' Nao continued walking closer to them, in a threatening stance.
Itachi knew Nao's childish side but he didnt think she'd go that far.
''What are you talking about? That's not how it was! Did you only see the kiss? What about the talk that followed? Huh? What about it?'' Sakura said waving her hands helpessly in the air.
''She's right, Nao. That kiss wasn't her fault. She did push me away, afterall. Don't go making things up. You know it's not that way.'' Itachi said in a calm tone earning a grateful glace from Sakura.
''Oh, I do know. Indeed. But I don't know if Sasuke does. When I tell him things in my POV, he will have to agree with me.'' Nao said, rubbying her hands.
''What? How dare you?'' Sakura said walking closer to her in full anger.
''Nao, enough! You can't go lying about this. It's not that important, either way. And besides, what will you do about me? I'll tell Sasuke the truth in the end, so you cant go fooling him.''
Nao raised a sarcastic eye brow at Itachi.
''Will you, now, Itachi-san? If we start telling truths, then I might as well tell your beloved lil bro some things you won't be too happy about him finding. Will that do?'' Nao said, making Sakura stare at them both in confusion.
Something was very wrong with this wedding. And with this all situation. But she didnt know what.
''You win, this time, Nao. Have it your way, I don't care.'' Itachi said finally through greeted teeth.
''Good, you made a wise choice.'' Nao said satisfied.
''What does that mean, Itachi-sama?'' Sakura asked, in an innocent tone, following the conversation.
Itachi simply nodded indifferently, as if his mood had changed in a flash, and he walked away in a secretly defeated pace.
Once, Itachi was away, which didnt take too long, Nao spoke:
''It means you're a slut! And you better stay away from Sasuke. Or did you think I am stupid? I can tell you two have a past, together. But I wont let it, I wont let YOU get in the way of my happiness. I'll do whatever it takes to protect my wedding from cheap hoes like yourself!'' Nao finished, her face consued by anger.
''I dont care about your husband but calling me a slut twice goes too far, dont you think?'' Sakura asked, equally angered and almost to tears.
''Oh? Then let me make it thrice: Slut.'' Nao said in a perfectly cold apathy that only pissed Sakura off more.
''You…'' Sakura soon closed the distance between them and the sound of her hand slapping her rival's cheek filled the tensioned air.
Nao looked at her in shocked eyes, new fury coloring her face.
''Oh, so you want it that way!'' she said getting hold of Sakura's hair and banging her head against the nearby wall, making Sakura cry in pain.
''Let go!'' the pinkette yelled in fear, not sure how far this Nao devil could go.
''First, you will apologize!'' Nao said in an ordering tone.
''Never!''Sakura said fiercely, trying to get away from Nao's hold but to no avail. What saved her though was the sound of steps nearby that made both freeze on spot. Nao immediatelly released Sakura, quickly fixing her hair and dress to regain her composure.
Sakura looked at her confused, not being able to realise the amounts of her hypocritic ''talent''.
Both women looked slightly surprised as Sasuke showed up soon in the room, looking at them both in a curious gaze.
As soon as Nao saw him, she jumped into his arms.
''What's going on?'' Sasuke asked, feeling something slightly off in the atmosphere.
''Oh you see, hun, I accidentally walked on in while Itachi-sama and Haruno-san were kissing passionately. I felt so akward!'' Nao said eyeing at Sasuke in an innocent motion.
Sakura gaped at her hypocrisy, feeling more than ever the need to punch her.
''That's not how it was!'' Sakura spat out, eyes almost to tears.
Sasuke had stayed silent, secretly too shocked and angered at the sound of the news.
Then he forced his glance at Sakura. Sakura noticed his hand had become a tight fist, half hidden behind his thigh and for a second she was afraid it would soon be aimed at her.
''I see. Where's Itachi now?'' Sasuke turned his eyes to Nao, completely ignoring Sakura's protest.
''He excused himself and went back. Poor Itachi, I am sure he felt embarassed. Miss Haruno, you know, kissing men you dont know in other people's houses like that, isn't not very kind. Do you find our party that boring?'' Nao mocked her, giving her an evil glare of victory but Sasuke had already blocked her out after the first sentence.
He pushed Nao softly away and walked in a fast pace, following the route Itachi had taken before, which lead back to the dining room.
Sakura and Nao both stared after him, wondering what had got to him. And as realisation slowly settled down into them, they both ran after him, as if a lighnting bolt had striken down on them.
''What happens is all your fault, pink-head.'' Nao said under her breath as she ran but Sakura was too worried to hear her.
As soon as the girls entered the almost empty dining room-gladly most of the guests had finished eating by now and already had moved to the gardens for a drink- they froze on spot at what they saw.
Sasuke had punched Itachi with all his might.
TBC