Arranged

Chapter 2: Treasured Moments

It was dawn now but she had been up an hour prior to it. Her clothes were neatly folded into boxes and only momentos of the utmost sentiment were packed for travel. The old comfy couch she used to sprawl out on after missions now took residence in the orphanage. The rest of her items had been sent to homeless shelters and the hospital. And now as she sipped a hot cup of green tea, her house looked empty.

Yet she wasn't.

She had surely gone through the stages of grief. Her fists were to be charged with the battery of fifteen trees and eight boulders. She drowned an innocent handkercheif in her tears. But then she looked back at pictures of her genin and chunnin days. Such nostalgia. Hinata's short hair, Lee's fuzzy eyebrows, Ten Ten's baos and even a significantly smaller Akimaru sitting comfortably on Kiba's shoulder. She even remembered when she cut her hair in the midst of battle and fought Ino to prove that she was worthy of becoming a kunoichi. Those were truely the days she wanted to remember.

And she would.

She thought about the bad times as well. How she unknowingly witnessed Naruto release the Kyuubi in the Land of Waves. As she cradled Sasuke in her arms after he recieved the curse mark from Orochimaru. Then there were the utterly wretched times. Sasuke abandoned them, Naruto wipped her with his poison tail, the Third Hokage died, Shikaku, Kyuubi, Orochimaru, the Akatsuki.

They all made her strong. And she would remember every last detail possible. But perhaps there were new memories to be made in Suna. Other than searching for Sasuke and the Akatsuki, she had done nothing for the past few years. They flew by. And now here she was; waist-length pink hair, slightly larger breasts, fit. And last but certainly not least, eighteen years old and betrothed to an exculsive official of Sunagakure. She stood at her window and took in a deep breath while admiring the newly risen sun. The small sounds of the awakening village below could be heard and a soft smile graced her lips.

It's a new day, and soon...my new life.

Suddenly, the idea didn't seem so bad. She hadn't ever had a very romanticized relationship with anyone. Her attempts to date Kiba and Shikimaru were total busts. Kiba wouldn't stop looking at other women and she and Shikimaru had such a like thinking that it was too creepy for words. Maybe there was something new and exciting to be had with a new person.

And then it hit her. She slowly edged towards her sink and placed cup down softly. She looked wide eyed at the empty cup. Her mind was now entering a chaotic state as confusion swept through.

Who the hell am I marrying?!

How could she have been so stupid?! Was she really in such a state of shock yesterday that it had never crossed her mind? She had to find out. She reached for the phone on her wall and dialed the Hokage's office. Her body stiffened when she heard the other end pick up with a click.

"Hello?", was forced out as a gentle yawn was trying to be stifled.

"Ohayo, Shizune-san."

"Sakura-san! Good morning. What can I do for you?"

"Shizune-san" Sakura's tone got very serious "I have an urgent question."

"Hai?"

"Who am I betrothed to?"

Silenece.

"Shizune? Shizune?! Shizune-niisan?!"

"H-hai."

"Are you ok?"

"Tsunade-sama...honestly didn't tell you?"

"Iie."

"I see...Gomen Sakura-san. Can you hold on for one moment?"

"Of course."

"Arigatou."

Silence.

"TSUNADE-SAMA!!!!!!!"

Sakura nearly dropped the reciever as Shizune was heard hollering for the Godiame. Apparently, the thought had not occured to Shizune either that Sakura didn't know. After a few moments, Shizune returned to the reciever.

"Sakura-san?"

"Hai, I'm here."

"Tsunade-sama has invited you for tea at nine. Would that be ok?"

"Hai! Arigatou gozaimasu Shizune-san."

They said their farwells and Sakura hung up the reciever. She chuckled softly and imagined the quarell Shizune must have caused by waking up their sensei at this time in the morning. Seeing as how Tsunade had probably gotten drunk the night before, Sakura could only shutter at the thought of being the one to wake her up. Hang overs were not pleasant and Sakura learned that through her sensei the hard way. But for now, Sakura would just have to get ready and wait a few hours until her mentor was expecting her.

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AUTHOR'S NOTES:

So yes, Sakura is 18. Longer hair and slightly larger breasts. Still, Hinata could put her to shame-hahaha! So, the Rookie 9 and Gaara are all about 18 yrs-old, Team Guy and Kankuro are about 19, and Temari is 20.

For those of you who hate Sakura's altered appearance, I apologize but this is how I see her best. For me Sakura's short hair only suited her when she was younger in the actual series. And yes, I'm sadly a whore for long, straight hair ::sigh:: so much unlike my own.

R & R

Jocelyne

P.S. I'm betting that half of you can already guess who Sakura's soon-to-be hubby is. And for those of you who don't, you'll find out next chapter.