Arranged
Chapter 5: Explainations
Sakura and Ino stopped at the rooftop before her apartment. When they looked down they saw none other than whom they'd expected. Naruto was knocking madly at the door while Hinata attempted to calm down her boyfriend. Shino and Kiba tried to pull him off. And as usual, everyone that wasn't involved just stood there watching the humiliating display.
Sakura sighed "Guess this was to be expected...especially of Naruto-kun."
Ino nodded and chuckled "He must have almost died when he read the flier." Sakura imagined Naruto going around and trying to find the bastard who printed such 'lies' about his teammate. But it was the truth, and sooner or later Naruto would just have to except that. The two kunoichi finally decided it was time to jump down and join their friends.
"Ohiyo" Sakura began, which made everyone look straight towards her. A distraut Naruto came to the head of the small crowd accompanied by his girlfriend.
"S-Sakura-chan" Naruto stuttered "Y-you're leaving us."
She suddenly felt a pain in her chest. And then she felt like the one person who had hurt Naurto like this before. Sasuke. It digusted her to think that she would cause her dear friend such pain. She had to say it out loud in order to clear the air.
"Naruto...I'm not like Sasuke." She walked forward to the bug-eyed Kyuubi holder. She smiled sweetly at his surprised expression. Apparently he hadn't been thinking along such lines to begin with.
"Sakura-chan! I never meant..." But Sakura shushed him and he complied. She looked at the Hyuuga heiress to reassure her. Hinata nodded with a small smile and stepped back. The pink-haired nin hugged her friend close "I know what you meant. But I'll never leave you. Not truely. You're like my brother Naruto. Besides, I'm sure you can visit me in Sunagakure after your training for Hokage is complete." She smirked at him widely "Or I'll come visit you." Naruto obviously brightened up at his friend's words and gave the good guy pose.
"AH. A BOND BETWEEN BEST FRIENDS! IT WILL LAST FOREVER. I AM WILLING TO BET MY LIFE ON IT!!!!" Lee swooned as everyone else sweatdropped at his performance. Sakura chuckled softly with an embarrased grin. Naruto just nodded with certainty.
Ino finally chimed in "Hey! Why don't we all have a small farewell party in the courtyard of the Kazekage's Office?!"
Ten Ten stepped up "That's a great idea. Hinata-san, your cooking is great! Why don't prepare some?"
Hinata blushed softly "O-ok but I'll need some help."
"I'll help" Sakura replied excitedly.
"Me too!" Ino added "I make some mean western pastries."
Temari raised her hand with her signature grin "I'll help as well!" Everyone suddenly stopped and turned towards Temari. She look confused and angry all at the same time. Everyone shuttered, trying to forget the infamous Christmas Disaster from last year. Sakura laugh shakily "Temari-san, you could wash dishes." The sand kunoichi crossed her arms in defiance but eventually caved in. She mumbled under her breath "How was I supposed to know not to add that radioactive shit?!"
Sakura just chuckled and resumed the plans "The guys can go out and buy plates, utensils and other things. Naruto, you go ask permission from Tsunade-sama."
Naruto nodded "Got it! This is gonna be great! Our last party with Sakura-chan." Naruto suddenly looked sad again. Sakura patted his back "Don't worry so much. Besides, you're one of the shinobi who are going to be escorting me to Suna the day after tomorrow." Naruto smiled softly and left to tell Tsunade.
Ino took authority "Ok! Women in the kitchen, men go to the store. Hinata-chan?"
The Hyuuga heiress turned abruptly "Y-yes Ino-chan?" Ino smiled "Do you have an idea of what to cook tonight?"
"Well, i-it's such short notice...There are a lot of sushi and sashimi combos that I could try."
Sakura nodded "That sounds nice. Ok then, lets head to the Hyuuga compound and begin preparing."
And so they were off.
At the Hyuuga Compound :
It took only about fifteen minutes for the girls to get there. They were all assigned specific duties. Hinata was basically head chef so she decorated her dishes. Ino watched over the rice. Ten Ten chopped an rolled rolls. And last but not least, Sakura and Temari cut the fish. The two kunoichi were not too pleased with the task when first assigned but as they went, they started up some interesting conversations.
"So" Sakura asked curiously "What's he like?" She couldn't help but ask Temari about Gaara. After all, she was his elder sister.
Temari leaned in and whispered, which Sakura found strange but did the same. The sand nin smirked mischeviously "Two words...Multiple. Orgasms."
"NANI?!!?!?!?!!?!" Sakura nearly chopped her finger off and kept a horrified expression on her face.
Temari sighed happily, "Yeah. He seems a bit withdrawn and totally lazy. But when he gets into it, Shikamaru can really surprise you!" Sakura still stayed pale. A bit relieved that there was no incest involved in this convo. Yet, disturbed by this bunch of info that she so didn't need to know.
"T-Temari-san, I was asking about Gaara-san...not ummm..." Both Sakura and Temari were tomato red. Temari recovered slightly as an 'oh' formed on her lips. She sighed and then smiled "Well, Gaara. He's...complicated. But," Her eyes brightened a bit "He's really good with the young gennin. He's hoping one day that he'll have a bunch of his own kids." Sakura sweatdropped a bit "A-a few?" Temari nodded, obviously not realizing what she was implying for Sakura "Yep, can you imagine Gaara with six kids?! Ha!" She looked over to the pink haired kunoichi next to her. The knife shook prefusely in Sakura's hand as she kept trying to cut the fish.
Temari was suddenly hit with realization "Oh Sakura-chan! I didn't mean to. Ummm, what else? Ah! He's very into romance and he has good tastes and respects women and he's very responsible." Sakura laughed nervously "Temari-san? What does he think of me? Has he said anything?" The sand kunoichi suddenly turned away and tried to act as if she was concentrating on cutting fish. Sakura put a hand on Temari's shoulder. She looked up "Well...Sakura-chan, you have to understand that he's only seen your skills as a medic nin and..."
"Temari! What did he say about me?!" Sakura was now overly worried.
Temari sighed "He said...you're weak."
Silence.
"And that's why" Temari struggled "He bought you the necklace. He thought it might keep you from crying." Temari looked up but then suddenly wished she hadn't. Sakura had a death glare visibly aimed towards the piece of fish she was mutilating. Temari just turned back to her fish as well. It was her turn to be shakey with the knife.
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AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Ok, so now I think that this chapter has to be the worst. I apologize for the sappiness between Sakura and Naruto in the beginning. When I re-read it, it made me wanna lose my ramen. Maybe I'll go back and revise the chapter later on. I kind of like the small confrontation between the future in-laws though. I'm not so sure how I want Gaara to come off but I'll bullshit something. If there's one thing I'm good at, it's pulling things that don't make sense from thin air.
R & R,
Jocelyne