Hello there, well here is the final chapter. Thank you everyone for taking the time to review. And a personal thank you to Chinweoa, I truly didn't notice that this story was not labeled under SasuSaku. So thank you, for pointing that out.
Anyway, please enjoy!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Will there be fish in there, Sakura?" Hanan dipped her hand into the cool water from the creek.
"No, this stream is too shallow." Sakura explained. She was seated on a large rock next to the water. Her green eyes were watching the younger girl carefully.
"Spring is my favorite time!" Hanan said excitedly as she hopped the water to get some fresh flowers.
Sakura smiled softly, a bitter, half smile. Something she did often now. Sakura looked around the forest; winter was her favorite season, but this year she was grateful for the change. The snow reminded her of Sasuke.
Three months had gone by since Sasuke had left. Sakura had never imagined that anything could be as painful as that. Her days now, seemed to drag on, but the nights were far worse.
For the first week after Sasuke's departure, Sakura had slept in Hanan's room because hers smelt so much like Sasuke. She hid her pain well from her family. Hanan was the only one who noticed, but she kept her comments quiet; she only voiced her opinion when their mother had tried to send Karin and Sakura on a double date with some family friends.
Hanan had openly said she hated Sakura's date. Which Sakura fully agreed to. Sakura couldn't imagine wanting to date anyone, though she knew the time would come.
Sakura glanced in the direction of her home; she suspected the time was coming quickly. Their father had been receiving and writing letters almost daily lately. Sakura noticed these thick, white envelopes about a week after the ninjas had left.
They stood out because they were such high quality. Sakura hadn't thought much of it at the time, her father was always receiving letters for his work. But now, her father actually retrieved the mail himself instead of sending a member of the staff.
Sakura assumed the letters involved her or Karin, she had noticed her father watched her and Karin more closely during dinner. He seemed troubled, the crease in his forehead indicated whatever he was thinking about would surely give him gray hair.
Sakura wasn't stupid. She knew a man was writing to inquire about marrying one of the two sisters. She just couldn't imagine what type of man had caught her father's attention like this.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Three days later, their father announced the name of his mystery correspondence at dinner.
"They are an incredibly powerful and wealthy family." Sakura's stomach sank with every word that her father said.
"Well, what do they want?" Her mother was only half listening as she twirled her wine around her glass.
"Their son wishes to marry one of our daughters, dear." Mr. Haruno smiled smugly when his wife ungracefully sputtered.
The twins stood loudly from their chairs, each babbling excitedly. Karin looked triumphant.
"Who, daddy?" Akane shouted.
"Which one of us?" Akito asked, she ignored when Karin snorted.
"Obviously me. That's not even a question. I'm the eldest and by far the prettiest. The question is, who is this wealthy man?" Karin smiled proudly.
Their father cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Karin, darling, I wrote many times about you, but they were adamant that their son wishes to marry Sakura."
The room was dead still for several moments, until Karin screamed, the twins shouted question after question and their mother poured another glass of wine mumbling soft curses.
"What was your response father?" Sakura's stoic voice quieted the rest of the table.
Her father looked her right in the eyes. "I fully agreed to this union. Sakura, this is a noble family. We couldn't ask for better."
Everyone stared at Sakura, waiting for her to put up a fight like she usually did when a suitor came along.
"Very well." Sakura pushed her chair back and stood. "Please excuse me, I don't have much of an appetite." She left the room, just barely catching her mother's joyous cry and Karin's upset wails.
Sakura raced to her room, she flew to her bed and laid there, staring at the ceiling. She knew she had made the right choice. It was bound to happen. She didn't want to marry anyone when she was in love with Sasuke, but she knew that he was never coming back. She took in an unsteady breath. This is the right choice, she lied to herself.
Only when Sakura was certain, hours later, that her family was sleeping did she let her tears fall.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Straighten those flowers! Akane, fix your hair." Mrs. Haruno fussed around the entry hall in a near panic.
Today the family of Sakura's future husband were arriving. It had been one week since the dinner announcement and Sakura had done everything in her power to avoid any talk of the subject.
She had openly told her family she did not wish to discuss the details, which they respected. Sakura did not know a thing of her future husband; not his name or place of origin. She did not care to know. She told herself she would have plenty of time to learn all that when they were married.
The only thing she had heard was her mother gushing that this man saw her at the town market once and "fell in love" on sight.
'At least he is romantic.' Sakura had thought.
She was leaning on a chair in the large entry. She stared at her reflection in the window next to the chair. She looked pretty, she supposed, in her white summer dress and loose pink curls. Sakura had avoided the heels her mother had picked, opting for a pair of muted gray flats to match the gray cardigan she had resting on the chair.
Hanan fidgeted in her purple sun dress. Sakura gave her a reassuring smile before looking back at the glass window.
The youngest Haruno had asked Sakura countless times how she was feeling, but Sakura never had a real answer.
She supposed she should be feeling nervous, or even upset, but she honestly didn't feel anything. This was her duty and that's all there was to it.
"They're here!" Hanan shouted. Sakura stayed by the chair, not bothering to turn towards the front of her house. She listened as the door was opened and her mother gave out a healthy 'Hello, welcome.'
"My, what a beautiful home!" The woman who spoke had a musical voice that made Sakura want to smile.
"Thank you, I'm Mebuki Haruno. These are my daughters, Karin, Akane and Akito, Hanan, and this," Sakura braced herself, "Is Sakura."
Slowly she turned around; the sight that greeted her stole her breath. The four most beautiful people she'd ever seen were standing in the doorway.
"Oh, my!" The woman gasped, she walked up to Sakura. "You are absolutely stunning. My son did not give you enough credit." Sakura felt her cheeks heat up.
"Thank you, ma'am."
Before the lovely woman could respond, Sakura's father entered the room, announcing that they go into his office. All but the five sisters entered the room to the right. The doors closed firmly before the twins let out girly squeals.
"Did you see them?"
"They had to be the most handsome men I've ever seen!"
"Sakura you are so lucky!"
"Which one do you think is her fiancé?"
"Who cares, they are both gorgeous."
The twins continued to babble as Sakura moved to the dining room. She sat down in her usual chair and blankly stared at the newly set up chair across her seat.
Hanan quietly crept up to Sakura, who smiled a real smile and held her arms open. Hanan climbed to her sister's lap. They stayed silent until the rest of the sisters entered followed by their parents and the guests.
Hanan moved to her seat, eying the two young men carefully, she smiled timidly at the slightly shorter one, and received a wink back. Hanan's smile grew tenfold.
Dinner commenced smoothly, Sakura's parents seemed to get along well with the guests, though Sakura hardly heard a word. She managed to tune most of the night out. The only thing she was struggling to ignore was the man across from her.
She glanced at him just once, being careful not to make direct eye contact. He truly was gorgeous; by far the best looking man she'd ever seen. His lips curved into a soft smirk when she looked at him. Something fluttered inside her, and she quickly looked away feeling guilty. She was in love with another man.
"Sakura, perhaps you'd like to take your fiancé on a walk around the woods. We can retire to the parlor for a drink in the meantime." Mrs. Haruno suggested.
"Yes, alright." Sakura stood, pausing behind her chair. She didn't even know which of these two men she was marrying. The one who sat across from her chuckled. He stood smoothly and motioned for her to lead the way.
Blushing, Sakura briskly walked out the back door. She stopped when she reached the edge of the woods.
"I'm sorry for my rudeness during dinner." She turned to look at the tall man behind her. He tilted his head. Sakura's stomach flipped, her heart pounded and her nerves took over.
"I'm just new to this. Oh! I mean you are too, I think. I don't know. I…"
"Sakura."
A choked gasp escaped Sakura, her whole body froze, tears brimmed her eyes. She knew that voice. She KNEW that voice.
"Sasuke?" He smirked, his onyx eyes looked deeply into her emerald ones.
As if in a daze, Sakura walked up to him, her fingers shook as she grazed them along his chest up to his face. Her eyes finally took in what had been hidden her all those weeks ago.
"Sasuke." She whispered again.
Sasuke smirked, he leaned his forehead against her. They stared at one another for a long period of time. Neither wanted to break the contact, but Sasuke needed to taste her. Acting on his longing he pulled her into a desperate kiss. Their hands roamed everywhere, Sasuke held her tightly.
"How?" Sakura managed to ask when they pulled back slightly. "Is this real?" She ran her fingers through his hair.
"My apologies that this took so long. I wanted to return to you immediately, but writing letters is a tedious task." Sasuke smirked.
"You had this planned since you left, didn't you?" Sakura pulled away completely, looking hurt. "Why didn't you tell me? I was miserable for months!"
Anger bubbled inside her. "I was so lost; I was going to marry a total stranger!" She gestured her arms in a wide motion at him.
"I know." Sasuke took a breath. "I wanted to tell you, but I chose not to in case your father didn't approve."
Sakura crossed her arms.
"You and I both know I needed to approach your father alone. He needed to give his consent, or we would never be together." Sasuke pulled Sakura back into his arms, his lips titled up when her eyes softened.
"You didn't tell me you came from such a prestigious family. Your name alone convinced my father." Sakura smiled.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "My families name isn't something I generally toss around."
"But you did for my sake…for my father's sake?" Her eyes twinkled mischievously.
"Hn."
Sakura laughed, pulling Sasuke down for a kiss.
"You are truly here to marry me?" Sakura whispered against his lips.
"Only if you'll accept. I won't force you."
Sakura walked a few feet away, looking over the forest. Sasuke waited patiently, taking in her beauty. After several moments she turned to face him.
"Where will we live?"
"Kohnona. In the Uchiha district. There is a large cabin a few miles from my parents' house that you can decorate to your liking." Sasuke watched her eyes light up. He smirked.
When he had left Sakura's home three months ago, he'd immediately gone to his father and demanded he gather the council. Still dressed in his Anbu gear, he told the council he had met the woman he was going to marry.
Sasuke did not let them ask questions. He told them Sakura's name, and who her parents were. He ignored the council's mumbles of approval to her family name. He continued, stating that the two would move to the abandoned cabin, which was the only place he knew that Sakura would be truly comfortable.
Then he'd clearly told them that he was going to contact Sakura's father on his own and did not want any influence to come from the council. He kept the fact that he planned to write letters as if his parents were also writing to himself, the council didn't need to know each detail.
Surprisingly, each member of the council had agreed. They had been planning to tell Sasuke he would need to marry soon anyway.
A small part of Sasuke wanted to rebel when he heard that, but looking at Sakura now, with the moon filtering through her hair, making her glow, he knew he'd made the right choice.
"I…" Sakura bit her lip. "Sasuke, I don't know how great I'll be at this whole full-time house wife thing."
Sasuke held back a chuckle, he walked up to her. "I'm positive my mother will keep you occupied. And Kohnona has an excellent hospital." He kissed her neck, but she was still stiff.
Resting their foreheads together, Sasuke took a shallow breath. "I know this is hard. I'm not an easy man. I don't speak…usually. I train obsessively and missions are my top priority when I get them. But I swear to you Sakura," He lifted her head up, "I will always be there for you. You will be the most important person in my life."
Smiling the most gorgeous smile he'd ever seen, Sakura laced her fingers through his hair.
"I love you, Sasuke."
Taking that as a yes, Sasuke pulled out a small velvet box, opening it to reveal a delicate, solitaire ring. He slipped it on her finger, then gently tilted her chin up to meet him for a kiss, one that he had thought about since the day he met her.
"Love you too, Sakura."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Well, finished finally. Please let me know your thoughts on the story. Thank you for reading!
-DarkBlossom