"God damn it, a substitute again? Ugh!" Sakura whined as she and Ino read the note taped on Asuma's door the next morning. Ino followed her groans. "And worse, it's Kakashi. Old fart never does anything." Sakura agreed and they both walked into the room and to Sakura's surprise, Sasuke was actually smiling.

Or rather, forcing himself to smile.

"Oi, what's with that face?" Sakura sneered. "It's not like you. Stop that, it's really creeping me out. Dude, you're twitching, stop it. Seriously." The boy, as usual, disobeyed her and continued fake-smiling. Sakura couldn't take it anymore and cursed. "Okay, what's up?"

Sasuke stopped smiling and closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. He turned to look at Sakura, whose eyebrows were raised, obviously demanding an answer. His hand shifted from his forehead to his mouth, as he breathed heavily. "Listen, I'm not doing this because I like you or anything.." He began.

"Wow, great way to start your answer." Sakura saw his eyes turn angry, and she immediately apologized. "Sorry, I'll keep quiet."

Sasuke bit his inner lip and eyed the girl for a moment. He sighed once again. "I need you to be my fiancé."

Sakura stared blankly at the Uchiha, not quite comprehending his words. "I'm sorry. What? And say it in simpler terms this time please." Sasuke looked as if he wanted to murder a whole entire school.

"It's just pretend. I need you to pretend to be engaged to me for a while," And as if it was the most disgusting word ever to exist, he added, "Please."

Sakura's mouth was slightly opened, and her eyes were still blank and set on her seatmate. This remained for a while, until Sasuke grumbled along the lines of "bad idea."

"Why me?" Sakura questioned in shock, her words barely audible. Sasuke gave her a look, meant to say "Are you seriously asking me this, you should know why." Sakura grasped his look. "Okay, well why?"

"It's this family tradition thing. If I don't find someone by the time I'm eighteen, then I will have to marry someone chosen by brother." He explained, with a tiny hint of worry in his voice. Sakura nodded, understanding the situation. However, she once again turned to him with a shocked look plastered on her face.

"WAIT, so I have to marry you next year? Then no, I'm not doing it. Definitely not."

"No, god damn it. I'm most likely going to own the company next year, so then I don't have to do it. Really, we're only doing this marriage thing just in case." Sakura gave him an anxious look. "Okay, I promise to you, I will own the company next year, and I don't have to marry you."

"Why and how are you so sure about that?" Sakura raised her voice. "You have a brother right? How do you know he won't take over the company? Huh?"

Sasuke gave him the same look he had just given her when she asked why she had to be his pretend-fiancé. Sakura mouthed a "why." "You know that high class restaurant we ate at the other day? My brother owns it. Also he impregnated a woman a few years back, when he was chosen to lead the company. My uncle, who has been the CEO of the company for ten years, saw it as a sin, and asked me to take over the company instead."

"Well, why did he do that? What about the marriage thing or whatever?" Sakura continued to question, Sasuke getting annoyed.

"He didn't want to take over the company. That's why he did it." He sounded aggravated. "And I'm pretty sure my brother will like you so,"

"Wait, so your brother have to choose the woman for you? Why not your parents or your uncle?"

Sasuke remained quiet.

"Hey, I asked you-" Sakura began and Sasuke quickly growled at her. "Just do it. Please."

Sakura could clearly see the annoyance on Sasuke's face. Should she do it? She would be the target of many girls in the school, not that she already wasn't. Wait, she didn't even know if the matter would be kept secret or not. And she didn't like Sasuke like that, or so she thought. She's never met his family members either. She also hasn't had a boyfriend in a long time. Not that he would really be her boyfriend anyway, just pretend.

"Fine." Sakura muttered, a bit angrily and unsure.

"Good. We're buying rings after school." Sasuke said, relieved.

"Rings?"

Sakura found herself in a heaven of grand and impeccable jewels. "Dude, we're in..like a real jewelry store. Like, the ones on tv..the ones with jewelry only royalty can afford." The store was secluded, except for Sakura and Sasuke and the employee behind the counter reading a book. Sasuke jeered. "My brother isn't stupid, Sakura. We have to make this look as believable as possible."

"Well are you sure you can afford even the light bulb in this store, I mean you're not a company owner yet, you know." Sakura's eyes wandered to a bracelet. "This is divine, man."

"We're looking for rings, Sakura." The Uchiha drawled, eyeing a couple of rings.

"Sasuke, are you sure about this? I mean, we're only doing this just in case right? So why do it at all?"

"You just answered your own question, stupid." Sasuke retorted. "Help me find some rings."

The two searched the store for rings, getting into arguments with every ring they examined. They came across a ring, simple yet so beautiful. "I like that one," Sasuke announced. Sakura nodded, admiring its beauty. It was white gold, and in the center of it was a prong-set, princess-cut diamond. Sasuke cleared his throat loudly, grabbing the attention of the employee. She walked over to the duo. "You guys want this one? Nice." She commented as she unlocked the case. "I'll just need to give me your sizes and we're all set."

"I feel like a princess wearing this ring." Sakura had been stretching out her hand and adoring the ring for the past twenty minutes, as the two sat in Sasuke's brother's restaurant. "Wow man, it's..real diamond. I can't believe I'm wearing it."

"Shut the hell up already. You also have to meet my brother in a little while. Act how a happily engaged woman would act." Sasuke snapped.

"Damn, Sasuke, don't be so tense. I got this."

"Sakura, Sasuke," greeted a familiar voice. Sakura turned to see it was the red-haired prince from the other day. He eyed Sakura's hand, which was still held out. "Oh, I see. No wonder. Congratulations, Sasuke."

"Sasori." Sasuke nodded. "Where's Itachi?"

"He's talking to someone on the phone right now. In the meantime, what do you two want to eat?"

"I'll have the cheesecake and water," Sakura said. Sasori nodded and turned to Sasuke and said, "We're out of tomatoes." In an annoyed tone, Sasuke uttered, "Cheesecake, then." Just in that moment, a man in a dark trenchcoat and glasses walked up to the table. "Ah, Itachi," Sasori greeted as he walked past him. The man took of his glasses and turned to Sasuke and Sakura.

Sakura widened her eyes. She might as well be seeing double, if it wasn't for the dark circles and lines under the man's eyes and longer hair. Other than that, he was pretty much another Sasuke.

"So this is the girl you're marrying?" Itachi looked at Sakura. "Not bad, little brother."

"Whatever," Sasuke grunted. "This is Sakura Haruno."

Sakura gave a little bow and said, "Hi. Pleased to meet you." Itachi fixed his eyes on the pink headed girl until he asked, "Let's get to it. Why did you agree to marry Sasuke?"

Sakura mentally jumped at the question. Oh crap what do I say, she thought. She looked at Sasuke whose face appeared indifferent but she seemed to know what he was thinking. Happily engaged woman. She smiled at Itachi. "I love him, sir. He might seem like a total asshole, but as I got to know him...he's not so much of a total asshole." She gave Sasuke an adoring smile, which the latter returned.

"Do you?" A tiny smirk reached the older Uchiha's face, and he turned to his little brother. "What about you Sasuke? Why did someone like you choose her? You're not one to choose anyone. Do you love her, Sasuke? When did you start having feelings?"

Sasuke, like his brother, smirked in return, as if he had prepared for this question. "Ever since I met her," he said. "It's hard to believe isn't it? Even I can't believe it. When her and I talk, I actually like it. I'm comfortable with her. I'm more comfortable with her than I am with anyone."

Sakura found her heart pounding upon those words, although she immediately told herself it was just an act.

Itachi chuckled. "Seems like my little brother really does love you," he said. Sasori walked up to the table, bringing the two cheesecakes and Sakura's water. Itachi continued. "Do you think you will be able to handle him once you two are wed, Sakura?"

"I'm the only one who can handle him at all," Sakura replied with a wide grin. It's true, she thought.

Itachi stared at the two and smiled in conclusion. "Take care of her, little bro." Itachi gave his younger brother a pat and turned to Sasori. "Get me a drink, Sasori, one for you too. After I make the announcement, we'll leave. Sasuke will lock up the restaurant. Best to leave these two alone for a while." Itachi handed the keys to Sasuke and stood up.

"It's only 7:30, Itachi." Sasori replied, as he obeyed anyway.

Sakura and Sasuke watched them walk away. "Dude," Sakura started, her mind petrified. "Your look so much like your brother..."

"Whatever," Sasuke rolled his eyes. The two ate their cheesecakes in silence.

xxxx

Crap, I still haven't improved my writing. Anyone care to give me some tips?

And I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Reviews would be nice. Thank you guys :3