SO! to the many readers I have pissed the fuck off, a middle finger in my direction if you please; here is the next chapter of this highly anticipated story. I am sorry for being such an asshole! Seriously, I know how you feel about discontinued stories, and I do apologize profusely at my obvious neglect! MUCH LOVE, Tati
It had been the most amazing 3 weeks of her life, on that secluded island. Team 7 and team 8 had strengthened so many bonds, and equally dropped so many tensions. More so, she had found something she had lost long ago; herself.
Looking into the mirror, she saw who she always craved to see. A beautiful, strong kunoichi; her long hair floating around her like her own aura, her emerald eyes glisten with self-assurance, her mouth tipped into a content smile. Every part of her being seemed to glow with this sort of iridescence, as if her inner-joy lit some invisible path beneath her skin.
"Sakura-chan, we are leaving!" Naruto's voice called up to her.
She smiled once at the beautiful woman in the mirror, before turning around and dashing down the stairs.
"Good morning Sakura-san." Kurenai smiled at the younger kunoichi, she was standing with Naruto waiting.
"Good morning Kurenai." She said politely, offering the older woman a soft smile.
"Kakashi, Shikamaru, Kiba, and Shino are preparing the boats; Hinata is outside waiting for us." The woman explained.
She nodded and followed the two out the door, today they were headed back to Konoha, and they had only 2 weeks left of their training time as a new squad. After those two weeks, they would be the functioning team 7. She smiled to herself; she and Shikamaru hadn't told anyone yet, aside from Kakashi who already knew and swore himself to secrecy. This would be it, when they got back they would spill the beans to everyone.
She glanced ahead of her, and her heart warmed at the sight. Shikamaru was staring at her, unabashed, his eyes gleaming with a beautiful kind of pride. He held his hand out for her as she reached the boat, and helped her hop in lightly.
"Someone look extraordinarily beautiful this morning." He whispered as she passed him.
He face turned red, and she shot him a look that clearly told him he was being a tease. They hadn't had any other physical contact after their initial kiss, maybe a stolen peck once or twice, but they had decided to take things slow; very, very slow.
She knew his reasoning was to show he wasn't there to hurt her, or catch her as a rebound. And he knew that she was making sure her heart was absolutely passed Sasuke, so she could open up to him. Neither of them was complaining, their time spent talking and sharing meant more than any night of pleasure could. They knew each other now, inside and out. She told him of every single insecurity she had, every fear and every hope for the future, and in turn he had shared his.
She stared out at the beautiful blue lake; the boys' paddles broke the water's surface gently, and sent shimmers out around them as they glided across the beautiful blue. It reminded her of the previous night.
Flashback
"We leave tomorrow…" She said softly.
He was holding her in his arms, on top of a blanket they laid out on the roof. It was 3 o'clock in the morning, they had snuck up here together, using their shinobi skills to find some alone time.
"Are you upset about it?" He asked curiously.
"No, it's not that at all… I just; have you ever wanted to still a moment, to keep it close to your heart forever?" She whispered dreamily.
He shifted, so she was lying on the blanket, and he was propped up on his elbow beside her; staring down at her face with an amused expression on his features.
"I have a lot of moments like that Sakura, but as you know well; I am a genius, photographic memories are common amongst those."
She smiled at his teasing and nipped at his chin in retaliation. He smirked at her, before stealing a quick peck on the lips.
"It's just that… I don't want to lose this feeling. This feeling of being here with you, it's like I am in an entirely new world Shikamaru; my heart has never felt such ease…" She trailed off, staring into his honey brown eyes intently.
He smiled softly at her, making her heart clench in the most delicious way.
"Sakura, do not think like that… Think of it as the next chapter. Memories are supposed to be made, so we have something to remember. We are always going to make new ones; that I can promise you." He whispered, before touching his forehead to hers.
She let her lips pull into a smile, before snuggling into his neck. They fell asleep like that, wrapped in each other's arms; underneath the pale blue light of the moon.
End flashback.
She warmed at the memory, stealing a glance at the handsome shinobi in front of her, she wondered if it held the same amount of meaning as it did for her. Said shinobi caught her eye, and she watched as his darkened with meaning; reaching out for her in such a way she wanted to cry. He made every single movement, every second seem so precious…
"We are HOME!" Naruto cried excitedly, jumping out of the boat and racing to the other one to help Hinata jump out.
Kiba glared at Naruto, and hopped on Akamaru to take off. That was one relationship that wasn't doing very good after this trip. Hinata had always had feelings for Naruto, and now he was noticing just what kind of woman Hinata had turned into, their new romance was blossoming slowly but surely; much to the distaste of the Inuzuka heir.
She shot a glance at Shikamaru again, who was waiting with his hand out for her. She smiled and raced over to him.
Shikamaru POV
She was day dreaming the entire ride, her face bore a pretty pink tinge; and he could only smirk, he knew she was thinking about him, he was as proud as ever. He had somehow managed to win her heart, though he thought for sure it would be harder. Kakashi's words popped up in his subconscious; because if you peruse her, she will let you in. And when she does you will see that Sakura loves with complete abandon.
He could see it now, he could feel it now. She trusted him, this beautiful creature was his.
"Haruno Sakura, you are summoned to the Hokage's office immediately." A voice broke his happy thoughts.
His eyes narrowed immediately as he looked at the ANBU standing in front of them.
"H-hai, I am coming." She said awkwardly, as this was not an expected call.
He only nodded to her, silently saying he was coming too, before the transported to the Hokage office in a cloud of smoke.
Sakura POV
"What is it, shisou?" She asked, they had just walked in the office to meet a very angry Tsunade.
Her mentor was glaring at the wall, not looking at her. While the council stood off to the side of the room, looking rather irritated at the Hokage.
"Sakura-chan, it seems we have … a rather irritating political battle on our hands here. I have been conversing with the council for the past week over this matter and am forced to tell you I bear very bad news."
Sakura was confused, what on earth could be going on here? She had never committed a crime, she had never swayed from her allegiance, and she had never… NOT done her duty…
"The sole heir to a very prestigious clan had requested that you become his bride."
Sakura's mind went blank as she stared at the old woman, the council member whose name she could not even remember in her shock. She heard Shikamaru hiss behind her.
"W-who…" She barely whispered, she knew full well her situation was bleak at this moment.
She belonged to no prestigious clan, her parents were civilians, with no real wealth or worth… and she was a high ranking shinobi… with one command she could be married off by the village council so fast her head would spin.
"Uchiha Sasuke."
Shikamaru POV
He had never once lost his temper as a shinobi, had never once spoken back to athaurity or lashed out in any way, but this time… This time Shikamaru Nara had lost him marbles.
"SASUKE!? THAT ARROGANT PRICK? YOUR GOING TO MARRY THE GODAIMES ASSISTANT AND MOST TALENTED KUNOICHI IN THE VILLAGE OFF TO SOME LOW LIFE TRAITOR WHO DOESN'T EVEN REALLY WANT THE WOMAN! YOU'RE GOING TO HAND HER OVER TO HIM LIKE SOME PIECE OF MEAT? SO WHAT, HE CAN HAVE PRECIOUS HEIRS THAT WILL BE JUST AS FUCKED UP AND PROBALY END UP OVERTHROWING KONOHA AS WE KNOW IT! THE SAME MAN THAT BROKE HER HEART A MONTH AGO AND NOT ONLY ABANDONED HIS TEAM ONCE BUT TWICE!? HAVE YOU LOST YOUR EVER LOVING MINDS YOU BUNCH OF WRINKLED BASTARDS! HOW CAN YOU SIT THERE AND THINK THAT THIS IS IN ANY WAY A GOOD PLAN!? DID YOU NOT THINK OF THE REPRECUSSIONS? IF SHE IS MADE HIS WIFE YOU LOST YOUR NUMBER ONE KUNOICHI AND MEDIC, YOU LOSE CONTROL OVER THE UCHIHA THEMSELVES! IF SASUKE IS ALLOWED TO MARY SAKURA HE WILL NO DOUBT ENSLAVE THE WOMAN AND YOU WILL HAVE NO SAY IN THAT CLAN MATTER! NO, SHE WILL NOT BE FORCED TO DO THIS, MY CLAN IS STEPPING IN! AS OF RIGHT NOW, I AM ASKING THAT HARUNO SAKURA BE MADE MY FIANCE! AS CLAN HEIR I AM DEMANDING THAT MY RIGHT TO CHOOSE A BRIDE BE MADE ACTIVE RIGHT NOW!"
Oh yes, he had lost his marbles. The council stared at him in absolute horror; never had a Nara shouted like that in the Hokage's presence, and never had they said such inappropriate and… immature things at that. Especially Shikamaru Nara; he himself was mortified that he had lost his temper like that.
Tsunade was smirking however, a full blown smirk as she stared at the two of them. Sakura's face was beat red, her mouth agape as she too took in this new face of Shikamaru.
He was seething; this was the lowest jab he had ever seen the Uchiha pull. He knew damn well Sakura would have no other way out of this mess; the only way to save her… was to throw her into clan politics. If it was said that Shikamaru, and heir to a wealthy and powerful clan, had beaten Sasuke to the punch… than Sakura would be spared from an arranged marriage. BUT that would mean she was only to be spared from one… to be put in another…so much for taking it slow.
"Shikamaru-kun…" Sakura whispered gently.
He glanced back at her, to see her eyes shining with sincerity.
"Arrigato." She smiled gently, reaching for his hand.
He could see the understanding in her eyes, she knew well he had just saved her.
"ALRIGHT then!" Tsunade laughed loudly, eyeing the council with a rebellious gaze. "It seems that The Nara heir has already selected Haruno Sakura to be his bride, and she had readily accepted the offer."
"Wait just a second Tsunade, we are not through. This is not sufficient." One of the elders argued.
Tsunade's face grew very dark.
"It would seem that we have a very interesting situation before us, our most promising kunoichi; from no clan, with no astounding bloodlines or interesting upcoming, is not being sought by two of our very best clans. We must not act to hastily; I propose a … alternative answer. Shikamaru and Sasuke are two very competent shinobi, so why not settle this the way our ancestors and founders did. Battle, these two young men shall partake in 4 different challenges over the next two months. The victor will be the one to take young Sakura's hand in marriage, whilst the other will be cut from her life entirely."
Tsunade was audibly growling, whilst Sakura was squeezing Shikamaru's hand very tightly. His own mind was racing; beat the Uchiha in smarts? Yes he could do that. Beat him in hand to hand combat? Yes he could outwit him. Beat him in full out battle… He was not as strong as the snake sannin. He stared at Sakura helplessly, he would try… he would give it his all to win. More so… he would find Sasuke after this, and beat him to a bloody pulp if Sakura didn't before him; he was livid.
"I believe this is an excellent proposition, you are both dismissed." Said the woman elder, throwing Sakura a cynical grin.
Shikamaru tugged on her hand, pulling her with him out of the Hokage's office. All of his plans were ruined, everything he and Sakura had built up over this past month was ruined. And it was all because of that one kami damned Uchiha. One thing was for certain, Sasuke could not win, Sakura's very essence was placed in his hands now… and he would not lose. Even if he had to resort to traitorous measures; he would not kill the woman he loves.
