Author's Notes:
wintry:
So, here's the third chapter, sorry if I may bore you a bit. It's really hard to make a story that isn't so cliched nowadays. Anyway, for those who were waiting, here's the next chapter, I hope you enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed writing it for you all.
Arigatou, minna-san!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Naruto Shippuden. The entire franchise belongs to it's rightful owner, I'm just a writer ith a taste for adventure and ended up clinging to the story. So yeah, I really don't own a thing in Naruto...
-yumi-yumi-yumi-yumi-yumi-
Chapter 3- Mutual Dislike
Sakura resisted the urge to pull the hat away from her head. It included a light pink veil that covered her whole face, stopping short only just below her neck, if it was up to her, she would have chosen not to wear the troublesome item considering that they had already forced her to wear a kimono, apply make-up and fix her hair with hair sticks and pins.
"Sakura-sama, is something bothering you?" She turned her head towards the direction of the voice of th female guide that was given to her, she made the move to remove the veil but a hand stopped her from doing so.
"You must not, Sakura-sama. It is stated in the law that the two must not see each other until they are allowed too, besides, Hokage-sama ordered me to make sure that you are still looking your best." Sakura pouted, though with the veil, she doubted the girl saw her, much less know what she was doing right now.
"Should there be this much secrecy surrounding this thing?" Sakura asked, irritation and frustration building up inside her. The chakra binders had not been removed and so it made her chakra level just below the normal amount she used to have. And any of her attempts would be futile as two of the Hokage's most trusted Anbu were following from behind, making sure she wouldn't be throwing around tantrums because of her temper or attempt to run away and cause a commotion.
'Yeah right, as if I could do that with these chakra binders around my wrists.'She snorted to herself as she was led towards another curve.
'Hello? Haven't you been listening? You are destructive enough even with those chakra binders, do you think they'd let us free much less get us out of their sights?' Her inner said, differing from her idea.
'Hn...' She said, ending the conversation she had with her inner.
"Sakura-sama, we have arrived please wait here for a moment until I inform them of your arrival." The girl bowed to her respectfully, well, she wish she had, she couldn't see past this damn veil. She heard the sliding door being opened and hushed voices being heard in the background.
"Sakura-sama, please, enter." Sakura slowly moved, the kimono wasn't just itchy, it was also restricting her movement causing her to move so lady-like. As she was escorted to her seat, she couldn't help but wish that she had Byakugan as well to see whoever the people were inside the meeting hall.
'Guess Neji and Hinata doesn't have to deal with such suspense after all. I wish I had the Byakugan or anything that could make me see past this veil.' She said to herself causing her inner to reappear again.
'Careful what you wish for darlin'.' Her inner had stated, causing her to roll her eyes in irritation.
'Do you just pop up every time I talk mentally?' She asked, while her inner looked on blowing on her nails.
'Yeah, I mean it's boring enough to live in an alternate plane without much fun, so why can't I pester you a bit?' Sakura nearly face-palmed, her inner persona was really the exact opposite of her.
'You wish... We are like two peas in a pod, the only difference is I'm hotter than you are. And I don't have a misplaced adoration on that Sas-' Sakura shut away the voice of her inner and focused more on what the people inside the room where talking about.
"...such he is truly worthy to be named heir. And with his upcoming marriage to the heiress of the Tsukiyomi kingdom, he is more than deserving." Okay, so they were talking about her fiance, and because of her spacing out, she missed half of the conversation.
"I agree with you, we shall make the announcement of a new heir during their engagement party then." She heard a very familiar voice but she couldn't put a finger as to who it was yet, for all she cared many had that cold and authoritive voice. However, the moment the meeting between the council and the clan's head about the heir, ended, she tried to calm her nerves as she was ordered to raise the veil...
'Okay, come to me, my destiny...' She said to herself, but when her eyes met those of her fiance, she nearly fainted from surprise.
'I told you Sakura, careful what you wish for...'
One thing crossed Sakura's mind as pearl clashed with emerald.
'Damn, I really hate you now otou-san... I want OUT, OUT I SAY!'
~Neji~
They had been going on and on about the pros and cons if he became the clan heir. He had been cross-examined thrice during the talk, some had even had the guts to ask him if he was excited to be named heir suddenly. He nearly had the urge to throw the man out of the room with his taijutsu but refrained from doing so and answered with a very controlled voice.
"No, I feel no excitement or anything, I am simply accepting it as part of my destiny." He had answered wisely as he noticed the proud look in his uncle's eyes, but he quietly dismissed the thought of the Hyuuga patriarch being proud of him. He had trained and trained until he was accepted into the Anbu but all he ever saw when he reported his achievements were a nod, no more.
"Splendid, he really is the son of Hizashi, a true prodigy, won't you agree Maruko?" One of the elders of their council asked as they scrutinized him with their pearly eyes and trying to read past his expression.
"Yes, but I must say, it's such a shame that he was born into the branch family, he wouldn't have had to go through so much trouble if he was born in the main family." He clenched his fist but said nothing, they were belittling him and his father but they deserved to be respected for they were the elders, meaning, they were chosen by the Hyuuga clan leaders as adviser.
The tension in the room had caused the atmosphere to become almost unbearing but the sudden distraction from one of the maids caused them all to rein themselves and try to lessen the tense atmosphere for the sake of his betrothed.
"Maiko, escort the princess in." The woman did so and as the door opened again, it revealed a lady wearing a pale pink kimono that had cherry blossoms as a pattern. She had a red obi tied to her waist and she carried herself in such a dignified way that the tense atmosphere immediately dispersed the moment she entered. However, the face behind the veil was a mystery as he couldn't see past it even with Byakugan on. The talk continued but he noticed that the girl was looking down at her fingers and she didn't seem to be paying any attention to the talk.
"I have made my mind up, Neji will be the heir, Hinata doesn't want anything to do with the position and Hanabi seems to be taken in by other priorities. Besides, do you want my daughters to marry inside the family to preserve the name Hyuuga? That would be unacceptable, my nephew has done everything to serve this clan and nation, as such he is truly worthy to be named heir. And with his upcoming marriage to the heiress of the Tsukiyomi kingdom, he is more than deserving." There were murmuring but it had died down after a few moments.
"I agree with you, we shall make the announcement of a new heir during their engagement party then." There were nods and whispers before everything quieted down, as such, their attention went towards his fiancee who had made no sound at all ever since she entered.
"Hime, may we ask you to raise your veil so that you can meet your betrothed?" One of the elders stated as they waited for her to follow the order. Neji watched as long and slender fingers deftly raised the pale pink veil that separated her face from him. He had been told earlier that the girl was someone he was acquainted if not friends with this person, but the moment her eyes had came to view, he was surprised, and so was she.
"You?!" They both said simultaneously earning them amused looks from the elders and his uncle. If there was any day that he detested the most, it was finding out that he was set to marry the most annoying person he could think of.
"I see my informant was correct, you two do know each other. And it seems we won't have any problem after all with the arrangement seeing you two are more than pleased to see each other. " Neji turned towards his uncle and so did she, when he raised his finger to point at her, she, ironically did the same as well.
"I'm not friends with her/him!" They both said causing them to turn towards each other and glare, hoping one would admit defeat, sadly though, Neji wasn't giving up and as far as he knew about this girl, she was stubborn as a mule, probably even more.
"Stop copying me!" Again, they were in tandem with each other as they spoke, garnering them the amused snickers from some.
"Well, I suppose we should leave the two of you to bond with each other, after all, you two will be together for a long time after the marriage." He was about to protest, but the look his uncle sent him meant he was serious.
"Darn it, stupid blood-pact with dnaebbsuybbabyeuneybyeainehbayg." The rest were strings of curses that he couldn't understand as Sakura removed her veil and hat.
"Of all the! Why'd it have to be you?" Sakura asked, pointing an accusing finger towards him, looking like she could kill him with her glare.
"I didn't choose this path, blame the council for forcing my father to sign a blood-pact." He said while he crossed his arms in front his chest, ignoring the glare that was sent his way.
Sakura tsked, obviously annoyed, and that gave him a bit of solace that at least he wasn't to get married with a fan girl, but if he was given a choice...
Neji shook his head, no matter what, he was tied down he had no say and so did she, at least the feeling of dislike was mutual. He wondered what it would be like if the Uchiha was in his stead, she may have broken his eardrum already with all her blushing and gushing.
"Can it Neji, I do not blush and gush in front of Sasuke-kun." Sakura said, while looking at him hostilely. He narrowed his eyes, had he been saying it out aloud? Sakura turned around to look at him again, her eye still glaring daggers.
"And no, your mind was sending such strong signals of me being a fan girl that you forgot about this." Sakura raised her left hand and lowered the sleeve to reveal the same crescent moon he had on his wrist.
"Hn..." He said, Sakura glared at him again before settling on one of the corners and looking out at the garden (yeah, I forgot to mention the meeting hall is just beside the garden so there's the view). He barely heard her say the three words that she had never told him in his face again, and boy was he glad that the feeling was mutual.
"I hate you..."
"Hn, feeling's mutual..."
Author's Notes:
Well, it took me longer than expected, I had to daydream for a long time before this came to mind. Man, having a short writer's block is really annoying. Anyway, I'll do my best for the next chapter, BTW, I am accepting constructive criticism and stuffs, it might help me in writing later. Anyway, thanks for those who read this, it means a lot to me.