Overall season two theme: Stand up by J-Min
Chapter theme: Mirrors by Justin Timberlake
Song one: Fucking Perfect by Pink
Ino Yamanaka- Lead Dancer
Hinata Hyuga- Lead Singer
Megami Uzumaki- Lead Rapper
Sakura Haruno- Co-Rapper
Tenten Sento- Vocals
NEW POLL: WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE A.H BOY?
A perfect Cherry Blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your whole life looking for one, and it will not be a wasted life. –The Last Samurai
"MY MILKSHAKE BRINGS ALL THE GIRLS TO THE YARD!"
"Isn't the song, my milkshake brings all the boys?" Tenten yelled over the music.
"Not in my world!" Megami laughed as she twirled around, into the living room.
The girls moved around, dancing in their pajamas Sunday morning as they enjoyed doing while Milkshake blasted from the stereo in the living room throughout the house.
Hinata swayed her hips as she set the plates of eggs and hash browns on the table in her dark blue cotton pajama shorts and a white tank top.
Ino bobbed her head a bit as she sat in the living room in a hot pink nightie with a Style magazine in both hands.
Tenten swayed into the living room in a dark brown nightie with red Chinese style designs, holding Neko who wagged his tail to the beat of the music.
Megami bobbed her head as she moon-walked into the living room in white mini gym shorts and an orange tank top.
As Tenten sat down she held her foot out, letting the redhead trip over it.
Both Ino and Tenten laughed heartily as her face hit the floor and the song grew to an end.
"You guys suck Donkey Kong!"
"Is that an insult you and your friends on X-box live came up with?" Tenten smirked.
Megami glared at her as a yawn escaped from the staircase.
The girls looked to the doorless space as Sakura trudged down in green shorts and a light yellow sports bra.
"What's up sleepy head?! We danced without you!" Megami chanted.
"Why didn't you guys get me?" she yawned as she rubbed her eyes.
"You hate getting up today," Ino scoffed as Hinata peeked into the room.
"Sundays? What are you talking about? I'm almost always up before you guys." she said matter-factly.
"No," Tenten mumbled.
Hinata stepped in, smiling just a bit to the cherry-blossom.
"Sakura…do you know what today is?" she asked softly.
The pink-haired girl nearly shook her head, but upon realization her shoulders slumped and she nodded to them.
"Oh yeah. Never mind," she waved them away.
"I'm going to Ame for the day," Tenten said.
Ino nodded in agreement, "yeah, same here."
"Hinata and I are going to go and pay our respects with Naruto and Neji." Megami explained, Hinata nodded in agreement.
Sakura turned back and smiled, "that's great you guys!"
The girls stared at her for a few moments as she continued to smile.
"You can come with us if you want," Ino offered.
"Or us," Hinata smiled.
Sakura shook her head, "No, I'm just going to go for a run you guys. But thanks! I'll be back in a few," she nodded as she headed for the door.
"Since when does she run?" Tenten asked as the door slammed back.
"What are you talking about?" Ino asked, "She's always trying to avoid everything on Mother's Day."
(^A.H^)
As the sun shined high in the sky Sakura jogged down the sidewalk of Alpha's neighborhood.
Unlike Tenten, who liked to jog for miles in the morning but was now bound home due to her pregnancy, she only liked to run early on this particular day to clear her head.
It's been eight years since she's seen her birth mother, who had showed she is very much alive after the one letter she sent her on her eighteenth birthday.
She knows not her whereabouts or what she's been doing for the last eight years, all she knows is that it hurts and she's missed so much.
She still hasn't fully grown accustomed to her new mother Yoko, though she is kind and encouraging, she aches for the feeling of the mother she knew and loved, the one who encouraged her and comforted her when her father pushed her away.
The one who would be standing in the kitchen early in the morning, smiling with fresh pancakes in front of her.
The one who fell in love with her and Ino's friendship.
The one who showed her love of her father all the time. As if nothing were wrong.
And the one who walked out without even so much as a glance towards her own daughter and never came back.
After suffering three years of abuse and neglect to her father who finally calmed down in high school and three years of self harm, she had finally broken her shell and accepted the fact that her mother was never going to come back.
Everyone between their friendship—the girls and the boys—either has their mother or they've passed away, none of them ran out on her like she had done.
It doesn't matter, she thought. She would go spend the hard day with Gaara and before she knew it, it would be Monday and she'd be back in school focusing on early college entrance exams.
She rushed back up the sidewalk towards the Alpha household after a half an hour jog.
Morning cars passed by as she kept a good pace, their nearly half glass home in view.
She raised a brow at an unfamiliar red Ford Focus that sat on the front of their home.
She took a deep breath as she walked up to the house, confused as to why the door was still open.
"Hey! I'm back!" she called.
She walked towards the stairs, glancing to the living room.
She did a double take towards it and the stairs.
"Hey!" she called to the girls, who, from where she stood, she could see sitting together on the couch.
Megami glared at something across from then, Tenten had her arms crossed over her stomach as she leaned back into the couch. Ino stared at it and Hinata avoided eye contact.
"What are you guys still doing in your pajamas? I thought you would be heading out by now," she breathed as she stepped in.
The girls instantly turned to her as she walked into the living room fully.
She looked around, surprised as she caught sight of a figure sitting in a chair that had been brought into the room from the kitchen.
A woman sat in a long floor touching silk pink skirt and a soft pink v-neck shirt. Her vanilla pink hair spiky hair down to her elbows as her hands were clasped together and her legs crossed.
The woman, with soft pale skin, slight bags under her eyes and dark green eyes looked up and instantly her eyes began to water.
"Sakura…is it really you?" she whispered.
Sakura gave the strange woman a confused expression as she looked from her to the girls.
The woman stood up, letting her skirt cascade down.
"It's really you!" she breathed.
Sakura looked her up and down, in a matter of moments her heart began to race in shock, backing up a couple steps.
"No…" she mumbled.
"Sakura!" she sighed happily again, holding her arms out.
"It can't be…" she whispered.
"M…m…mom?!"
(^A.H^)
"Oh! My sweet girl! I've missed you!" she yelled, wrapped her still in a state of shock daughter in a hug. Sakura's arms remained limp as she her chin remained nuzzled in her mother's spiky hair.
"You've grown so much! Look at you! You're a woman now!" she sighed, letting go and simply setting her hands on her shoulder as Sakura's heart continued to race.
"You're almost taller than me! And oh! You cut your hair! My have you changed!" she sighed happily.
"Mom…is it really you?" Sakura hesitantly whispered.
Her mother gave a small smile as she stared at her. "Yes sweetheart…I'm here…now I know eight years is a long time but I'm ready to participate in your life again!"
Sakura simply stared blankly at her as she released and turned around.
"These must be your friends! I remember you!" she pointed to Ino, "but I don't believe I've met any of you girls! Is it true that you all live here toge—"
"What…the hell…is wrong with you?" Sakura whispered coldly, her head hung as she shook.
Her mother twisted back around in shock, "Sakura! Watch your—!"
"Who the hell do you think you are?!" she yelled. "You run out on me for eight years then suddenly WHAT you decide 'oh! You know what I haven't seen my daughter in a long time! I think I'll go visit her!'" she yelled, mocking her.
"Sakura…" her mother whispered sadly.
"You left me! Alone! For eight years! You didn't write me! Call me! Come see me! Those alone would have given me closure but NO! Now you just storm back into my life again without letting me prepare myself because you FEEL like it?!" she yelled.
Sakura scoffed and twisted around, rushing up the stairs.
"Sakura! Wait!" she yelled, rushing up after her.
Sakura burst into her room, the tears in her eyes threatening to leave as she grabbed her keys.
"Sakura!" her mother yelled on the steps as she ran back out.
"Please wait!"
She tried to reach for her but she was already at the bottom steps.
"Sakura!" she yelled as her daughter pushed open the door and let it slam back in her face.
Her mother stood in shock as she listened to the car engine rush and watched her daughter speed away in her Porsche.
"Oh dear…" she mumbled as the girls had stood up and watched her drive away from the living room windows.
(^A.H^)
Sakura could barely contain her tears as she sped down the familiar street. She continuously swerved as she tried to wipe her eyes at the same time she whimpered.
She almost sighed in relief when a familiar mansion came into view.
She stopped the car right behind the boys waiting white limo as the five members of Omega were just walking out, heading to the studio for a checkup of the album then going to meet the girls or go to their own homes for Mother's Day.
She pushed open the door and rushed out.
At the sight of the car, the talking boys turned their attention towards the whimpering pink-haired girl. A few tears fell down her eyes as she stared at her boyfriend.
"Sak—"
She rushed up and jumped into Gaara's chest, instantly crying into his shirt as she clenched it.
"Sakura?...what's wrong?" he asked quickly as the boys watched, concerned as she cried heavily into his shirt.
(^A.H^)
"You're mother…really?" he whispered, pushing her hair away from her face as they were seated on the Omega porch.
She nodded slowly, her head resting on his chest as she stared at the gates.
The boys went on ahead to the studio without him, urging them that they would be back in just a bit.
"I don't want to believe it…" she whispered, "but it's actually her…I'd know her face anywhere…"
He held her head, running his hands through her hair gently as she took a deep breath.
"Why is this happening now…what did she come back for?...does my dad even know about this?" she whispered.
"Those are questions you should be asking her, not me."
"I don't want to face her…" she spat.
"She's your mother. She came back for a reason. You have to talk to her eventually."
She gently pushed herself up, forcing him to let go of her head as she stared into his blank eyes.
"I'm sorry…" she whispered.
"For what?" he smirked as he kissed her head.
"I forgot it was Mother's Day…aren't we supposed to go to Suna and pay respects to your mother?"
"I never knew mine, so there's no reason to go." He aid stonily, sending a chill down her spine.
She frowned at his tone.
"Come on, you have to go back home." He ordered.
She shook her head, clutching his shirt as she leaned back onto his chest.
"SAKURA! SAKURAAA!"
She quickly lifted her head back up at the sound of Ino's voice.
She looked to the large black gates, where standing outside Ino and Megami waved their hands as Hinata stood by with her hands clasped and Tenten entered the personal code the boys had given them.
As the doors opened the girls quickly rushed up the walkway as Sakura stood up.
The four girls jumped into her arms, clutching each other for a few moments.
"Where is she…?" she whispered.
"She's staying at a hotel in Tokyo, it isn't far at all from here but she said she'll see you soon." Tenten explained as they let go.
Sakura looked down and clenched her hands as the girls patiently waited.
Gaara rested his arms on his knees as he carefully watched them.
"Why is she here now…? I don't understand…" she shook.
The girls brought her into another hug as Gaara stood up and put his hands in his tan cargo short pockets.
He smiled, just a bit, to the girls as he opened the large golden doors and stepped inside, giving her the space she needed.
With the boys gone for another few minutes he decided to just stay in his room until things were calm.
As he made his way up the white gold staircases a buzzing sound alerted him.
He stopped, mid-step, as he took out his phone.
His expression went dark at the familiar number, he quickly unlocked his phone and held it to his ear as he continued up the steps.
"Kankuro…what is it."
(^A.H^)
"Did your mom seriously come back?"
"Naruto-kun," Hinata frowned a bit as the boys walked up to them Monday morning. "It's a very touchy subject."
"It's fine, Hina," Sakura smiled, clutching her bag. "It seems that way, even if I haven't fully believed it yet."
"What's with her showing up out of nowhere?! Especially on Mother's Day!" Megami questioned, her hands behind her head.
Sakura shrugged, "I don't know. It's almost as if she isn't really here and yesterday was just my imagination."
"Well that would work except for the fact we were there too," Ino scoffed. "I don't know what this bitch's deal is but she can't just butt back in your life after eight years, it doesn't work that way."
"Ino!" Sakura snapped, gathering the full attention of the nine of them. "She's still my mother."
"Did you talk to your dad?" Neji asked as they began their descent to the building.
She nodded, "Not yet, I haven't gotten the chance to talk to him, but I bet if he's seen her he's just as shocked."
"Stumbles back without any warning," Tenten grumbled, "that's not suspicious or anything."
"So what are you going to do when you see her again?" Ino asked.
"I don't know. I don't even know when I'm going to see her again."
Shikamaru stopped, alerting the nine of them. Stone faced, he pointed to the left.
"Might that be her?"
They turned to the left where they noticed a long pink-haired woman in a tight knee length black pencil skirt and pink floral top, hastily getting out of a red Jeep with papers in her hand.
"What the hell is she doing here?!" Ino yelled.
"Thats her?" Naruto asked, "she looks a lot young than I thought!"
"She had Sakura when she was seventeen. She's only thirty-five." Hinata explained.
Suddenly the sounds of Bullet for my Valentine's 'Hit the Floor' rang.
Gaara turned to the side and took out his phone.
The boys watched as he grimaced at whoever was on the line.
"I'll be back…" he mumbled as he unlocked it, walking off without giving them a chance to retort.
Sakura's expression remained in shock as her mother ran towards the building in her hot pink heels.
She did a double take towards the group and stopped with a smile towards her daughter.
"Sakura! I didn't realize you went here!" she beamed.
"Bullshit…this is the only public high school in Konoha for miles." Ino grumbled, crossing her arms.
"You…you're…teaching here?" Sakura slightly whispered.
"Well sort of," she laughed, "I'm substituting for a Kurenai-sensei while she's taking some personal time to deal with her pregnancy issues."
"Great…" Tenten said under her breath.
"Might you have a music and vocal class?" she asked hopefully, clutching her papers.
Hesitantly, Sakura nodded slowly.
Her mother's smile widened, "great! Now we have a bit to spend some time together!"
Before she could respond she turned her attention to the four boys standing together.
"You boys must be Omega! I've heard so much about you! Well, from what the magazines and my d—TV tell me," she smiled.
The boys nodded.
"Nice to meet you Mrs. Haruno!" Naruto smiled.
Sakura stiffened as her mother's smile dropped a bit.
"Pardon me, it's Akahana these days. Chika Akahana. Aren't there five of you?" she said, quickly changing the subject.
Sakura looked up and stared at the boys. Her heart fell a bit when Gaara stood nowhere in sight. She looked around, feeling the need to be by his side, craving his comfort and hoping to get away from her mother.
Her sprits rose when she saw him standing by the large tree that stood next to the building, on his phone.
While her mother continued to speak to the boys she crept off and headed toward the tree.
The girls turned to her in confusion. She nodded to them as she quickly walked to the tree.
"I understand….tell them I'll be there to discuss it soon….I don't know…I—"
Sakura frowned at the sight of his pained expression and stopped a few feet from his when he caught sight of her.
"I'll call you back." He said quickly. He stuffed his phone back into his pocket as he turned to her with a blank expression.
"Is everything okay?" she whispered.
"Of course," he mumbled, stepping up and kissing her forehead.
"You'll never believe who our substitute music teacher is…" she croaked.
He frowned a bit as she pointed her thumb behind herself. He looked up to the find a pink-haired woman speaking animatedly to the rest of his band members.
"Is that your mother?"
She nodded slowly.
"Well. You definitely have her hair."
She smiled sadly at his attempt to cheer her up.
"Can we go inside?" she asked.
He held his hand out. Relieved, she took it with her left as he led them to the building.
"What am I supposed to say to her?" she whispered as the couple stepped in on their own. "Hey mom, I know it's been eight years but your more than welcome to jump back in my life when we damn well please." She spat.
"You don't have to say anything you don't want to." Gaara mumbled. "You shouldn't have to deal with this at a time like this. You were going into middle school when she left, now you're about to graduate high school. That's a lot of time she can't make up in less than twenty-four hours."
She smiled sadly as they continued down the hallway towards homeroom together. "I couldn't have put it better myself," she whispered as she leaned in and kissed his cheek softly. "Thank you, Gaara." She sighed, "I honestly don't know how I would handle this without you."
He unnoticeably flinched a bit when she settled back down, but kept a null expression.
(^A.H^)
"Your mom seems pretty nice." Naruto shrugged a bit as the eight of them stepped in a few minutes later as Sakura and Gaara had already sat together.
"She's not her mom." Ino snapped as she passed him.
"Ino, I think I can speak for myself." Sakura said dully, turning to Naruto. "I don't know what to call her, not after all this time."
"Well of course she's your mom, there's nothing you can do to change that." Neji said plainly as Tenten sat on his lap.
She pulled his ear, making him yelp. "No one asked you." She snapped.
"I just don't know what she came back for." Sakura pulled, clutching Gaara's shirt.
"Isn't it obvious?" Shikamaru scoffed. She and the other girls raised a brow.
"She came back for you."
(^A.H^)
"So, what was up with that call earlier?" Naruto asked as the boys made their way towards the cafeteria. "I've never seen you look so spooked!"
The boys turned to him, each with their own 'are you serious' expression.
Naruto shrugged, "well, in your own way."
"I got a call from Kankuro, about the same one I got yesterday."
"About?" Sasuke raised a brow.
"The head council—the ones from the wedding—have requested a meeting."
"Aw man!" Naruto whined, his hands behind his head.
"What is it now?" Neji sighed.
"They understand that I don't have to get married to someone forced upon me."
"But?" Shikamaru asked.
"I still have to get married to someone of royal descent as soon as possible. My father can't remain king for much longer and you know Temari and Kankuro are out of the line, so it's all up to me."
"And if you don't get married to a respectable princess so that she may provide an heir and continue the royal bloodline you'll be kicked out and the council will be left to rule Suna." Shikamaru stated.
Naruto slapped his forehead, "How did you know all that?!"
"Lucky guess."
"Correct." Gaara said dully, "I'm trying to avoid it as much as possible. But they'll only lay off for so long. My father has never been to keen on Sakura, and after that engagement stunt I pulled when we went to visit the people look at her wrongly even more. The council and the lords will never let accept a non-blue blood."
"Sakura's father owns every kind of hospital in Japan. She is definitely a blue blood." Neji explained.
"Not to them."
"I don't want to tell Sakura." He continued as they pushed the doors open, "she's dealing with enough problems right now."
"So Sakura's rich and her dad is pretty powerful. It makes me wonder what reason her mom would have for walking out on them anyway!" Naruto thought aloud.
The boys glanced at each other as they approached the table where the girls already sat, talking like any other day.
(^A.H^)
"Good afternoon everyone! My name is Miss. Akahana, I will be taking over Music and vocal for the week while your sensei is dealing with some issues with her pregnancy." Chika smiled as the final bell rang and the students took their seats.
Some looked from the woman who stood in the middle of the stage, towards Sakura who sat between Gaara and Hinata with her arms crossed, looking away.
"I'm not entirely sure how this class works, if you don't mind I would like an explanation, or demonstration." She said sweetly.
"Basically we just perform, like singing and dancing for grades. We also play instruments and learn dance styles and work on our vocal abilities." One random boy called out.
"That sounds like a lot of fun!" she beamed, clapping her hands a couple times. "Since I'm new here how about we do that performance thing! Sakura! I would love to see what you sing like!"
Sakura shot her a shocked look and the other students gave her a look of confusion.
"Why her?" Matsuri asked coldly.
"She's my daughter!" she said sweetly, "I've never heard her sing before."
"This isn't happening…" Sakura mumbled, trying to hide behind Gaara's shirt.
"So mommy came to visit little pinkie, did she now." Karin smirked, the others laughed in turn.
Sakura shot them a glare then turned the same expression towards her mother.
"Sakura?" she asked hopefully.
She mentally groaned.
She should have expected something like this from her.
Well, at least it was just singing.
She slowly let go of him and stood up, brushing down her school skirt as she avoided eye contact with her mother.
She turned to her girls who gave her encouraging looks, she shrugged a bit, walking up the short steps.
"So..um…" her mother said nervously, looking back and forth to the equipment and her.
Sakura rolled her eyes when her back was turned.
"I'll take care of it."
With the music set, she picked up a mike and glanced towards her mother.
Made a wrong turn
Once or twice
Dug my way out
Blood and fire
Bad decisions
That's alright
Welcome to my silly life
Mistreated, misplaced, missundastood
Miss "no way it's all good"
It didn't slow me down
Mistaken
Always second guessing
Underestimated
Look, I'm still around...
Pretty, pretty please
Don't you ever, ever feel
Like your less than
Fuckin' perfect
Pretty, pretty please
If you ever, ever feel
Like your nothing
You're fuckin' perfect to me
You're so mean
When you talk
About yourself
You are wrong
Change the voices
In your head
Make them like you
Instead
So complicated
Look how big you'll make it
Filled with so much hatred
Such a tired game
It's enough
I've done all i can think of
Chased down all my demons
see you same
Pretty, pretty please
Don't you ever, ever feel
Like your less than
Fuckin' perfect
Pretty, pretty please
If you ever, ever feel
Like your nothing
You're fuckin' perfect to me
The world stares while i swallow the fear
The only thing i should be drinking is an ice cold beer
So cool in lying and I tried tried
But we try too hard, it's a waste of my time
Done looking for the critics, cuz they're everywhere
They don't like my genes, they don't get my hair
Stringe ourselves and we do it all the time
Why do we do that?
Why do I do that?
Why do I do that?
Ooh, pretty pretty pretty,
Pretty pretty please don't you ever ever feel
Like you're less then, fuckin' perfect
Pretty pretty please if you ever ever feel
Like you're nothing you're fuckin' perfect, to me
You're perfect
You're perfect
Pretty, pretty please don't you ever ever feel like you're less then, fucking perfect
Pretty, pretty please if you ever ever feel like you're nothing you're fucking perfect to me
The class cheered as Sakura bowed to them, setting down the mike.
In her excited mood, she turned towards her mother as claps continued.
Her smile dropped when she saw her mother at the bottom of the steps, giving her a disapproving look.
"Well mom, what do you think?" she smiled as the claps died down.
"What do I think?" she gasped, "Sakura, I don't like you singing vulgar songs like that."
"Excuse me?" Sakura laughed a bit as she stepped in front of her.
"I won't allow you singing like that from this point on, do you understand?" she said firmly.
Sakura chuckled a bit, but didn't take her eyes off her.
"I'm eighteen, I think I can sing however I damn well please."
"Sakura! How dare you talk to me like that!"
Sakura could practically feel the class's eyes on her, but she did not care.
"You listen to your mother." She whispered coldly.
Sakura glared, leaning in until both pink-haired women were fuming.
"You leave for eight years and expect me to call you my mother?" she said icily.
For a few moments, they stood staring at each other, challenging, until Sakura broke the stare and walked past her and out the door.
Her mother's face fell as the door slammed back.
(^A.H^)
"I had no idea she was coming to see you sweetheart. She stopped by here on Saturday to speak to Yoko and me. She said she wanted to see you but I told her to go, I don't know how she found your house." Dr. Haruno's tired voice spoke through Sakura's Galaxy S3.
"Dad, this is insane." She breathed as she lay on her pink bed. "She's actually here. She's my teacher. I stormed out of my fifth period just because I couldn't stand being near her for much longer, it didn't feel right."
"You left your fifth period?"
"It's only music dad," she rolled her eyes.
"It's still a class."
"Oh shut up," she laughed at his tone as she shifted to her right to face her window.
"How are you and Yoko doing?" she asked a bit quietly.
"We're fine. She was quite shaken up when your mother stepped in on Saturday. Anything new with you? How are you and the girls doing? Are you still with that boy? I assume final exams are coming up."
"Since when are you so interested in my personal life dad?" she laughed.
"Just checking up on you Sakura. I miss you, Yoko and I both miss you."
"I'm doing fine dad, the girls and I doing great, yes I'm still with Gaara, and yes, but I have plenty of time to get ready for final exams."
"Good girl."
She quickly sat up at the sound of the door turning from below her.
"I'll talk to you later dad," she said quickly.
"Alright, be careful with your mother Sakura. I know she's been gone a while but I think she only came back to see you again and get to know you."
"Bye dad," she sighed.
"Goodbye."
As the call ended she stood up in a blue tank top and green shorts. She tossed her cell phone on the bed and walked to the door.
Before she could even open it the door flew open.
The girls stood there.
Megami smiled and leaned on the door with Sakura's school bag in her hand.
"You forgot something." Tenten cooed.
"I'm so sorry for storming out guys, I was just…" she sighed.
"Hey, we get it, if our mom came in after years of hiding and tried to make a jump start into our lives we'd be pretty pissed to!" Megami laughed.
"Sakura, sooner or later you have to confront your mother," Hinata explained sadly. "She came back to see you again so she's obviously just trying to be the mother she was before she left. You must give her a chance, maybe not now but in time."
Sakura sighed, "I know."
"You know Megami and I would give anything to have our moms back," she slightly whispered. "Don't brush her off," she smiled.
"Yeah! You should have seen her face when you stormed out like that," Tenten explained.
"You had all of us worried sick," Ino sighed dramatically. "It's a shame Gaara had to leave before fifth period ended. He would have—"
"What?" she said quickly, "he had to leave?"
The girls nodded.
"With the boys?"
"No, he just went on his own. I'm not sure what for but I think he got a text while Hinata was singing."
"Really?" she frowned a bit.
"Let me call him." She said, turning around.
"Alright chick!" Tenten called as Megami tossed her her bag.
As the girls stepped back she closed the door and went to sit back on her bed.
She picked her Galaxy back up and went to the familiar contact.
She patiently waited as the phone rang a few times, until finally the other line answered.
"Sakura?"
"Hi sweetie," she smiled, relief coursing through her at the sound of his voice. "I heard you left class early, did something happen?"
"I had to head to Suna." His blank voice spoke.
"Suna? This late in the afternoon? Why so sudden?" she frowned as she sat up in her bed.
"An emergency meeting, I'll be back tomorrow morning before second period. I'm sorry, I have to go, are you alright?"
She frowned, slumping back into the bed.
"Oh. Alright, yeah I'm fine. I was just hoping we could talk is all…"
"I'll call you tonight." He said quickly.
"Okay," she breathed, "bye."
"Bye."
As she hung up she tossed the phone back onto her bed and groaned, closing her eyes as she slumped further into the bed, deciding she had better get ready for work.
"My apologies." Gaara spoke as he stepped back into the board room.
"We presume that was the girl in question." One of the elder council members spoke.
He said nothing as he took his seat at the end of the table in his military uniform while his father sat at the other end in kage garter.
"Prince Gaara, we cannot stress enough how crucial it is for you to marry soon. The people expect a new king within a years' time."
"What about school?" he asked simply.
"You may continue your studies in the university but you still must uphold all responsibilities."
"Why can't my father continue his rein?"
"Lord kazekage has chosen to retire within one years' time, in the hopes that, now that you are of proper age, you will take over the kingdom. But you know this cannot be done without the right queen by your side. We have told you many times that tradition states you may only marry a princess."
"You expect me to fall in love with someone else in a few months?" he questioned.
"Are you saying you love this girl?" one female council member spoke up.
He remained stoic for a few moments.
Finally he took a deep breath and shifted in his seat.
"I'm saying royal or not it makes no difference in how I rule or how this country will be. There is no time to find a suitable wife I won't hate like the last."
"If you think it will be so hard to find a promising queen why don't we hold a ball and invite princesses and clan heirs around the country?" a more cheery Chinese council female suggested.
"Lin-wu," another sighed, "that's not—"
"I enjoy that idea. We have not thrown a gathering in a while and this will be a good opportunity."
Some others nodded or grumbled their agreement.
Gaara clenched his fists beneath the table.
"Only princesses and heirs?"
"I suppose the princes and male heirs may attend as well," Lin-wu shrugged a bit.
He mentally sighed in relief.
"Perhaps this coming Friday or Saturday." Another suggested.
He blocked them out, his mind resorting back to Sakura and how she must be handling her mother at the moment.
"Are you saying you love this girl?"
The thought danced on mind, but was just as quickly pushed out when they began to question him.
(^A.H^)
"So it's left leg, right arm thrust, then right then and left arm thrust, repeat three times, twist, stand still, then punches." Naruto directed the young girls into the dance he was working on for one of the album songs 'Hitchhiking.'
The students of Alpha's class excitingly followed along.
"Isn't this our class?" Ino sighed as the boys stood around. Neji and Tenten barked at each other in a corner as to whether or not she can keep dancing now that she's expecting.
"And don't you guys have an album to work on?" Megami asked, confused.
"Without Gaara we can't record anything, so we have nothing else to do except work on dance." Shikamaru answered.
Sakura frowned as she sat on the bench.
She was supposed to be focusing on the girls' performances and looking to see who needed to work on what but at every moment her mind turned to her mother and what she could be doing.
With those thoughts came an urge to be near Gaara.
"Hello? I'm coming in!"
Only she and a few other girls heard the voice as they turned their attention towards the doorless entry.
Sakura twitched as she watched her mother creep into the door way from down the hall.
"Miss. Akahana?" Naruto called, alerting the others of her presence as the girls stopped. "What are you doing here?"
"A little birdie told me that you lot worked here," she smiled more towards Sakura. "I thought I would come and see where my little girl worked. I figured it would have something to do with dance," she laughed sweetly.
The gang simply stared at her as Sakura quickly stood up, fast walking over to her.
"Can I have a word with you?" she said through grinding teeth.
She frowned a bit at her but nodded, "Of course honey."
In silence, both stepped out into the lit hallway.
Chika leaned against the wall as Sakura faced her.
"You can't keep doing this," she snapped.
"Doing what honey?" she asked innocently.
"Following me! School! Work! I don't know what you want but you have to leave me to my space."
"I only want to get to know you sweetheart," she urged.
"Why?! You haven't tried to know me for eight years! Why now?"
Chika sighed and leaned her head back on the wall.
"I always thought about you, and missed you. I'm sorry I haven't been here for you all these years."
"What happened back then anyway?"
"It's a very long story Sakura, and I would love to explain it all to you," she smiled, "but not here, not right now. If you would give me the time of day I could explain myself. Please Sakura," she begged hopefully, "I just want my daughter back."
Sakura stared at her for the longest moment. Her pleading eyes digging into her and forcing her to think back to the time when her mother was there for her.
It felt ancient.
Finally, she sucked in her breath then let it out shakily.
"Alright, tomorrow, we could get something to eat after school and before I have to go to work, that should give us a good forty minutes to talk."
Chika clapped cheerily, "Oh thank you thank you Sakura! I promise our relationship will be so cleansed it'll be like nothing ever happened."
I never said that. Sakura thought.
"Well, she shrugged, I'll leave you to your work then. See you tomorrow hun," she beamed, quickly bringing her into a hug.
Before she could retort she had already let go and was heading down the hall towards the exit.
When Sakura turned back she jumped a bit at the sight of the class with their eyes on her.
She rolled her eyes, "Alright come on! Back to your places!" she ordered.
(^A.H^)
"Which one of Shakespeare's plays contained the characters Cordelia, Goneril, and Regan. Sasuke." Kakashi said quickly, trusting his pencil towards the Uchiha without looking at him.
"King Lear." He said quickly, boredly.
"Correct. Chae-Lin. The last play written by Shakespeare?"
The strawberry platinum blond Korean girl sat up in her seat and blinked a couple times, "Um…The Tempest?"
"Right, stop hesitating. There won't be time to hesitate on the final exam."
A section of the class groaned. They had been doing a pop quiz since class started.
They missed the days when Kakashi didn't care for their personal education.
"Ladies, since this question seems popular among you, who was Shakespeare married to? Sakura."
The class lay silent.
The majority of students turned their attention to the Haruno child. Sakura's attention was instead focused on the open windows leading to the outside.
On the sidewalk, she watched few sets of people go about their day.
She smiled a bit as a small girl in a little red sundress, at least two or three, dragging a Barbie doll as she wobbled in her walk.
A young woman, at least mid-twenties, walked behind her in a soft pink silk floor-touching skirt with a soft sleeve-less sweater, smiling with her hands clasped behind her.
Sakura
When the little girl tripped a bit and stumbled, her mother quickly took a hold of her right hand and kept her upright.
Sakura
The little girl smiled as she looked up to her. Her mother smiled back as they continued their walk.
She smiled to herself and took a deep breath.
"SAKURA!"
She jumped a bit, twisting to her side to find a variety of eyes on her.
"The wife of Shakespeare, Sakura." Kakashi asked again.
"Anne Hathaway, what about her?" she asked.
"Pop quiz, Miss. Haruno. Please pay attention. That's very unlike you," He smirked under his hospital mask.
"Saki, what's the deal? You never space out in class," Tenten whispered.
"And slap us when we do!" Megami frowned.
Sakura opened her mouth to speak, but before she could answer the girls the door flew open.
Without looking up from his literature book Kakashi spoke up.
"Mr. Sabaku, so nice of you to join us."
The class gave their attention to Gaara, who stood by the door solemnly in his uniform with his shoulder bag slumped over his shoulder.
"I had other business." He said coldly, simply as he walked forward, towards the seat waiting next to Neji.
"Think fast. Year of Shakespeare's death. Year of birth, and amount of plays written." Kakashi said calmly as he flicked his pencil Gaara's way.
"1616, 1564, and thirty-seven." He said stonily as he caught the pencil between his fingers in a breath.
The majority of the class clapped as Kakashi smirked.
"Moving on!"
Sakura watched with a shy smile as Gaara took his seat, blankly high-fiving a beaming Naruto.
Come to think of it.
She thought.
Gaara doesn't have a mom.
(^A.H^)
"Are you trying to piss me off?! I said eat damn it!"
"And I said I'm not hungry! I had more than enough for dinner last night, thanks! No need to check up on me for breakfast either! I'm already pregnant you don't need to make me feel fatter than I'm already getting!" Tenten yelled back, her arms crossed, turned away.
"For the last time…" Neji growled, rubbing his temples.
"You're not eating for yourself anymore, Dr. Hana says if you don't eat regularly you and her will both get sick!" he challenged.
She twisted around, "who says we're having a she?!"
"Don't fucking start this with me again—!"
"You know, I miss the days when all you guys ever argued about was sex," Megami sighed as the rest sat down.
"Then you would argue about why all you ever argued about was sex. Then you'd make up with sex…why don't you have sex anymore?!" she whined.
Tenten glared and fisted Megami's shirt in her hand, pulling her up and shocking her.
"Why?! Because of him I'm gonna have to shove a BOLLING ball out of my crotch in seven months!" Tenten screamed.
Sakura smiled and tilted her head, "Over extensive stress will only bring harm to you and the baby, calm down Tennie."
"Listen to the doctor!" Megami yelled.
"Hm…doctor," Gaara mumbled as he kissed her cheek.
Suddenly something clicked in her mind, she turned to him.
"Can we talk for a second?"
He cocked his head to the side a bit, but nodded to her.
With the others distracted she took his hand as they both stood up, heading towards the exit as the lunch room bustled.
"Gaara?"
"Hm?"
She stopped, letting go of his hand and facing him.
"I know you don't think about it now, but what was it like…uh, growing up…without a mom when you were little?" she asked faintly.
She watched as he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He crossed his arms and leaned on the wall.
"She died when I was born, so I never actually got a second with her to know who she was or what she was like. It wasn't hard to grow up without a mom because I never thought about it or never experienced it. It's hard to explain, but it never really affected me."
"I see," she frowned a bit, looking down.
He opened his eyes, "Why the curiosity?"
She sighed and leaned on the locker crossing her arms and looking up to him as he put his hands in his tan uniform pants.
"She wants to get something to eat after school so we can talk. Gaara, it's only been a few days, I don't know if I want her to stay, or go back to wherever she went after she left. I've managed to get this far without her…why is it so hard to decide where I want her to be in my life?" she groaned.
"Sakura…" he murmured as he cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to look him in the eye.
"You don't have to except her right away. It is going to take a lot more than three days for her to have the right to be called mother again. But, that is your choice. Don't stress yourself over it."
She leaned in and wrapped her arms around his neck as she snuggled into his chest.
"What would I do without you…?"
"Let me know when you think of something…"
She giggled as she turned her around and leaned her against the wall.
She leaned in and captured his lips as he slid his hands down to her hips, roaming her as she stood up straight, deepening the kiss.
She hopped up and wrapped her legs around his waist as he slipped his tongue into her mouth, making her moan softly.
"This is so wrong…" she whispered as he let go, kissing down her neck.
"We're in school…"
He merely smirked as he held her hip and pushed against her. She rested her head against the wall as he leaned in and captured her lips in a heated kiss again.
Suddenly a loud gasp alerted the both of them.
They released quickly, Sakura twisted to her right and Gaara slowly turned his head towards it in faint annoyance.
Chika stood, holding her work bag, a seemingly empty bento box and a shocked expression dancing on her face.
Sakura released her legs and dropped down; Gaara put his hands back in his pockets.
"S-Sakura?" she said through a deep breath.
Sakura blushed and pushed her hair behind her ear. She nervously chuckled then cleared her throat.
"H-hey…mom…this is Gaara…my…boyfriend."
(^A.H^)
Casually, Gaara sashayed back into the cafeteria.
EH ran a hand through his hair and sighed as he met up with the others who instantly turned to him as he sat down.
"Where the hell did you guys go?" Ino demanded.
"Did you make-out? Huh? Huh? Did ya? Can I watch next time?" Megami asked cutely.
Tenten grabbed her hair and slammed her head against the table as the others continued to focus on him.
"Where's Sakura?" Hinata asked, looking around.
"She's talking to her mother." He said simply.
"Why?" Ino said, disgusted.
He shrugged a bit, "It's better you let her tell you."
The girls looked at each other but mutually knew the answer already.
"It's actually good that she's gone right now, there's something I need to talk to you all about."
"What's up?" Naruto said, sitting up.
"Might this have anything to do with the elder's decision?" Sasuke said without looking up from his cell phone.
He nodded.
"What are you guys talking about?" Tenten asked curiously.
"The elders want to throw a ball and invite all eligible princesses and heiresses so I can pick one to marry by the end of the night."
"What?!" Ino yelled.
"Suna expects me to be king soon. And if I don't have a wife, I don't become king."
"Ugh! I am so sick of all your royal issues! Literally!" Ino yelled, pointing a royal purple and sparkling gold nail to all except Tenten and Shikamaru, even though he is one.
"I'm not putting on a maids costume again," Tenten said, putting her hands up in defense.
"You don't have to. You aren't invited this time." Gaara answered.
"Say what!" Tenten and Ino yelled.
"Like I said. Princesses and selected princes and heirs only. Besides, I need you guys to keep Sakura from finding out about this."
"Why?" Megami asked, "I don't think Sakura will mind!" she smiled.
"That I'm dancing with girls all night and I have to pick one of them to be my fiancée by the end of the night? Or that she can't come. At all. She's under enough stress, I'd rather not say anything to her for the better of her."
"I don't like lying to her," Hinata mumbled.
"It won't be lying. Who knows how she'll feel if she finds out about this. Please…"
"We know how you guys are about keeping secrets. But I think you have to leave her out of this, just this once." Neji explained.
The girls nervously looked at each other then back to Gaara's blank expression that still said what it needed to say.
"Fine." Ino groaned.
"Hey!" a cheery voice called as she quickly walked to the table.
They turned around to meet Sakura as she took her seat back next to Gaara.
"What's up?" she smiled.
The girls raised a brow and she blinked and shook her head in confusion.
Tenten snickered.
"You tell us."
(^A.H^)
At the end of the day, Sakura took her time getting to her car. As the boys headed to the studio to work on the album the girls hugged her goodbye and wished her good luck dealing and talking with her mother.
Nervously, Sakura waved as she sat on the hood of her Porsche while Hinata got in Ino's Bug with her, Tenten stepped in her Mercedes, and Megami rode off on her bike.
For a few minutes she watched students come out and make their way home.
By the time she decided to leave her watch blared 3:15 and the school was emptying.
Hesitantly, she took a deep breath and climbed in her car to make her way to the Cream and Sugar café.
As she pulled up into the driveway she noticed the familiar red Jeep sitting empty.
She parked her car a few spots away from it and stepped out, clutching her bag.
The bell chimed as she stepped inside. There was a comfortable amount of people inside chatting, eating, and ordering.
"Sakura!"
She flinched as she turned to her left to find Chika sitting at a table for two, still in her work uniform as she beamed and waved wildly to her with a latte in front of her.
"Chika," she gave small smile as she took the seat in front of her, setting her bag down.
"I already ordered for you, I hope you don't mind, I wasn't entirely sure if you still got strawberry lemonade like you used to do," she smiled shyly.
Sakura couldn't help but smile softly.
She remembered.
"I do."
"Wonderful!" Chika said in almost relief.
Suddenly her expression fell completely and she smiled sadly at Sakura.
"You called me…mom earlier…why is it Chika now?"
"That was on impulse. It's not every day an adult—let alone a parent—catches me with Gaara. I'm not comfortable calling you…mom." She said quietly.
"I see." Chika continued to smile sadly. "I deserve it I guess. I haven't exactly been the most active mother in the last eight years."
"I know."
"But," she breathed, "That's why I invited you here! Sakura, I want nothing more than to make up for lost time. I want to talk to you, know what you've been doing for eight years. Know what I've missed because I know it's been a lot. I wasn't there. I wasn't the mother I should have been. And I know there are so many things that I—"
"That's a nice speech you've got going," Sakura said quickly, harsher than she intended too, "But I took care of myself. Yoko was there too to help me cope with my…growing up issues."
"Yes," Chika whispered, clutching her hands in her lap as she stared at her daughter. "Yoko."
"She came around pretty quickly after you left. Which by the way in the only reason I came today. What happened then? Huh? Why did you leave?" she mumbled as the waiter came and set down her lemonade.
She quickly looked up and smiled a thank you then turned back to her mother for answers.
Chika stared out the window they sat next to with contempt in her eyes.
"It was so many years ago. So many things have happened, I hardly…"
She cleared her throat as she turned back to Sakura who waited patiently.
"Your father and I were never compatible. He came from a wealthy and respectable background of doctors and had already begun his own major corporation at twenty-four, when I met him. I, on the other hand, was a simple small town girl who was barely getting by in school and had to take care of an alcoholic mother."
"When we met I had just gotten out of high school. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life or what I was going to be because, as I said, school didn't work to well for me. My friend, who had an internship at one of his hospitals, invited me to his birthday party that the staff and the Haruno Corp. board were throwing for him. I didn't think I'd even get to see the birthday boy but we somehow ran into each other during the night. And, after a few drinks and a foggy conversation, I ended up with him in—"
"Ew, um. Can you skip to the part where things got bad? No child wants to hear about their parents' sex life." Sakura said, disgusted.
Chika laughed heartily and nodded.
"So and so happened and I ended up pregnant with you. No offense to you but it actually made things more difficult. My mother died of alcohol poisoning and I was left to care for myself. When he found out I was pregnant he took matters into his own hands. He insisted I move in with him and we take care of you together. At the time it sounded like a dream come true. Many things happened after that, we got married when I was six months with you. Then, three months later you were born, and Sakura we loved you so much, your father positively adored you when you were born. He spoiled you like there was nothing above you," she laughed sweetly, recalling the memories.
"You were his princess. But, as time went by, things became harder. I quickly realized I was in a loveless marriage. Not one of us had said I love you before or after we got married. Things between your father and I strained. He was embarrassed by me because of how we ended up together, his would be constantly bombarded about being with a poor, unemployed woman who dropped out of college, and he married because he got her pregnant. It hurt me as much as it strained him. I'm sure you noticed how much we fought after that because it just wasn't working. We both knew this wouldn't last. We hated each other and regretted ever getting together but we never regretted you." She whispered as Sakura dropped her head.
"So. I left. A time came where I decided I couldn't deal with this kind of life anymore. So I packed my things and—"
"Walked out on me. Without saying goodbye. Without looking twice at me. You want to hear my story after that? I cried so such because I missed you so much. Dad started to drink and hit me. I cut myself. I became a complete bitch to random people. But then I made friends. Friends who cared about me and listened to me and shared my problems. Then I met a guy I thought I loved. But he turned out to be a total jerk. My friends got hurt. He raped me, and guess what? I got pregnant. At eight months I got into a car accident and ended up with a miscarriage. All in the eighth grade."
"My god…Sakura…" Chika gasped, her eyes glistening.
Sakura shot her head up with tears raining down her eyes.
"I needed you. I needed you so badly. Wasn't I important enough to you? Enough for you to stay? To keep in touch? You were never there when I needed you the most," she said through tears.
"Sakura…" she held her hand up as Sakura furiously tried to wipe the tears away.
"But, it doesn't matter anymore." She breathed as more tears fell.
"I have the most amazing friends anyone could ask for. I'm in the top of my class. I have parents who care. And I have a boyfriend that I'm completely and painfully in love with." she laughed through painful tears.
"Sakura…" Chika whispered, shocked.
"So maybe I didn't need you all these years. Since I've managed to get by on my own. And do better." She sighed, wiping her eyes.
Now, it was Chika's turn to cry.
"You have no idea how much I love you, and how much I wanted to be there for you. But I just couldn't. Sakura I can't stress ENOUGH how sorry I am for leaving you to fight your own battles for the last eight years, because I know it will never be enough. But I am begging you. Please give me a chance to start over! To be back in your life again. I'll do and try anything, just so you can call me mom again."
Sakura looked into her pleading eyes as tears came down from both their eyes.
Sakura leaned in and wrapped her arms around her, shocking Chika.
She took a deep breath as let it out as she clenched her eyes shut.
"…okay."
(^A.H^)
As she drove to work ten to four Sakura ran the conversations she and her mother had through her head.
It was almost refreshing talking to her as if nothing had happened in all the years they were apart. She told her every detail of her life up until now and Chika took in every word like a book. Though, the only thing she gave about her actions in the last eight years is that she moved to America after she left, but it didn't bother Sakura much.
Now that she thought about it, she mixed Gaara into her conversations about senior year so far quite a bit.
She whitened a bit when she realized before they had settled she had confidently told her mother that she was in love with him.
She almost stopped the car.
Love?
Is she in love?
Everything hurt so much as the moment; she was only saying what was in her heart.
As she pulled into the dance studio she took out her phone and stared at the background photo of the both of them at the sports ball.
He is her everything.
He is always there.
He is always protecting her.
She leaned back in her chair as other cars, including the girls, pulled into the parking lot.
She slid down in her seat and hugged her legs.
"Hey! Sakura!" Megami's voice called as she knocked on her window while the other girls stood by.
Tenten opened the already unlocked door.
"Hey! We thought we would get here before y—"
She looked up to the four girls with dull eyes, silencing them.
"I do…I really really do…I love him."
(^Later^)
"No. I don't wanna." Megami grumbled as she caterpillered around Ino's room.
"Oh would you get your dumbass back here! You don't have a choice!" Ino yelled, waving a white satin dress.
Hinata sat patiently smiling on her bed as Ino stepped on her hair to stop her.
"If you don't go you know damn well who's gonna make you! You're lucky you get to wear a fucking ball gown! Don't ruin this for me!" she yelled.
Though instantly she turned back to Hinata, smiling as Megami squirmed under her foot.
"How did it fit Hina?"
"Perfectly, you never seize to surprise me Ino, the fact that you had these lying around." She giggled.
Ino waved her hand nonchalantly, "oh please, I'm Ino! I'm always prepared."
She glared down to Megami who whined under her foot.
"Look, you! We don't have much time until Sakura and Tenten get back! We barely managed to get her out of the house in the first place! Now go put on that dress or so help me I'll tear of your skin and force it inside!"
She let go of her hair. Megami whimpered as she took the dress and rushed to Ino's bathroom.
Ino took a deep breath and sighed as she ran her hand down her hair and tossed it back.
"Being fashionable is tough love I'll tell you that Hina," she cooed as she strutted over and sat next to her.
Hinata dropped her smile a bit and looked down, waving her feet back and forth.
"Let me guess," Ino took a breath, "You're thinking about what Sakura said earlier?"
She nodded quickly.
"We all are,"
"I don't know what will happen, Ino. If Sakura finds out about the ball she'll be devastated. If Gaara has to pick a wife it will be even worse. It's bad that she's realizing how she feels now, but, in a good way."
"I know," Ino mumbled. "But we're not going to let some skank take Gaara away from her, especially not now. I know for a fact he isn't going to pick a bride so I'm hoping he's got something up his sleeve. For now, all we need to worry about is how many inches are going to go with that," she pointed back to the royal blue ball gown.
"Heels have to precise with the dress you know," she said matter-factly.
Hinata giggled and nodded again as she listened to Ino's lecture on fashion, once again.
(^A.H^)
By Thursday, things between Sakura and Chika seemed to be better than the last few days. It was as if the ice wall Sakura had put up between them was slowly melting away.
The gang was surprised that she was becoming so comfortable with her, but didn't think less of it was it was for the best.
On Wednesday after school she and Chika went to the café again then Sakura drove her to some of the places she enjoyed before she had to go to work.
Even though her mother was slowing crawling back into her life, she couldn't keep her mind off the words she had now spoken to Chika and the girls.
Gaara had been up and down Suna since Tuesday afternoon so she hadn't had much time to spend and really talk to him about what was going on with her and her mother.
She wondered though, what was keeping him so busy.
"Things seem to be really clicking huh?" Ino asked as the girls walked inside after another work day.
At twenty past seven the sun was beginning to set.
"I guess so. After she explained what happened it made things a little easier to deal with. I'm not ready to let her back yet, but, it's nice to feel like I have a mom again."
"Saki, I don't mean to sound insensitive or anything—" Tenten sighed as she daintily sat down on the couch while Megami flopped on the floor and Hinata took a seat in a bean bag.
"But Yoko has been trying to be your mom for a really long time. You have to admit she was there for you, or at least tried to be there for you."
"I know," she frowned, sitting down next to her.
"But I never felt the connection I had with my m—Chika, with Yoko. She was special to me, she was caring, understanding, loving, she was the ideal mom, another reason I desperately wanted her back. I never wanted someone who tried to be all those things."
Before the girls could say anything more, a knock alerted them.
"I got it," she said quickly as she stood up.
She rushed to the door as more delicate knocks hit the door.
"Coming!" she called as she peeped in the hole.
She frowned when she didn't see a thing. Nonetheless, she opened the door.
She took a step back when in fact someone did stand there.
A small girl, at least six or seven, give or take a year, stood wiping her crying eyes on the girls porch.
She stood in a soft blue strapless sundress with long soft pink hair cut about the same as Sakura's.
"Hey! Are you okay? What's wrong?" she said quickly, barely paying attention to the resemblance.
"M-my mommy! I can't find my mommy!" she cried.
The girls sniffed as she looked up to Sakura with dull blue eyes.
Sakura looked at her in confusion as the girl smiled sadly.
"You look like mommy…"
Fearfully, she stood up straight just as the girls walked to the door.
"Who is it!" Megami yelled as they stepped next to her.
They looked down to the small girl who sniffed again and pointed up to Sakura.
"You look just like my mommy!"
"Ume! Ume! Ume where are you?!" a terrified voice called.
Sakura and the girls looked up as the supposed Ume turned around to find Chika rushing up in a long plum blossom covered skirt and a soft pink tank top.
"I told you not to go down this road! And never talk to strangers!" she yelled, making the little girl flinch.
"Sorry mommy…you never let me walk down here…I wanna see all the new places!" Ume whimpered.
Ignoring her, Chika solemnly looked up to Sakura who stood staring at her with glistening jade eyes as she clenched the door knob.
"Is this your daughter…Chika?" she croaked.
"Sakura…"
"Am I a stranger…Chika?" she spat coldly.
"How do you know mommy's name?" the girl asked sweetly.
"Sakura, I swear I meant to tell y—"
She slammed the door back.
Before the girls could react she was already making her way upstairs.
The flinched as her room door slammed as well.
Hinata daintily opened the door back to find Chika running her hand through her hair and Ume with her hands firmly on her hips.
"That was not nice!"
"Miss. Akahana, I think it is best you go," Hinata said politely.
Chika slowly nodded as she bend down a bit and took Ume's hand.
"I understand…goodbye," she mumbled as she and Ume began walking.
Hinata closed the door back and instantly turned to follow the girls who had already begun to make their way upstairs.
"Sakura!" Hinata called as they knocked on her locked door.
"Saki!" Tenten yelled.
"Saks!" Megami frowned.
"Forehead come on! Let us in!" Ino growled.
Sakura sat on her bed, hugging her legs with her head in between.
She didn't cry or yell, she simply sat.
"Come on guys, she just needs some time." She heard Tenten say through the door.
She listened as the girls made their way away from her room, giving her the space she needed.
Instantly, she sniffed dry tears and picked up her phone from her nightstand. She went straight to Gaara's contact and waited when the ringing began.
It rang.
And rang.
And rang some more until it finally went to his voicemail.
"Hey, Gaara, please call me back," she said weakly.
Even so, she tried again, only this time it rang twice and it went straight to voicemail.
Assuming he is busy, she dropped her phone and wrapped herself in her blanket.
She took a deep breath and sighed.
How refreshing it was. She was just starting to accept her mother back onto to find out she has a half sister that seems as old as the years she was gone for.
(^A.H^)
"Don't let it bother you so much Sakura! She probably got with someone after she left. Like you said she and your dad were never really in love, and she's still young. I have a half sister, I tolerate her." Ino boasted as the girls walked towards the building Friday morning.
Ino's half sister on her mother's side—she had slept with a man before she met her father—she is four years older than Ino (after her birthday) and lives out of Japan, studying in a city in Korea. The girls have already met and adore her, to Ino's chagrin.
"To me it means she replaced me the second she left." Sakura said wearily.
"I think she just found love," Hinata tried to reassure.
"Oh yeah? Then where is her new husband now?" she spat.
"Morning ladies!" Naruto's cheery voice sprang as he spun around and landed his lips on Hinata's cheek. She giggled, taking his hand as she softly blushed.
The girls turned around just as the white limo drove off and the boys stepped up.
Sakura's spirits lifted a bit when she saw Gaara but they only dropped again when she noticed the irritated expression on his face.
"Wuzzup bitches!" Megami chanted as they each took their respectable half.
"Gaara?" she mumbled as she hesitantly stepped up to him while he texted on his phone.
"What."
She looked taken aback.
Quickly realizing his mistake he lifted his head and shut his eyes, then reopened then as he slipped his phone back into his pocket.
"Sorry, good morning."
"Morning…" she mumbled again as he bent to give her a quick kiss.
"Sakura!"
Before he could reach her she twisted to her side, slapping him with her hair.
She stared as Chika ran up to them, waving.
"Sorry," Sakura said quickly as she clutched her bag. She twisted around and ran to the building, rushing past alerted students.
"Sak—oh, Sakura…" Chika frowned as she watched her go.
"Miss. Akahana, Sakura isn't very ready, not after yesterday." Hinata said sadly.
"What happened yesterday?" Naruto said curiously, catching the attention of the other boys.
Chika straightened up and gave a confident composure.
"She met her sister."
"Half sister," Ino corrected snarkly.
Her composure dropped as she turned towards her.
"Ino, you used to adore coming over to play with Sakura. Why do I feel like you don't like me very much anymore?"
"Because I don't." she said unhesitantly.
"Ino!" Hinata gasped.
"And you know damn well why."
"I understand. You have every right to distrust me." She said confidently again, but then turned to the rest of the girls.
"But I hope I can convince you girls otherwise."
With that, she turned and headed for the building.
"Nobody's liking anybody until Sakura does!" Megami said matter-factly.
The girls nodded in agreement.
The boys on the other hand, were surprised Gaara did not go after her.
(^A.H^)
For the rest of the day Sakura remained cold and irritated as much as Gaara did. He had his issues to deal with with the elders and she had her mother's life to figure out.
The girls wished she would interact with him and vise versa, because that always seemed to better then, but neither made any move towards one another, as if they weren't a couple at all.
In fifth period, Sakura sat in the back and avoided Chika who tried desperately to get close to her and teach a class at the same time.
It didn't work out.
"Well," Tenten sighed as they stepped out of the school while Sakura stormed on ahead. "at least we won't have to worry about her finding out about the ball tomorrow if she doesn't talk to anyone, especially Gaara."
"She's going to have to look at her mother at some point. I don't know what was up with Gaara today though."
"I still don't get what she's mad about!" Megami whined.
"Think about it. She's spent the last eight years wondering where her mother could be only to find out she's been taking care of an entirely different family. That can really hurt someone." Hinata frowned.
"I know I'd be," Ino grumbled.
"I wish she would talk to Gaara. She always feels better when he gives her advice." Tenten grumbled.
Ino shrugged, "come on, we've got an hour to kill before work, lets head home."
(^A.H^)
Four out of five of the members of Omega sat on the mansion steps, waiting as maids bustled and chefs got to work on dinner.
A couple maids ran down with suitcases, bowing to them, then rushing to the waiting limo.
Shikamaru slept with his head back on the steps. Neji read, Sasuke checked his email and Naruto waited, staring at the invitation that came in the mail Thursday.
Finally, he came down.
Instantly Naruto stood up as Gaara walked down with his hands in his black suit pant pockets and a flawless white dress shirt.
"Why do you have to stay the weekend there if the party is tomorrow?" Naruto frowned.
"I told you, I have to make sure everything is ready. There are a lot of people flying in that have to stay at the mansion. I'm already running late."
"What about Sakura? You didn't say anything to her and she's going to wonder why you're running off again." Sasuke said obviously.
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "I don't have time to deal with her right now. We both have our distractions, I'll talk to her Monday when everything is settled."
"Not a good idea…" Neji mumbled.
"The give me a better one." He said stonily. "Otherwise, I have to go."
The boys stared at him for a few moments and he did the same back.
Blankly, Gaara turned around and headed for the door.
"She needs you right now!" Naruto called, forcing him to stop for a moment.
"Out of everyone else…I think she really needs you right now."
He continued on, letting Geevs close the door behind him.
(^A.H^)
The girls sat on the couch, slumped in their spots. Tenten and Ino carried annoyed expressions as Hinata tried to listen patiently and Megami simply nodded at every word with her eyes closed as Sakura ranted about her day.
"—She tried to get me to go out to lunch with her! Like that's going to make things better! I tried to be friends with her again! Maybe even her daughter! But now I know both of those things are never going to happen!"
The girls had successfully convinced her to come down and say whatever was in her heart before they had to go to work, but evidently, she had too much to say.
"Sakura, you have to look at things from her point of view. Would you want your daughter to know you had another daughter right after you leave her. She was heartbroken and lonely." Hinata tried.
"But why didn't she say anything before?! Why did I have to find out on my own! Why does she keep avoiding my questions?! If she wanted to replace me she could have done it years ago! Why did she get pregnant with me anyway?! I mean, what kind of idiot gets pregnant at seventeen in the first place!" she yelled in frustration.
Hinata and Megami looked at her in shock while Ino groaned a bit.
Tenten simply smiled sadly as Sakura quickly looked at her.
"Ten, you know I don't mean—"
"Hey, come on, I know you're mad!" she laughed, waving her hand. "I know you're just trying to let all your frustrations out." She shrugged.
Sakura groaned and dropped to her knees, clutching her head. The girls quickly stood up and bent down to her.
"I hate this! Why did she have to come back?! I have to deal with a missing mother and a half-sister all in one week! This isn't fair! I don't want to do this anymore! I want her out of here!" she began to cry painfully.
"I want Gaara!"
The girls looked at each other, all knowing where he was at the moment as she cried in their arms.
"I bet he's sick of having to listen to all my problems anyway…" she whimpered.
"We seriously doubt that," Ino sighed, pushing the cherry blossoms hair from her eyes.
"I've hardly had any chance to talk to him about anything else all week…spatially…you know…and he's been so busy…I just wish he was here…" she whispered.
"Maybe I should call him…"
"No!" Ino and Tenten yelled.
Before Sakura could respond the door bell chimed throughout the house.
"I'll get it!" Ino said quickly, standing up and rushing to the door.
Without looking to see who was standing outside she twisted around the door and was surprised to find a man standing there.
A young man. At least, somewhere in his early thirties.
He carried milk chocolate brown wind-swept hair and dull blue eyes and handsome features. He stood in a red button up shirt with black slacks.
"Can I help you?" Ino cooed.
"Hi," his slightly deep voice rang. "I'm looking for Miss. Sakura Haruno?"
Ino frowned and stood up straight, "Sakura!" she said without turning away from him.
"Is it who I think it is?" she sighed as she walked up to the door. Her expression turned to confusion as she looked at him and he stared back at her.
"Wow." He said in awe, "you really are the spitting image of her."
"And you are?" she asked politely.
"My name is Masato Yoshitaka. I'm looking for my daughter Ume. I have reason to believe her mother, your mother, took her without court consent."
(^A.H^)
Sakura sat in complete and utter shock as Masato finished his story half an hour later.
The girls had gone ahead to work without her as she let him in to speak after surprising all of them with his words.
"What do you mean she kidnapped Ume?" she whispered.
"After our divorce was settled the judge gave me full custody of Ume because Chika clearly couldn't handle her at any moment in time with her drug problems."
"What?!" she yelled, aghast.
He nodded, "she was devastated and refused to leave us alone. She threatened to take Ume away more times than I came count, I was forced to get a restraining order but somehow, she found a way."
"H-how did you find me?" she whispered.
"Before the divorce she said if I tried to divorce her she would just run back to her ex-husband. I didn't care, he can deal with her. I saw her looking through magazines of your father then some where you were in. She did a lot of research and managed to track you down, but that was months ago."
She mentally gasped.
The letter!
"I took the address she found and ended up here. Tell me, have you seen Chika? With Ume?"
Sakura slowly nodded as she still tried to comprehend everything he said.
Her mom did—or does?—drugs.
She took their child without consent.
She's been tracking her for months.
"Wonderful! Where is—"
"I'm sorry." She said dully, "I have to make a quick phone call."
He nodded quickly as she stood up, taking her phone from her thin jacket pocket and walking up the stairs.
Her heart raced as it rang. At the third ring, they answered.
"Hello Sakura," her father's voice said through the phone.
"Dad," she said quickly, "why didn't you tell me what happened between you and mom all those years ago? Why didn't you tell me she walked out because the two of you didn't love each other? Why didn't you tell me you tried to keep her away from the public because she was pregnant! Why didn't—!"
"Sakura, calm down. What the hell has she been telling you?" he demanded.
"Daddy, all I want is the truth because right now, things are really confusing."
"Fine then, how about this to start. I loved your mother with every fiber in my body."
Sakura froze.
"Ever since I the day I met her I knew I wanted to be with her forever, I wanted to be there for her, to give her everything she never had and love her like no one ever had. At the time. But in only two months of dating I tried to break it off because she had to much going on. She spent my money on drugs and drank every night. I tried to help her but nothing I did work. It wasn't until she told me she was pregnant, and threatened to take it to the media, did I stay with her. It was never about not wanting you if that's what you're thinking, I was prepared to be a father but I wasn't prepared to be a husband."
"I managed to get her off the drugs because I was so afraid of what would happen to you. Only for the pregnancy. As soon as you were born she was back again. I had to do what I had to do to give you a stable family. But things took turn for the worse when she cheated on me."
"Oh my god…"
"I finally had enough so I kicked her out. Funny, she was more than willing to leave. She left without a second thought."
"Over the last eight years she's called me, at least once every Christmas to ask for money. I always reject her."
So. Sakura thought.
She had a chance to talk to her for eight years, but she never did.
"I know it's hard to believe, and that your mother and I were the perfect couple ever since you were born, but that's not it. That's not who she was. The only thing she ever was was high."
Tears fell down Sakura' face as she clutched her phone.
"You're eighteen now. So I guess now is a better time than any to tell you the truth. I thought maybe she had come back, clean, because she seemed that way when she walked in our home. But if she's been lying to you, I don't think she's changed at all."
"Thanks dad…" she breathed. "That's enough…"
"Sakura. I'm so sorry."
"I know…I have to go…"
Before his goodbye was finished she hung up and rushed back down the stairs, rubbing her eyes.
"Are you alright Miss?" Masato asked, concerned.
"I'm fine. Please. Let's go. I know where your daughter is."
(^A.H^)
Sakura rushed to the desk of Tokyo's hotel with Masato by her side.
The female desk clerk looked up and smiled, "Welcome to Tokyo hotel. Room for two?"
"No, thank you. I'm looking for Chika Akahana, pink hair? I'm her daughter Sakura, she's expecting me." She said calmly.
"Oh! Chika's told me about you!" she said sweetly. "She's been waiting to see you! Here, she's in room 107, second floor. But she says whoever comes up has to knock first."
"Thank you," she smiled as she twisted around.
Masato rushed to the waiting elevator with her, pulling out his phone to alert the police of the room number.
He visibly shivered as the elevator doors opened again, showering an array of golden door and diamond handled rooms. Though lesser than Tokyo upper hotel.
"Don't be scared. Ume will be fine," she smiled weakly, bags of stress forming under her eyes.
They sauntered down the hall, passing various rooms until they finally stood in front of one parked 107.
Before she could take the handle, Sakura jumped at the sound of a crash.
"Oh you dumb brat! What did I tell you about touching the vases?!"
"I'm sorry mommy…" a small voice mumbled.
Sakura leaned her ear on the door. Masato followed suit.
"Now I'm going to have to pay for this shit! Ugh! Get your ass back in that room!"
"Don't sweat it Chika," a deep unfamiliar voice said coolly.
"Didn't you say you got that money from the kid?"
"Oh please I haven't even asked her yet! She's still pissed about finding out about Ume, I haven't gotten a damn chance. I was close to you know. But don't worry about it, once I get her to write a check for Ume and I we'll finally get the hell out of this city and back to Taiwan. But if this brat hadn't ruined everything I'd be there by now!"
Ume's small voice cried loudly.
"Shut up!"
"I've heard enough." Masato growled as he twisted the door knob.
Sakura stood up straight and stood still and stared as the door flew open.
Chika gasped and firmly wrapped her rode around her bareness. The man who had been speaking stood shirtless with dark blue, torn jeans and blond dyed hair.
Ume sat on the floor with bruises on her cheeks, crying.
"Masato! How the hell did you get here?!" Chika yelled.
He turned and slapped her, making her gasp and twist to her left.
"How dare you hit my child!" he yelled.
"Who the hell do you think you are?!" the other man yelled, tackling him.
Chika screamed for control as Ume whimpered and got up, rushing to the door.
She cried by Sakura who simply continued to stand and stare.
Chika glared and turned to the door, only for it to completely drop in shock as she stared at Sakura's expression.
"Sak..Sakura?" she gulped.
She took a couple steps towards her, yet Sakura did not move back.
"H-how much did you hear?"
"Enough." She said confidently.
"Enough to know I've grown up without a mother. That I've never had a mother since birth…it's funny…Gaara and I aren't so different."
"What are you talking about?" she laughed as she stepped closer.
"I am your mother!"
"No. I have a mom. I got her to replace a conniving witch when I was ten years old. Her name is Yoko. Yoko Haruno. My mother."
"I am your mother!" Chika yelled. "Sakura! It's me! And you had better show me some damn respect!"
Chika stilled as she slapped her across her other cheek.
"There are…no words to describe who you are to me right now. But If I've learned anything it's not a mother. In fact, you aren't even Ume's mother. A mother isn't a figure, it's someone who loves and cherishes their child and sticks by them when they need them the most, supports and loves then with all their heart. I'm sorry I wasted eighteen years thinking you were just that. But I swear on my grave I'll never shed another tear on you again."
Chika glared and aimed to slap her, only for her hand to be caught by her own daughter.
She listened to the chime of the elevator in silence.
"Police!" voices yelled, alerting other members of the suites.
They rushed to the door as Sakura dropped her hand.
"Chika Akahana, you are under arrest for the kidnap of Ume Yoshitaka, violation of parole, drug abuse, domestic violence, and violation of court order. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say or do…"
Chika struggled as one policeman cuffed her hands and the others forced Masato off the man.
"You've become quite the woman, Sakura. Would it be wrong to say your mother is proud of you?" Chika smirked.
"Someone very important to me once said that you can't waste life on something that was never there. I want to thank you Chika."
"For what?"
"For leaving me. In all honesty, it's the best thing you could have ever done for me."
Chika stared at her as the policeman forced her out of the room.
She smirked.
"Who knows. Maybe we'll run into each other in another eight years."
"I seriously doubt that." Sakura mumbled as she exited.
"See you around kid!"
They forced the man that was with her out of the room. As the rest of the men cleared out a battered Masato stepped up and held his arms out to Ume who instantly jumped up.
He helped her onto his back as he walked to face Sakura who stood calmly and smiled.
"I can't…thank you enough, Sakura." He smiled.
"Don't sweat it. I knew it was too good to be true. She never really was much of a mother. But now I can focus on the one I always should have had."
Ume bounced up and down as Masato smiled at her.
"And you can focus on giving Ume a real mom."
He chuckled, "yes."
"No one should grow up without a loving mother. But, if need be, there is always going to be people out there who act in her place."
He sighed, "Sakura, if it's all the same to you, I would like Ume to get to know her sister better, she seems like a real jem. Soon?" he asked hopefully.
"I'd like that," she smiled.
He nodded to her as he began to make his way out.
"I'll keep in touch." He called as Ume waved wildly.
"Bye! Bye Miss. Sakura!"
Sakura smiled to her as she stared at the mess in the room.
She took a deep, shaky breath, then let it out in contempt exhaustion.
She glanced at her watch.
From the drive to Tokyo, alerting the police, and finding the hotel, it was almost eight o'clock.
She looked at the twelve missed calls on her phone. Three each from the girls.
She smiled as she held it to her chest, then began her descent home.
(^A.H^)
"Where the hell have you been?!" Ino and Tenten yelled at the same time as she walked into the house.
"Hi," she said simply.
"Don't hi us! We thought that guy stole you! We were freaking out! I was about to call the police!" Ino yelled.
"We were worried sick," Tenten sighed, "now we have to call Hinata and Megami and let them know they can keep driving to Suna." She sighed, taking a seat.
"What?" Sakura asked, alert.
Tenten's eyes widened as Ino twisted to her, furiously glaring.
"Why are they driving to Suna this late at night?" she questioned, stepping in.
"You know how the lights are and everything! Megami wanted to see the sights!" Tenten laughed.
Ino rolled her eyes.
"Why do you even bother trying to lie?"
"She's lying?" Sakura asked, turning to her.
Ino laughed nervously as Tenten shot her a glare.
"Girls, why did they go to Suna? And who's tiara is that?" she said quickly.
"Shit!" Ino yelled as she turned to the table with Megami's tiara sitting under a couple papers
"That fucking idiot!" she yelled as she stormed over to it. She picked up the papers under and glared at the words.
Dear Ino,
Tiara's suck.
You wear it.
Love, Megami/supaninjaawesumgurl
P.S: I'm wearing your bra on my head for the drive.
Thanks.
Ino shivered as she tore the paper and picked up the next below it.
"Wait! What's that paper underneath?" Sakura questioned.
Ino glanced down to the paper and quickly back up to Sakura.
"Nothing! A work sheet!" she said quickly.
"How does it turn into nothing then a work sheet?" Sakura asked yet again.
"Stop. Lying to me." She snapped.
"I've had enough of that to last a lifetime…"
The girls looked at each other. Tenten nodded and Ino sighed and she brought the paper from behind her and handed it to Sakura.
Princesses and heirs,
You are cordially invited to a grand ball in honor of Prince Gaara Sabaku of Sunagakure, where, at the end of the night, a bride to be will be chosen by the prince himself.
Please take note—
Sakura stood at the top half and dropped the gold lined paper, letting it float to the floor.
"Sakura…" Ino breathed. "We wanted to tell you…but Gaara said…"
"No commoners invited. Hinata and Megami were forced to attend along with the other guys. They were supposed to leave tomorrow but Gaara called them to come early."
"We're so sorry…we thought, because you were stressing so much about your m—"
"Hold on," she said quickly, digging into her pocket for her cell phone.
They watched as she went to the familiar contact and clicked it.
She glanced at them, shooing them out as she held it to her ear.
They held their hands up in defense and rushed to the kitchen.
After two rings, he picked up.
"…Sakura?"
"Why didn't you tell me?" she whispered, staring out the window to the night, looking at the lit buildings behind the homes in the neighborhood.
She listened to him sigh.
"So I'm going to guess they told you."
"Why?" she said faintly again.
"You have enough issues going on Sakura, I didn't want to bother you with this. I knew it would only cause you more problems."
"I can assure you Chika is out of the picture…" she mumbled. "But Gaara…I'm so…so sorry I pressed you with my problems this week."
"Please don't apologize. There isn't anything I wouldn't do to make you smile, Sakura. Don't ever feel like there isn't something you can't say to me, or you don't have someone to turn to. You are my everything, and I'm going to make sure it stays that way."
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, "Gaara…how can you say all this? H-how can you do all this? For me? You'd risk being king? Again? Why me?" she cried.
"Because I've never loved anyone the way I love you."
She seized.
"Better yet, you really are the only person I have ever actually loved. And before March, when you spent the week in Suna, I didn't think it was possible."
She choked, clutching her cell phone. "G-Gaara…"
"I have to go. I'll see you Monday." He said quickly.
Before she could answer he'd already hung up.
She stared at her phone as Ino and Tenten peeked into the room.
She sniffed and rubbed her eyes.
"No! I'm done crying!" she yelled.
"Sakura?" Ino asked as they stepped in.
"Go pack some things! We're leaving for Suna by noon tomorrow!" she ordered.
(^A.H^)
Gaara stared blankly at his cell phone as he locked it. He trailed his full jade eyes to his right to find three pairs of eyes on him.
Naruto, Megami, and Hinata.
Shikamaru scratched the back of his head and Sasuke and Neji smirked.
"What."
"DRAMATIC FAINT!" Megami yelled as she dropped to the floor, the back of her hand on her forehead.
"H-hey! That's my job!" Hinata said down to her.
Naruto beamed at him.
Gaara sighed.
"Until tomorrow then…"
(^A.H^)
The next day, the mansion bustled with servant boys who readied the grand ballroom, chef who cooked hastily, and maids who cleaned all around.
Princesses and heirs that had already arrived bustled around as well getting themselves ready for the night.
Throughout the day, other royals arrived. Only a select amount of princes and heirs arrived though, so the girls could focus on Gaara.
By the time the night arrived, everything was sat ready and waiting in the grand ballroom.
At nine sharp the royal teens headed into the room in elegant dresses and for the some, suits.
Gaara in the king's chair in a black military suit and his crown shining above his head. Next to him sat his father, and on his right, Kankuro, whilst Temari went to see a friend in Korea.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" the kazekage's right hand man announced as everyone stepped into the ball room and quieted down.
"Their royal highness, lord kazekage and prince Gaara!"
The girls clapped and or cheered then, mostly Gaara.
Without their parents around, they were free to act in any way they pleased.
"Tonight, prince Gaara shall dance with each available woman, and at the stroke of eleven, will officially have a bride to be! For the rest of the night we will celebrate their engagement."
"This is some Cinderella bullshit who's writing this crap?" Megami whisper-growled, Hinata shushed her.
Gaara stood as the girls cheered once again. He stepped down the few golden steps and faced them all.
"Feel free to eat as you please and explore the palace if need be! May the dance commence!"
Instantly, Gaara was being clutched and pulled at by the various princesses who begged for the first dance.
The same went for the boys, who furiously tried to push them away.
"That's okay Hinata! We can dance together!" Megami cheered in her white satin dress as Hinata stood in her dark blue strapless one with loose run off elbow sleeves.
Hinata giggled at her.
"I'm serious."
"Hinata!" Naruto beamed, taking her hand quickly.
"I'm with her!" Naruto yelled to the shocked girls who slumped in turn.
Sasuke pulled out and grabbed Megami by her bun.
"Mine." He said coolly.
"Hey!" she yelled, struggling.
Neji and Shikamaru on the other hand, had no excuse.
For the next hour, Gaara switched from princess to princess. Naruto and Sasuke held onto their pair and Neji and Shikamaru were forced to switch between royals as well.
The same followed for the remainder of the few males in the room.
Gaara kept a blank expression as he danced with each overly cheery and or overly talkative girl.
Somehow, as Naruto passed by with Hinata, he switched them with his current dancer, to all three of their shock.
The girl, however, did not seem to mind.
"It feels better to dance with someone I can tolerate." He said coldly.
Hinata beamed as they glazed across the dance floor.
"Are you sure she's going to be here? I do have to pick a wife in an hour."
"If I know Sakura, I'm sure she could pop up any moment," Hinata reassured. "She's not one to be knocked down so easily."
"That I know."
"I'd like my girlfriend back now, thank you," Naruto huffed as he tugged Hinata back to him.
Gaara glanced around to the other dancers. As girls were already making themselves ready to jump in as his next dancer, he quickly walked over to the familiar pair and tugged at the girl.
"The hell—" Sasuke growled.
"Hiya Gaara! Having fun?!" Megami beamed as they moved around on the dance floor.
"Well, you're less talkative then the others. You'll do."
"Thanks!" she beamed dumbly.
"I'm waiting for her…"
"Who?" Megami beamed.
"What? We talked about this earlier, remember? Sakura?"
Megami frowned, "why don't you just ask Ino or Tenten? I'm sure they've seen her around!"
"What?" he whispered in shock.
She nudged her head back to where Sasuke stood, irritated.
Hiding in the corner sat two girls in yellow and dark green ball gowns and sparkling tiaras, watching them with smiles on their faces.
"Why didn't you tell me? Or Shikamaru? Or Neji?"
"No one asked." Megami shrugged.
He pulled her arm and dragged her back to the Sasuke who punched her head.
"Ah! You bitch what was that for?!"
Breathing heavily, Gaara stepped up to the waiting girls who smiled up at him.
"How long have you been here?"
"About half an hour." Tenten answered.
"How did you get in?"
"It's crazy what a ball gown and tiara will do. You really need to fire those security guards." Ino sighed.
"You know Shikamaru and Neji—"
"It's funnier to watch them suffer rather than dance with them. We suppose you aren't here to ask random questions though, right?"
He nodded once.
"You have to find her." Ino cooed as she moved past him.
Tenten took his hand and moved him to the dance floor once again.
"Take a look around…" she whispered in his ear.
He did as he was told and scanned the area. But he saw no one familiar.
He saw a pissed off Neji, but not the person he was looking for.
"You've gotta expand your area…" she hummed as she dipped.
As she did he looked up. High up. In the balcony above the seats his father and Kankuro—boredly—sat in.
There stood a pink-haired girl.
His cherry blossom.
Smiling down to him in a simple pair of skinny jeans and a light blue peasant top.
He subconsciously dropped Tenten and stood up straight.
"Hey! I didn't say drop me!" she yelled, rubbing her head.
"Sorry…" he mumbled as he held his hand out without looking down to her.
As she stood up straight, rubbing her head he continued to look to the cherry blossom as he made his way out of the ballroom—to the confusion of others—and towards the steps.
He rushed up the long steps and towards the balcony area that hung above the ball room.
He stopped when he saw her, she slightly turned to the side and smiled sadly at him.
As they both gazed at each other they took slow, small steps until they found themselves jogging towards each other.
She jumped into his arms and he hugged her tightly. After a few moments she pulled back and kissed him with every fire in her body.
"Don't you ever do that again…" she whispered with each kiss.
"What…?" he mumbled.
"Tell me you love me…then leave me in the dust. I just might do the same thing next time." She smirked.
His eyes widened a bit.
She smiled weakly and cupped his cheeks.
"I love you. You are my equal. My soul mate. My everything. And I wouldn't want anything more than to be your wife someday." She whispered.
"Gaara!" his fathers voice boomed as footsteps clanked on the stairs.
"Perfect timing." He whispered.
He turned around to face his father as he stepped up to him with Kankuro by his side.
The kazekage sighed as he noticed Sakura.
"Gaara. I understand your feelings and such…but please…for the sake of the kingdom…don't do this again."
"Father," he began.
"Over the course of the week, I've realized that I can have Suna, and a wife of my own choosing."
"You know it's impossible. You are strictly forbidden from marrying a commoner! It is the law!"
"Exactly. It isn't."
His father raised a brow as Gaara took her hand and made his way to the edge of the balcony.
"Attention!" his voice escalated, capturing the attention of all.
The music silenced and the members looked up to him. Most gasped at the sight of Sakura. Again.
"This situation looks familiar. Doesn't it?" he called.
"In the law of Suna. It is stated that the prince cannot obtain leadership without marrying a royal bride. You all know this."
He glanced at his father.
"But, over the last week, I've looked into this law myself, and found a few details the council never mentioned. I CAN become king without marrying, I only have to be married within seventy-two hours of my coronation or my title will be revoked. And yes, it states that I must marry a bride of royal descent. But I have decided that when I become king, my first duty will be to revoke that law. For all countries who hold it under the same council….and…I intend to marry this girl…" he turned to Sakura who looked at him with glistening eyes.
The princesses below, who too lay under the law, cheered.
Gaara turned back to his father who shook his head and smiled as Kankuro smirked.
Gaara faced the crowd with Sakura, looking down as claps went around.
"Presenting! Prince Gaara Sabaku! Future king of Sunakagure! And lady Sakura Haruno! Future queen Sakura Sabaku!"
(^A.H^)
"You're kidding! Chika really did all that?!" Ino yelled in shock, jumping up from Shikamaru's lap.
Sakura nodded as she rested her head on Gaara's lap with his crown on her head as the ten sat in the large back yard in the night time.
"Why didn't you tell us?! Where is that bitch?! Let's go give it to her!" Megami yelled, thrusting her arm up as she lay on Sasuke's lap.
"Prison, like I said." Sakura sighed.
"I'm sorry you lost your mom again Sakura," Naruto frowned from behind Hinata's hair as he swayed them back and forth with his hands wrapped around her waist.
"It doesn't feel like I really lost anything. Come to think of it, if Chika had never left, I never would have been such a bitch—with Ino—to you guys and we wouldn't be friends," Sakura smiled.
"Best friends," Tenten pointed out as she lay on Neji's chest while he rubbed her growing stomach.
Sakura nodded, "If she had never come back I never would have realized how much Yoko has been a mother to me all these years. I never would have found out I have a sister, and…" she sat up and turned around to look a surprised Gaara in the eye.
"I never would have realized how much you mean to me…and how much I really love you." She whispered. He leaned in and quickly kissed her.
"Who knows! Maybe Chika did her motherly duty after all! In a sick, twisted, evil way," Tenten shrugged.
The girls laughed together as the moon shined full above them and above Suna.
"Who cares anymore! Weddings all around!" Ino squealed.
Sakura rolled her eyes as she leaned back on his chest, staring up at the moon as she watched it form a mirror image in the backyard fountain.
So it seems,
She thought.
She and Gaara, aren't as different as she thought.
Her mother was right about she and her dad being incompatible, at least that much was the truth.
But she knew she and Gaara are compatible in more ways than one.
Now, she can look forward to the years to come, as queen, of Sunagakure.
"Wait until mom and dad hear about this!"
Compatibility is key. Find your match, as they will find you.
T:B:C
Not much to say, unlike usual xD
CHAPTER TITLE IN PROFILE!
Byee!
^Konoha to the stars^