Hello there!
I've had this idea for over a year and some but I've been procrastinating and could never find a way to start the story, or how I wanted it to go, throw in life and work into the mix... The struggle has been a real bitch.
I hope you enjoy the story.
Rain pelted the windows in lashes, each hit sounded like rocks being thrown against the windows in rage. The wind howled like a wounded animal in severe agony, and darkness engulfed the skyline, shrouding the city in an everlasting darkness that stole away the light. Thunder rumbled and the windows shook from the ferocity of each clap. The weather and elements were just as annoyed as the people sat inside the large office room.
There were over half a dozen people in the large room, all dressed in dark suits, all with unreadable expressions. Four men stood sentry on either side of the table, like the four horsemen of the apocalypse, all with their hands held together in front of them. Their gazes drifted from person to person, waiting patiently for their next orders. Two men sat on opposite sides of the large oval table, both dressed in the finest suits money could buy.
"The weather is an ominous sign to this meeting," Kizashi spoke quietly as he looked outside, watching as rain hit the windows like icy bullets.
"I didn't take you to be a superstitious old fool," Fugaku scoffed, leaning back in his chair, looking down his nose at the pink haired man sat opposite him.
"No, not superstitious," Kizashi faced Fugaku and levelled him with a look, "I'm just vary of the people I am currently surrounded by."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Fugaku clenched his jaw together, his eyes narrowed slightly.
"That I do not trust you," Kizashi turned to look out the window again, watching as lightning struck and lit up the skyline before it was plunged into darkness once more.
"Hmph!" Fugaku folded his arms across his chest. "You didn't have to come then."
"If I had the choice, I wouldn't have bothered," Kizashi replied, his tone bored. He let out a tired sigh and drummed his fingers against the table and waited for the man who had orchestrated this meeting.
"The reason this meeting has to happen," a stern, strong voice spoke from the far end of the room, "is to put an end to this childish rivalry between your two families."
Both Fugaku and Kizashi stood up and bowed their head slightly at the voice. They watched as Hiruzen Sarutobi walked over silently and took his seat at the head of the table. Fugaku and Kizashi following suit.
For a while, they all sat in a tense silence, Hiruzen looked between Fugaku and Kizashi, he felt like a principal who had to deal with troublemakers at school. He watched silently as the grown men stared each other down, daring the other to look away first.
"I have come to a conclusion on how to resolve your issues," Hiruzen said after a while, his tone absolute.
"And what would that be, hmm?" Fugaku folded his arms over his chest, "you've finally decided to side with the Uchihas?" he smirked arrogantly at Kizashi.
"Your pride and ego will be your downfall Fugaku if you're not careful," Hiruzen warned, his steely gaze on the raven-haired man. He stood up and walked towards the window, his hands crossed behind his back as he watched the torrential rain surround them.
"What is your decision then?" Fugaku asked bitterly.
Hiruzen watched the downpour, listened as the wind howled loudly outside the comfort of this room. For a long time, he had been aware of the growing tensions between the two families, the Harunos and Uchihas. Both striving for the best, even if that meant underhand tactics to get them, and in some cases, bloodshed. Hiruzen had mediated many meetings between the families for many years now, and each one ended bitterly and almost coming to blows, neither happy with the outcome.
After witnessing several arguments that almost ended in blows, Hiruzen had taken it upon himself to find a solution that would get both families to either get along or at best, be civil to one another. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out, he knew full well that his solution to their issues would be met with hostility, but it was the only solution that would ensure their cooperation.
He turned to look at the men before he walked over to the table and sat down. He rested his elbows on the table and pressed his long, thin fingers together. "My decision and solution are absolute," he eyed both men, "it will not be changed or amended in any way." He paused letting his words sink in, making it clear that there was no going back from this now. When neither of them said anything, Hiruzen took a deep, silent breath and looked over at Fugaku, "what is Itachi doing these days?"
"Itachi?" Fugaku furrowed his brow in confusion, "what does he have to do with any of this?"
"Everything," Hiruzen replied nonchalantly.
"He still works for me, if that is what you're asking," Fugaku stared down the old man, wondering what he was playing at.
Hiruzen nodded and looked at Kizashi, his lips pulling up slightly in the corners, "I don't have to ask about Sakura."
Kizashi smiled at him at the mention of Sakura, his beloved daughter. "She's enjoying some time off."
Hiruzen smiled slightly, "that is good to hear. she deserves a break; she works too hard."
Fugaku bristled at how the old man spoke to Haruno and how easily he had been dismissed. He drummed his fingers on the table impatiently, "what do either of them have to do with your solution?" he barked out, anger dripping through each word.
Hiruzen eyed the raven-haired man carefully, before he let out a deep sigh. "My solution is simple; it will require both families to work together."
"How?" Fugaku asked impatiently, he checked his watch, "I've been here for over half an hour and you've been talking in around in circles old man."
Kizashi shook his head, his eyes narrowed in disbelief at the man's arrogance, "show some respect, Uchiha."
"You might be able to sit here idle, but I have a successful business to run," Fugaku pointed a finger at Kizashi, "this has been nothing but a waste of my time." He narrowed his gaze at Hiruzen.
"Is Itachi seeing anyone?" Hiruzen asked, ignoring Fugaku's outburst, treating him like an errant toddler throwing his toys out to get his own way. He watched as the look of anger turned to one of question on Fugaku's face.
"What are you playing at?" Fugaku asked through clenched teeth. It was a known fact that Itachi, the oldest of Fugaku's sons did not exactly see eye to eye with him. What was not known, was that Itachi barely spoke to his father, unless he absolutely had to.
"Answer the question Fugaku," Hizuren waited patiently for the raven-haired man to answer him.
Fugaku stared at the old man, an eyebrow arched upwards. The only sound heard in the room was the howling wind and the rain hitting the windows over and over. "No, he is not seeing anyone," Fugaku finally answered.
Hiruzen nodded and looked at Kizashi, "I take Sakura is still single?"
Kizashi nodded his answer, his jaw clenched tight. "What does my daughter have to do with your solution Hiruzen? You already know that she does not like to be involved in business disputes."
Hiruzen quietly stared at each man in turn. He took another deep, silent breath, slowly letting it out and spoke calmly and clearly. "In order for both families to get along, your oldest children will be wed."
For a few seconds, the room was thrown into silence. No one moved or said anything. Even the howling wind, thunder and rain seemed to have died down, as if waiting to hear the outcome of the plan, until Fugaku stood up, forcing his chair away from him, "what kind of solution is that?!" he yelled, his voice reverberated around the room, almost drowning out the ferocity of the storm. The vein in head throbbing madly, his fists clenched, ready to take on anyone that dared to come near him. He was breathing hard, anger radiating off him, suffocating the room.
"The only solution where both families work together for the best," Hiruzen said calmly, as he looked at Fugaku acting like a child again, throwing a tantrum.
"And we're supposed to just agree to this insane idea?!" Fugaku threw his hands in the air, and clenched his jaw tightly, grinding his teeth together furiously.
"I did say earlier that my solution was absolute and final," Hiruzen pressed his fingers together and levelled Fugaku with a stare that made it clear his decision was not to be taken lightly.
"What about Itachi and Sakura?" Kizashi asked quickly, eyeing the old man sceptically, "I know my daughter, she will not agree to this willingly."
"That shall be an issue for you to deal with," Hiruzen said matter-of-factly as he stood up, "their engagement will take place in three days, the wedding four days later."
"This has got to be the most idiotic thing I have ever heard; you must be going senile in your old age!" Fugaku spat out.
Several men moved towards Fugaku, all with their hands on the weapons concealed in their pockets. "You do not insult-
Hiruzen raised his hand, interrupting one of his men, "there is no need to threaten our guests," Hiruzen turned to face Fugaku, "especially as he had come to me months ago hoping for a resolution, except that his ego blinded him, making him think that I would be siding with the Uchiha's," he scoffed, "seems to me Fugaku, that it is you who is going senile if you think you can speak to me in such a way." He stared at the raven-haired man, his gaze penetrating and never wavering.
"And if I chose not to go along with your ridiculous solution?" Fugaku crossed his arms across his chest, and stared at the old man, refusing to back down.
"Then either the Uchihas or Harunos will have to leave Konoha for good, as neither of you can live peacefully with the other. There has been enough bloodshed by both of you and this is the only way to put an end to your childish tantrums." Hiruzen's words rang loud and clear around the room, chilling the two men more than the raging storm outside.
"Three days," Hiruzen reiterated once more, he stared at both men, making it clear that this was their only option. "The engagement will be held at my hotel, as will the wedding, that way I will be privy to everything that happens. No decisions will be made without my knowing of them." He turned away from them and silently made his way out of the room, leaving the men to decide their future.
Kizashi let out a staggered breath, he felt as if the floor had just been pulled from beneath him, throwing him into a nightmare, where either he and his family are forced to leave their home, their business, everything he had built behind or Sakura be wed against her will to an Uchiha.
He slowly looked up to find Fugaku staring at him, his eyes filled with anger and hatred. He was sure that his own eyes displayed the same emotions.
"I know you're a stubborn old fool who will not leave this city without a fight," Fugaku said, his eyes blazing and his jaw clenched tight, "which only leaves us with the old fool's solution."
"It would be easier if you left the city for good," Kizashi stood up and brushed at his jacket before buttoning it up. "But I know you, you would rather die than leave here."
Fugaku raised his head slightly, and bitterly said, "then we shall see one another in three days."
"We shall," Kizashi motioned to his men and together they left the room and made their way to the waiting cars parked outside.
XXX
Mebuki took one look at her husband as he entered their house and knew that the decision was not one he agreed with. "What was said?" Mebuki was not one to beat around the bush, rather she dealt with the issue head on.
"We have come to an agreement," Kizashi sighed as he shrugged out of his jacket and sat down on the sofa.
Mebuki made her way to the cabinet in the corner. She grabbed a glass and poured a large helping of whiskey, walked towards her husband, and handed him the glass, "does the agreement work in our favour?"
Kizashi smiled thanks at his wife and took a large sip, letting the liquid warm him from inside out. He shut his eyes and savoured the tastes of smoked oak and citrus. He opened his eyes and looked at his wife, "in a way."
Mebuki frowned at his cryptic answer, "what does that mean?"
"It means that neither us or the Uchihas," he spat the name out, "will have to leave the city."
Mebuki raised a pointed eyebrow at him, "when was that an option?"
"It was either leave or accept the solution from Hiruzen," Kizashi replied, he took another large sip and added before Mebuki could ask, "the solution that works for both the families and allows us to stay in Konoha is marriage."
"Marriage?" Mebuki sat down on the edge of the sofa and faced her husband, her eyebrows pinched together, "as in, merge the companies together and run them as one?"
Kizashi went to take another sip, but his glass was empty. He stood up and walked to the cabinet and helped himself to another large serving of whiskey. He looked out of the window, the rain had finally slowed down, but the wind still howled loudly and angrily, shaking the trees and bushes to an inch of their lives, "no, a marriage between their son and our daughter," he answered quietly, it pained him to utter the words aloud, to see that there was no other option available to him.
"What?" Mebuki looked at Kizashi as if he had lost his mind, "surely you said no to this ridiculous idea?" But even as the question had left her mouth, she knew that Kizashi had agreed.
"It is the only way," Kizashi said sadly.
Mebuki shook her head, "there must be something else we can do-
"The only thing we can do is either leave our home and business or get Sakura married off to an Uchiha," Kizashi interrupted her. He threw back the contents of his glass, the amber liquid burning the back of his throat as he swallowed it. He sucked in air through clenched teeth and set down the glass, his hand pressed against the cabinet door. "I don't like the idea of it any more than you do," he looked over at his wife, "but if this means it will end this," he waved his hand around, "this war between our families, then I will take the risk."
"It is not your life you are putting at risk," Mebuki stood up, her arms crossed over her chest, "it is our daughter's."
"I know that!" Kizashi shouted. "Everyone has to make sacrifices, and this just happens to be one of them."
"Sacrifices?" Mebuki laughed humourlessly, "this is not a sacrifice, you have robbed your daughter of her future, her will, her everything!"
"What would you have me do instead? Give up on everything I built from nothing, throw all the sacrifices I made to get where I am?" He shouted at her.
"You built?" Mebuki questioned, "you seem to have forgotten I was with you though the whole thing, I supported you, helped you, did everything in my power to get you where you are today." She narrowed her eyes at him, her jaw clenched in anger.
"Then you understand why I had to accept this offer, I, no, we cannot just throw away everything we have worked so hard for-
"But it is fine to throw Sakura to the wolves?" Mebuki interrupted.
Kizashi walked to his wife and placed his hands on her shoulders gently, "Sakura will understand," he tried to placate her.
"How long do we have?" Mebuki asked, her anger bubbling under the surface. She forced to keep her tone and voice level.
"The engagement is in three days," he said quietly.
"Three days?" Sahe asked disbelievingly before adding, "what about the wedding?"
"Four days later," Kizashi answered.
Mebuki stared at him dumbstruck, before laughing with no humour, "you better be ready for her temper when she finds out, and," she pressed her finger into his chest hard, "you will be telling her!" She narrowed her eyes at him, pushed past him and walked away, not wanting to be near the man who had robbed his own child's future.