Chapter 6: A Loneliness, A Burden, and A Love
Sasuke fought hard against his brother and he could hear the rustling of tree branches from behind. Since Itachi had been spotted there it didn't take long for Tsunade to reach her destination.
"I take my leave. I'll finish you off another time," Itachi spat realizing that he couldn't take on Tsunade, Naruto, and Sasuke at the same time.
The marks disappeared from Sasuke's body as Tsunade came closer to him and Naruto moved in behind her.
"Are you alright?" Tsunade asked lazily.
"Yes, excuse me," he retorted in a tired tone. "Let's go, Sakura."
Sakura gulped and followed after him, brushing past Naruto. Naruto told Tsunade she could go and that he would stay for a while just to make sure that Itachi didn't come back. He followed through the treetops and Sasuke ignored Naruto because to him he didn't matter and if he wanted to invade their privacy then so be it.
"Sasuke, are you still upset?" Sakura queried quietly.
"A little. You saw him didn't you? I would have killed him. You know that don't you? If Hokage-sama didn't come I could've beaten him."
"Sasuke, you can't let him control your life or your decisions. Is it that you don't want to get married because you're afraid he might hurt me? Please, don't worry about that. I want you to be happy and if you and me married makes you happy then I'll take the risk that I could get killed. Please, it's what I want the most out of life," Sakura insisted with strength in her voice.
He took her by the hands and looked her in the eyes, "Sakura, are you sure you want to go through with this? You are obviously aware of the danger. Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. It's love that let's me feel this way. I can take a few breaks and bruises if that means that I can be with you. I would die for you."
Naruto stood in the tree above her and sat down. He could see that her heart truly belonged to his rival. Naruto's chance at Sakura's heart was gone he had lost to him. The love they shared was greater than anything Naruto could ever pull off. Naruto felt his heart sink and he left the two alone and returned home. Hinata stood outside looking into Naruto's empty house. She was holding a bag in her delicate hands and Naruto watched her pointless search.
"Hinata?" Naruto called to her and she turned towards him, blushing slightly.
"Oh, Naruto-kun," she said softly looking a little surprise.
"Is something wrong?" he asked sweetly and she shook her head and held out the bag towards him.
He took the bag from her, inside there was a small container of ice cream that was beginning to melt.
"Were you waiting for me?"
Hinata nodded her head and stared at the ground looking almost embarrassed. Judging from the ice cream she had been waiting at least an hour.
"I- I was hoping to share it with you, Naruto-kun," she whispered softly so that Naruto could barely hear her.
He opened the door and invited her in.
"Sasuke, you're so close to me but, I'm afraid that you're only letting me touch the surface of your heart. I just hope that this thing with your brother doesn't tear you apart and bring your farther away from me," Sakura thought while she watched Sasuke train. "He really is working hard. How could I have thought that he didn't love me? I'm so selfish…"
"Sakura, I'm sorry about before. I just wanted to protect you. Will you allow me to take back what I said before?"
"I know, Sasuke. What did you say before? So, tomorrow we'll get rings?"
Sasuke nodded and she laid her head on his chest and he stroked her hair. Sakura closed her eyes and Sasuke looked up at the sky.
The next day came quickly and Sasuke found himself at a jewelry store in front of a display case. Sakura tried on several rings excitedly and showed each of them to Sasuke. Ino had come along to help her pick out a nice ring. Shikamaru came into the store and began to scan his surroundings; he spotted Ino and turned for the door.
"Shikamaru!" she called and he stopped and turned around. He smiled a fake smile and waved. "What are you doing here?"
"I came in here by mistake. I have to go now."
"I know what you're looking for!" she chimed and looked outside.
Ino dragged Temari into the small shop.
"It's been a long time, Shikamaru. So, that's where you went last year. I'm surprised that you committed to something so important. It was beautiful," Ino exclaimed.
Sakura looked down to see wedding rings on both Temari and Shikamaru's fingers.
"It was a very private and exclusive wedding but that's what you'd expect from Shikamaru, right?" Ino sighed.
"Wow, Sasuke, look at those," Sakura whispered.
Sasuke glanced over and Shikamaru shook his head and said to Ino, "So, you lost him to her."
"I let her have him," she mouthed.
Sakura chose a simple white gold wedding ring with four little diamonds encrusted in it. Sasuke thought it was a little on the feminine side but, he wanted to see her smile so he agreed.
"You'll need flowers," Ino reminded.
"Right!" Sakura gasped.
"I'll even give you a special discount," Ino said with a smile.
"Sakura, we don't have a date. You can't order flowers before we have a date. Did you choose one?" Sasuke reminded.
"Oh, I did. I guess I forgot to tell you. Valentines Day, that'll be out day."
"So, you have one month to plan then? You really need to get busy," Ino stated.
They entered a bridal shop where Hinata worked and looked at the bride's maids dresses. There was a rainbow of colors that decorated the wall. Sasuke felt uncomfortable and decided that he would walk around town. He went into the bank and checked how much he had.
"After the wedding, I won't have any money," he thought, "I need a job."
"Sasuke! Don't forget to pick out your Best Man and your ushers!" Sakura shouted down the street.
Everyone looked at him and he looked uncomfortable. Naruto and Rock Lee stood before him with strange looks on their faces.
"You and Sakura-chan are getting married?" Lee asked for the fifth time as they sat sipping tea.
Sasuke just sat there looking annoyed because everyone knew of his engagement to Sakura now. So, people would stop to ask him questions that would get redundant.
"So, did you pick a best man?" Naruto inquired.
"Why do you want to know?"
"Because, I want to be part of the wedding. If I can't marry Sakura I have to be in the wedding. Do you have any other friends?"
Sasuke looked at him with disgust, "I don't need anyone else there."
"Sakura-chan will be disappointed if you don't pick your side of the alter," Lee acknowledged.
Sasuke considered this and thought about it for a good ten minutes and finally said, "Fine, Naruto, you can be the best man. I guess I have to take you as an usher."
"That's it?" Naruto asked in amazement.
"I don't need more."
"So, it'll be unbalanced then. Sakura-chan will probably have at least four bride's maids and her maid of honor. She'll have five and you'll have two."
"I've had enough, I'm leaving," Sasuke said as he put money down to pay for his tea.
Naruto and Lee followed Sasuke back to the bridal shop and sat down next to him when he sat on a bench inside. Sakura was standing at the mirror with a slim white wedding dress made of silk. On her head she wore a veil of antique lace. On the torso it had medium sized white roses made of silk separating the top of the dress from the bottom. That was puffed with more lace and Sakura turned around.
"What do you think, Sasuke?" she asked while blushing.
"It looks good on you," he said simply.
"YOU'RE SO HOT!" Naruto and Lee shouted at her.
Sasuke got up and walked towards his bride-to-be and whispered, "Right now in this world there is nothing that looks more gorgeous than you do. Whether you be in that dress or dirty rags you are the most beautiful flower I have ever seen."
Sakura blushed and nodded at Hinata. Sakura went into the back to change and Hinata put together a bill. Naruto walked over to the counter and put his hand on hers. Hinata turned beat red and he leaned over the table and kissed her lips.
"That should be nothing, compared to what we did," he said under his breath.
Hinata blushed even more and let out a small giggle. Hinata discounted the dress and the bride's maid's dresses for them and closed the shop for the day. Sakura picked out some lilies for her bouquet and white and yellow roses for the flowers. The location would be their house.
The wedding day came and Sakura stood in Sasuke's room with Hinata fixing her skirts. Ino was outing flowers around her Sakura's tiara. Sakura turned around and slipped on her white satin shoes and looked into the mirror. Ino handed her her bouquet and they turned to the door. Hinata opened the door and stepped out into the living room.
I know, I know, it took me forever to post this sadly short, boring chapter. Oish, I feel that my writing is starting to suck, must be writer's block again… Anywho, so, to those who have responded to the last chapters thanks, and I'll try to add more romance and get the next chapter in soon. Love yah . Btw, this story is becoming a dedication to my best friend, Jet.