Quote of the chapter: "One comes after another."

Just finished this in less than 8 hours whooop

Anyone else who is also frustrated with Sasusaku at the Naruto Gaiden or is it just me?

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         cнαpтer 14

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The sound of the banging on her door dragged Sakura into reality. Nausea erupted in her head as she sat up. Immediately caressing her forehead, she could feel her eyes sore.

She groaned once the banging continued. "I'm coming..." She whispered and removed her body from the bed sheets.

Not bothering to check herself since she practically just woke up and she does not care anymore, she wore her slippers then head towards her door.

She left no trace of emotion when she opened her door to reveal the least person she expected to see.

"Gosh, what have you been up to lately? You didn't tell me gossips and you look like a mess!"

"Nice to see you too Ino-pig." Sakura left the door open for Ino to come in and she walked towards the bathroom.

Ino normally went inside and followed her friend's trail. She nearly had a heart attack when she heard Sakura's scream from the other room.

"What's wrong?"

Sakura came out, freaking out. "I look like a clown!" She commented frantically. Her eyes were puffy red and her hair was all tangled up-despite its length.

"Have you been crying?" Ino examined her face with her friend's thick eyelids and abnormally pinkish eyes, including the dried trail of tears.

In that moment, Sakura frowned and looked as if she was about to cry.

"What the hell happened? Come on, let's go at the living room." Letting her friend lean on her, Ino landed her at the comfy couch as she sat beside her. "You can cry if you want."

Sakura glanced at Ino before staring at the ground. "It's no use, I think I let it all out last night." She could feel Ino's pity expression showing up.

"I'm all ears."

Breathing in and out, Sakura prepared herself for the story-telling. "Sasuke's in an arranged marriage with another girl."

Ino's eyes widen at the unpredictable revelation. "Holy crap, I did not see that coming."

"Neither did I, but it can't be stopped. It was a decision by the council." Sakura held her forehead for the upcoming migraine.

Ino stood up in automatic. "B-But there has to be a way! I mean for heaven's sake, you've been liking him for what-barely eleven years? And you're not gonna do anything about it?"

"You don't understand, I can't." Emerald meets aqua orbs. Ino could see the seriousness in Sakura's eyes as she slumped back to her seat.

"Oh yeah, another arranged marriage. Just great." Ino spoke to which caught Sakura's attention.

"What do you mean?"

"Wait, I'm supposed be mad." Ino coughed as she stood up and Sakura cocked an eyebrow. "How dare you not tell me that you're engaged with Shee Jin?!"

"What?! Where the hell did you get that information?" Sakura yelled, beyond freaking out. She was furious.

Ino shrugged. "The word is out, everyone knows. It's the number one gossip actually."

Sakura's face met her palms. "My life is over."

"It's not. Heck, it's actually the beginning! Tell me how did this happen, forehead."

Sakura sighed again and averted her gaze to the blonde, back to story-telling. "It was an arranged marriage. I have three months for the final decision, but I guess I don't have much of a choice with the public's vote."

"Why did Tsunade-sama accept this?"

"She didn't, it was my choice."

"Oh well that pretty much explains it."

Receiving a deathly glare, Ino held her arms up as if she surrendered.

For the upteenth time, Sakura sighed. "I don't know what to do anymore, pig."

"Okay first of all, why didn't you tell me about this?"

"It was private and I-"

Ino shot her a stern look.

"I was afraid. Afraid of what I would do, what my choice is and what will you guys think or if you'll be there for me."

"Of course we'll be there. We're your friends. We'll always be here no matter what." Ino gave her the words if comfort. "Second, why did you accept the offer if you don't have a thing for Shee Jin?"

Sakura was simply staring at the carpet underneath her glass table. "For Konohagakure and Kumogakure's bond. Tsunade-sama also told me that some countries were planning to have an arranged marriage with me though she picked with the one I at least knew-which was Shee Jin and...it was before Sasuke came." By this time, Ino looked very much interested. "I thought it can make me move on, but I guess it didn't."

Letting her tears stroll down, Sakura inhaled deeply. "Ino, I'm still in love with him and it hurts."

Ino gasped shortly before scooping her best friend into a hug. "I thought you dried out your tears." She said, brightening up the mood.

Sakura chuckled slightly and wiped her tears off after they let go. "I'm sorry, I just-"

"Shh." Ino hushed. "I can't help you in this because it's your choice. But, as your best friend, I can give you advice. Which is, do what is right-for both you and the ones you love." She smiled genuinely.

Sakura was very grateful to have Ino as her best friend. Gossip queen as she may be, she still has the best presence in showing up whenever Sakura was breaking into pieces.

"Thank you."

Their conversation continued like it was never going to end. They shared stories or updated each other about their lives with some special advises here and there.

Turns out, they talked for hours and before they knew it, it was already evening. Sakura had her day off so she was safe in terms of work hours and she woke up in the afternoon which explains why she was all worn out.

"I gotta go now forehead. I still have to close the shop." Ino snatched her bag and opened the door. "Good luck and update me soon!" With a wave, she left.

Sakura took this time to take a bath. She was already full when she and Ino ate during their talk.

She was at a loss in the middle of taking a shower. She was finished cleaning herself, she just doesn't want to get out.

Droplets of water landed on her skin as she swamp into her thoughts.

Ino was just the first out of all their batch. Sakura wasn't surprise though, Ino is the gossip queen so she would know every detail or every inch of news in Konoha in just a snap.

Since the agreement was now all over the news in Konoha, what will she do?

How will she face her friends?

How about her teammates?

What would they think?

Will they think of her as a bad or positive person for accepting such a thing?

What would her teacher, Kakashi, say about this? Sai?

Most of all, what would Naruto and Sasuke take it?

They were practically a trio. What now?

The doorbell rang which made Sakura hurriedly got out of the shower and wore her clothes.

Another sound of the bell echoed into her room as she nearly screamed.

"Coming!"

She was fixing her towel when that happened, only to increase her anger.

What wrong timing.

She swore that she would punch whoever the person was-excluding her master of course.

Sakura twisted the doorknob and pulled the door. "What do you-" She gaped with her heart pounding. "S-Sasuke?"

It was strange that for how many years, Sakura longed to see his face. But now he was the least that she would want to encounter.

"I heard the news."

"Oh." Sakura looked down.

Well, what could she possibly do? Her all-time love is right in front of her and he knows that she has an arranged marriage as well. She can't just simply say 'We both have an arranged marriage and I still love you. Life sucks right?'

"How could you possibly accept?" Sasuke asked, his eyes flaring with rage and confusion.

"What about you?" Sakura returned. "How could you possibly accept to be in an arranged marriage?"

"I was forced to."

Sakura could feel another set of tears swelling up in her eyelids. "Exactly my point. I want my hometown to be safe and be the best medic I can be. In order to do that, I have to marry Shee Jin. How about you? What do you want?" She shut the door before Sasuke could even respond and she sat, leaning her head on the door. Once again, crying her tears out for the whole night.

Why?

Because she didn't want Sasuke to see her break down. She didn't want him to see her vulnerable-never again. She didn't want him to expect that the old cry-baby Sakura was still present even though she was long gone.

Most of all, she didn't want him to know that she was still deeply in love with him.

END OF CHAPTER 14

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//PUBLISHED.4.27.15.//

Yeah, it's short sorry :P

Thanks for reading, don't forget to vote & comment!

:)

~TheSketcher