Eleven

Sakura gasped as she recognised the figure inside her room.

"Ino, what are you doing here!"

Sitting on her bed, her blond-haired friend looked up at her unapologetically. "I just couldn't wait until tomorrow to tell you this. And besides, you'd be busy with Hinata's wedding, and I've been holding it for so long!"

Sakura hid a smile at Ino's impatience. "Okay, okay," she teased, shutting the doors behind her and hurriedly entering her room. She didn't think she could get the girl to leave now – Ino could be as stubborn as her sometimes, if not more – and she had to admit, she was curious. She remembered the peculiar way Ino had acted earlier, and was glad to finally be finding out what it was that caused it.

"Well? Aren't you going to ask me?" Ino said expectantly after the Haruno princess sat down in front of her, folding her legs comfortably underneath.

"What happened?" Sakura indulged her, keeping her anticipation at bay.

"Oh, you're never going to believe this! When I was on my travels, I met the most wonderful guy!" Of course this was about a guy. Everything made sense now. "He took me to the best eating spots in the village, and he's just so sweet! I never thought I'd meet someone like him..."

"That's amazing! Ino, I'm so happy for you," Sakura said genuinely, feeling a surge of excitement on her friend's behalf. How could she not have guessed? When she thought about it now, it was obvious. She could tell Ino really liked him. "So, what's his name?"

Ino's smile was contagious, and it filled her heart with warmth. "Choji Akimichi. His father even owns a restaurant – can you believe that!"

The girls giggled at this novelty. For people who had spent their entire lives secluded in a palace, ordinary civillian life was enthralling to them.

"I really feel a connection," Ino began soberly. "You know, the type we always talked about as little girls?"

Sakura remembered exactly what she meant. The kind of love for souls.

"And I can't stop smiling around him, as if his presence alone is enough to cast light on me."

"Shall I start calling you Ino, the great poet now?" Sakura joked, causing Ino to swat her arm lightly, laughing despite herself. "No, really. I'm glad you found that."

The tone subdued again, a quiet warmth filling the space.

Abruptly, her friend's voice became sorrowful. "I'm sorry that couldn't happen for you."

Sakura was taken aback. "No, no– it's all right! I want to be happy for you right now!" She poked her friend's side, distracting her with more questions about what they had been up to during her time away. It worked, and for much of the night, the two chatted atop the silks of Sakura's bed, finally able to speak freely of all the things they had held back since reuniting. Sakura found herself content in a way she hadn't been in a long time.

But though she wouldn't say it out loud, some piece inside of her had crushed under Ino's words.

Sleep eluded her after Ino had left, and Sakura found herself exiting her room.

The Hyuuga palace was quiet in the dead of night; still as if holding its breath until the very first rays of dawn. She felt like a phantom floating across its corridors, the lack of light leeching all the colour out of the space around her so that the hush felt deeper than it truly was.

Contradictorily, it calmed her, and once again she felt the strong sense of serenity of the place. It seemed the trait ran throughout Hyuuga.

Sakura wandered to one of the balconies she had spotted upon arrival, lining a long ballroom on the second floor. The night air was cool on her skin, already infiltrating the palace despite her still being within four walls. A thought hit her all of the sudden. How strange. She was within four walls, and yet she didn't feel trapped.

She pushed open the doors leading out onto the balcony, happy to find they weren't locked. Truly, how long had it been since she had been away?

Before her though, she realised why the doors had been slightly ajar. As the rush of cold wind hit her, she could do nothing but stare at his form, poised with his back to her. It was almost as if fate was trying to put them together.

Sakura didn't say a word as she stepped up next to him, choosing not to turn away. She leaned against the railing, feeling the night soak further into her skin. It was a beat before she heard his voice.

"Couldn't sleep?"

She shook her head, slightly startled that he had started conversation unprompted. "Neither could you, it seems."

Sasuke grunted in response, and silence fell upon them once again. But it wasn't awkward, the stars seeming to fill the air between them. She sighed, looking over the Hyuuga territory with a sort of nostalgic wonderment.

"It's so similar to Haruno," she hummed. Glancing at him from the corner of her eye, she found his gaze faraway. "I was wondering... you said you lived near the border. Which border did you mean? Did you live in Haruno?"

It was a question that had been bothering her since earlier this evening when he hadn't specified where exactly he'd came from. She found herself wondering if he was from her country at all, and with the night air full in her lungs, she felt brave enough to ask.

"No, not Haruno," Sasuke sighed; it was a deep, encompassing sigh that spoke of his inner weariness. "It was a neighbouring country further north."

She nodded, processing this information.

"I told you I used to fight. I commanded the border armies– "

He looked at her then, and she sucked in a breath. Whenever she met his eyes, she felt a rush of heat, her skin scorched under his dark gaze.

"–just as my father had before me," Sasuke finished.

Sakura was bewildered he had given her this, not expecting to hear more about his family since he had told her of their fate. But she could sense that this was all he had to say on the subject. At least for now.

He was quiet again, and she found herself speaking, guiding the conversation away from his parents as she could sense his slight discomfort. "The border armies, you said. From what I know, those battles can often be rigorous and last for long. It must've been strange, coming from that to a palace."

Sasuke nodded, though he wondered briefly if she was trying to remind him of his place. But glancing at her, her words seemed pragmatic, void of any hidden malice.

"The dullness must have surprised you," she continued. "You'd think a palace would at least be full of conniving opposers."

"You should not wish for such havoc. It could cause it true."

"I never took you for the superstitious type," Sakura lightly teased.

"Tch."

"I'm serious, though. Nothing ever happens here, it must have been such a change from your old life." So why did you do it then?

"It is," Sasuke acceded. "But I do not mind."

Sakura found herself leaning towards his warmth. She met his gaze, her cheeks pink from the cold. "What do you think of Hyuuga, then?"

"Similar, like you said. You must have visited often."

"Actually, this is my second time coming here. The first was when I met Hinata. We were both so young then," Sakura said, lost in thought. She looked across Hyuuga, the slight breeze causing the ends of her short hair to shift ethereally. "It's strange to think how far we've come, with both of us to be wed soon."

Sasuke stiffened; this was the last thing he expected her to bring up. She hadn't talked about their marriage in such a mild, indifferent tone before. Was she finally accepting to it? Was she finally accepting to...him?

"I wonder how Hinata must be feeling, considering hers is tomorrow," she laughed lightly. "That girl must be on the verge of fainting right about now."

Her laugh carried in the air, and Sasuke found himself staring. She was different without the royal demeanour. He had noticed it before, and was much more inclined to this version of Sakura. In court, their conversation leaned towards formal. Her words came out more freely now, and so, he found, did his.

"I'm sure Hinata will be fine by morning, regal as ever. She'd have you fooled, if you believed that was all there was to her..." she trailed off as she looked at him.

They were so close now, inches apart – if she moved, their lips would press against each other's. Sasuke seemed to notice this too, for his eyes flickered down to her mouth.

She averted her eyes, drawing away. When had she let herself get that close? "I should probably return to my quarters," she said, trying to keep her voice neutral. "And so should you, it's freezing out here."

"Aa," he said, nodding in agreement. She wasn't sure, but his voice sounded deeper.

The palace was buzzing the next morning with preparations for Naruto and Hinata's wedding in the late afternoon. Decorations were being arranged; garlands of white lilies, sweeps of chiffon, a thin carpet leading up to the altar. Sakura watched in wonderment as the room was transformed before her. It was strange to think that only yesterday night she had stood on one of the balconies with Sasuke, and they had almost–... Sakura's heart hadn't ceased its rapid pace that night as her mind replayed what had nearly happened over and over again.

What was most strange though, was that she hadn't wanted to pull away.

"Sakura-chan!" Entering the hall, Naruto immediately spotted his childhood best friend standing alone.

"Oh, Naruto! I haven't seen you since we got here, where have you been?"

Naruto had the biggest smile on his face as he approached her. "My parents arrived last night. They haven't let me out of their company ever since!"

Sakura laughed, glad to see that Naruto was spending time with his parents before his wedding day. As he had lived in the Haruno palace since childhood, it was only reasonable they'd want to see him. Naruto's regular visits clearly weren't enough to make up for lost time.

"Should you even be in here?" Sakura asked, apprehensively looking around at the room. "Isn't it bad luck or something?"

Naruto waved a hand, "Nope, I don't think so."

"In that case, what do you think?" she said with a grin turning back to him, curious to hear the groom-to-be's reaction.

"It's very Hyuuga." He used the term as an adjective.

"You're getting married here, and that's all you've got to say?" she was attempting to tease, but her words caught up to her. "I can't believe you're getting married."

"Me neither," Naruto said honestly, rubbing the back of his neck in that characteristic way of his.

Her smile softening, she squeezed his hand reassuringly. "You'll be fine. Just think of all those wedding gifts."

She said the last sentence with a wink, remembering Naruto's attempt to reassure her in a similar way. It seemed to take its desired effect, Naruto's grin returning back to its place on his face.

"You're right, Sakura-chan. I've been prepared for this day for a long time now, it'll be a breeze!"

At that moment, Ino came in, hands on her hips as soon as she spotted who the pink-haired princess was with. "Naruto!" she scolded, "You're not supposed to be here!"

The prince in question cringed.

"I wouldn't test her ferocity," Sakura advised, watching as Ino stomped up to them all-furious.

Naruto nodded, something akin to fear crossing his face. "I'll see you later, Sakura-chan!"

Sakura watched his retreating form, amazed to think that the next time she'd see him he'd be at the altar with Hinata at his side.

"Did you really have to scare him off like that?" she asked as Ino approached.

Ino shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eye. "You played along. And besides, I wanted to speak with you without his blazing presence. I'm sure he'll find someone else to harass."

Sakura rolled her eyes at Ino's melodrama, choosing not to argue further on the subject.

To distract herself, she thought about what Naruto had said. It's so Hyuuga. She could see what he meant. The ballroom was decorated with emblems of Hyuuga, their colours adorning every inch. She was sure his tone was purely observational, but she couldn't help thinking if he wished a little bit of his heritage had been included.

She refrained from thinking how her wedding would be like, suddenly ultra aware it would be somewhat similar to this. Would anything of Sasuke's be included, or just of Haruno? Why was she even thinking about this?

It was strange, but she had stopped fighting somewhere along the way, realising it truly was fruitless to argue with the king's decision. And that indirectly left her much more agreeable towards Sasuke. She had to be.

"How are things with you?" Ino said lowly, as if reading her mind.

She thought back to their most recent encounter. Why did he make her feel like that?

"Nothing's changed."

Ino gave her a sceptical look, but dropped the subject.

A group of Hyuuga nobles poured into the room, excitement clear on their face as they observed the room their future monarchs would wed in. Amongst them, a few of her own nobility followed behind, including none other than her own future husband, though he did not approach her.

"What an auspicious day! To think we are here to witness such an event…" they overheard from the Hyuuga assemble.

"Truly, Hiroshi-san. We get to witness history as it happens."

"For two royal weddings to be so close… we are lucky."

"At least this will be a truly royal wedding."

Sakura stiffened.

Didn't they know she was in the room, to blatantly disrespect her like that?

At once she felt fury and humiliation. She dared a look at Sasuke. It was clear he had heard, from the tension in his shoulders, but he gave off a false air of calmness as he stood amongst the Haruno nobility a few feet away.

Sakura, on the other hand, did not do so well in hiding her emotions.

"Sakura…" Ino attempted. She felt her squeeze her shoulder. "Don't worry about them. They don't know what they're saying."

The Haruno princess nodded, giving a pretence of complacency.

Luckily, the organised havoc of the room masked her otherwise tangible anger. She felt it flowing off her in waves as she partook in a breathing exercise Fumio had taught her for similar situations.

Beside her, Ino looked as if she was readying to give them a piece of her mind. Maybe it was best if they left before either one of them ruined Naruto's wedding decorations. But to do so now could raise suspicions. It was her turn to calm her friend.

"Ino, I knew what I was getting into when I stepped out of the palace," she said with clarity.

Perhaps this was why her father kept her so sheltered all these years, to shield her from the harshness of the world.

"Don't let this change anything." Ino almost pleaded. It was clear she just wanted to see her friend happy. With constant reminder of how ill-fated this decision was on her father's behalf, how could she be?

"If anything, this is a test. If I can endure a few petty words then I can endure anything."

There was a lingering feeling of bitterness as she retreated from the ceremony room. She had tried to accept it, but always there would be those who loathed their conjoining. For a monarch to marry a commoner would be to taint a royal bloodline. Before her, Haruno's had only ever married others of high status, as had others from varying kingdoms.

It was a reminder she didn't need.

What struck her odd, or at least perplexing, was Sasuke's lack of action. She had expected him to be aggressive in his rebuttal….not to stand there as if trained in etiquette. She remembered when she had scolded him about his behaviour in front of nobles. She had thought back then he wasn't a suitable fit for a queen.

The message had clearly gone through. Or he was a fast learner. Having spent barely a month in court setting, he had time to observe the behaviours of others around him. Though at times, nobility weren't the best example.

She shook any negative thoughts as she reached her desired destination. The door to Hinata's room was closed as the bride-to-be was getting ready inside. Sakura had decided to see her before her friend tied the knot in what was only a few hours now.

As she knocked gently on the door, a fleeting thought passed her mind.

How long until it was her turn?

It's been a while… I'm not going to lie to you, most of this chapter was written a year ago. I guess I should apologise for not finishing it back then. Sorry! I want to start writing again. I have no idea if anyone is still interested in this anymore but I've always said to myself I'd finish it even if it took me years.

On another note, Sasuke and Sakura nearly kissed! I swear, I'm not purposefully trying to be this cruel...haha.