"Sakura-hime. Your father has requested your presence in his study." A maid says from my door the next day and I nod, waving her away.

I head downstairs and into my fathers' study. "Father." I bow respectively.

"Sakura... Close the door and take a seat." He says, and I oblige. Seconds later, tons of maids are against the door, holding it shut as if afraid I could do something destructive. "I guess you're wondering why I summoned you... Well, I'm getting pretty old, and soon enough you will be taking over the company, along with your husband."

"Husband?! I have no plans to get married." I respond.

"But I do. I want to see my grand children before I die."

"Dad, you have plenty of years still ahead of you." I respond.

"Honey, you're wrong. I haven't told you, but I have been treated for cancer." He says. "And diagnosed with under a year to live. And so, your mother and I made an agreement, actually when you were a little girl, to marry you off to the son of a family friend. And I recently got into contact again with them. The marriage will happen."

"Dad! There's no way in hell I'll agree to this!" I yell, standing up.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart, but I can't do anything about it now. You will get married to this man and you will have a child. End of discussion."

"Father!" I yell, tears starting to fall down my face as I slam my hand on the table, creating a crack. Logical reasoning starts to fill my head. Everything that he says is right. I calm down and ask, "who's the man?"

"You'll see at dinner tomorrow night. You're dismissed." He abruptly says, and I exit my room. I grab my white lab coat and walk out the door. Maybe Lady Tsunade will have answers.
~
"Lady Tsunade... There's something I want to talk to you about." I ask, and she nods, looking up from her medical book.

"What is it?" She asks, putting a bookmark on her page.

I bite my lip. "I figured everything out. My dad has cancer, and diagnosed with a year. He wants me to get married and have a child to strengthen our company."

"Hm... That's a sticky situation." She slowly responds, and I nod. "I advise you to go with what he says, for now. Meet the guy and if he is a jerk, try and convince your father to marry you to someone else. And if he won't budge, you could tell him that you will still take classes with me then. It's a win-lose but bearable."

"You're right, Lady Tsunade. Thank you."

"Of course. Now, how's that dissection coming?"
~
"Itachi-san, here's the medication you need for the next week. After this week, you should be cured." I explain.

"Thank you, Sakura-san." He says, and I nod. "I'll put a good word for you in Sasuke's ear." He says, a slight smile on my lips. We've become somewhat close; he knows what giant mess Sasuke and I are in, and he's told me more about Sasuke and his family. His parents seem absolutely wonderful, although his father resembles mine.

"See you, Itachi-san!" I wave as he exits.
~
"Sakura!" Hinata yells, jumping on me. I hug her tightly.

"What's up, Hinata?" I ask.

"N-Naruto asked me out." She says, and I squeal.

"Oh my god! I'm so happy for you two! I knew that Baka would come around." I smile brightly. Just at that moment, Naruto walks up to the both of us. "Naruto, I swear. If you ever hurt Hinata I will beat the shit out of you." I say, and he nods, sweat dropping and dragging Hinata away. I smile, waving to the two.

"Hn." A Uchiha says behind me.

"What are you doing here, Sasuke? Aren't you supposed to be hanging out with your friends before class?"

"We should look over our presentation. Hn." He says, and I nod. "Besides, you're my friend." He mutters the last part, and I slightly smile. Although we have our differences, we still are kinda friends.

"Alrighty. Let's head to class and we can discuss there?"

"Hn."
~
"Sakura Haruno and Sasuke Uchiha." Kurenai sensei says, and the big of us stand up. I grab the trifold and set it on the table, then turn to my fellow peers, taking a deep breath.

"Good morning. Our topic was good qualities for a friendship and relationship. So, I truly believe that for forming a bond of friendship between two people, it involves a mutual love and respect for each other. You two have to be there for each other and have each other's back in times of need, trust and be honest with each other with every fiber of your being, and be willing to go to hell and back for them."

"And for a relationship, similar qualities as stated by Sakura, but you two have to be willing to sacrifice everything for the one you love to make them happy, because when they're happy, you're happy." Sasuke says, and I smile at him.

"Good job, Sakura, Sasuke." Kurenai-sensei says, and I smile, bowing and returning to my seat with Sasuke behind me.
~
"Sakura! Sleepover at my place tonight?!" Ino asks at lunch, but I slump in my seat.

"Can't."

"Whyyyy?" She asks.

"Family issues." I respond, eating my packed lunch.

"Ugh, Sakura. Sometimes I just want to shove your dad in a washing machine to cleanse him of his strict mind." Ino says, and the whole table laughs, me included.

"I'll try and see about tomorrow." I respond.

"Yay!"
~
"No."

"But dad!" I raise my voice.

"I will hear none of this. You will meet your fiancé tonight."

"Whatever." I yell, standing up and deliberately knocking the papers off his desk before walking off.

"Sakura-hime!" Alice says, coming towards me. I smile at her. "Let's get you ready for tonight!"

"Hai!"
~
"You look... Stunning." Alice smiles at me. I stare back at the girl in the reflection, entranced by her beauty.

"I-is this really me?" I ask, eyes trailing from the short green dress to the long pink hair and then to my red lips, then finally to her green eyes, accented by mascara and silver eyeshadow.

"Yes. Now, close your eyes." She says, and I do. Seconds later, something cold is against my neck. "Open them." She whispers.

I choke as I realize what it is. Mama's favorite necklace... "T-t-this is..."

"She wanted you to have it. And now your look is complete." She says, stepping away as the doorbell rings. "Let's go greet them."

I gulp, the situation finally sinking in. "I-I don't know if I can do this... I-I mean..." Alice drags me before I can react. We hustle down the stairs and Alice peaks through the door.

"Yep, that's them!" She says, and curiosity grows within me. Alice opens the door and my jaw drops.

"SASUKE?!"