Arrangements

8

t takes her one year, the whole of June and most of July before she gathers enough courage to ask her fiancé of a very special gift. He's given her a present every year on March 28, unfailingly, since their first meeting so many years ago. Each is precious to her in some way, because it is from him, and she wears the pretty but functional bracelet he gave her one year constantly. It's water resistant, it won't rust, and is extremely durable despite being so dainty and pretty. It's got a cherry blossom on it, and she loves it. Her father named her, and it's from him she got her unusual hair. Cherry blossoms are more to her than just her namesake, as well Itachi knows.

However, she rarely asks anything of him. Even though he encourages it, she hasn't felt a need to require more of him than his companionship, advice or steady support. Sakura is fifteen and harbouring a full-blown crush on her future husband, a circumstance she feels is rather fortunate, all things considered. Should it never have developed, or should it fade with time, she feels it would not change the fundamental meaning of their future marriage and ongoing partnership. They have a good friendship, a strong one, despite the age gap. Itachi has worked for it, made it so, and she's contributed to the best of her ability. It would be nice to one day be in love, she knows, but there are things bigger than that. She will be happy with Itachi, regardless, and will remain loyal to him. He's been telling her about his clan, the problems it has, their position in the village, the violent history. She is constantly learning.

Under her master, Sakura is flourishing, and with Itachi she is creating a vision of a better future she is willing to die for. With the combination of both their clans, they have an opportunity to change their part of the world. It's not world peace, but it's something that is important for both of them: a good future for their clans. After their marriage next year, Sakura's training as a medic will settle in Konoha. She will pick up more clan related duties, will probably take up travelling to her previous hometown just as regularly as she had visited Konoha for a while. Her mother still has much to teach her, and the transition from two separate clans to one united will take years to accomplish. Probably, it will take another generation or two before it is complete, but she will work her hardest to make it easier for her children once the time comes.

But for now, this is very far from her mind. She is sitting on top of the Hokage monument, her fiancé next to her. This morning, she requested his company for lunch, not anything particularly unusual whenever they were in the village together. They usually sought each other's company out whenever they could, these days, a fact which had her feeling a bit giddy right now. She'd prepared them a picnic, cooked it herself without Mikoto's help. It's not a feast, but it's tasty and contains many of Itachi's favorites. He really likes her riceballs, and the grilled fish she does with a secret combination of herbs (beneficial not only in flavour, but in a medical capacity as well). It's been a trial and error, her domestic skills, but she knows enough to get by on her own.

"Delicious," Itachi compliments, finishing up the last of his lunch. Sakura ate too quickly, nervous as she is, and has been done for a while. To compensate, she's been sipping on her tea so slowly it's become lukewarm. "Thank you for the meal, Sakura. This was a nice idea. The village has always looked especially beautiful from up here."

"Thanks," she says, smiling. "You're welcome, by the way, and yes, it is rather breathtaking, isn't it?"

Is there anything particular on your mind, Sakura?" Itachi wonders, helping her put their finished lunch away in the basket she'd carried it up here in. Ah, caught! Damnit, nothing gets past him, she thinks, slightly amused despite her nerves. Better get on with it, before I chicken out.

"There is, actually," she confirms, looking up at him through her lashes, feeling slightly bashful. Clearing her throat, she looks away and fiddles with her braid. She got back from her year-long training trip with Tsunade a month ago, and hadn't had time to cut her hair while she was away. Back in Konoha now, she's been too busy at the hospital to brother. Once her hair had grown past her shoulders when on the road, she had made it a habit to pull it back in a braid to keep it out of her way. Now, she rather likes it, because it gives her something to fidget with. Plus, Itachi likes to tug on it when he's feeling playful, and it does funny things to her stomach. Funny, good things.