An Arranged Marriage { A SasuSaku fanfic }

Chapter 21- Investigations

After talking with Kakashi, I went to the hospital's lab to try and create an antidote for the poison Sasori created. Luckily, I managed to make four with the materials we had. I slip them in my pocket and decide to head to the next place on my list; Granny Chiyo's house. As soon as I arrive, I am enveloped in a hug by Gaara and Temari, Kankaro waving from the living room.

"Sakura! What brings you here?" Temari asks.

"I came to see Granny Chiyo." I respond, and she nods, going to get her.

"I hope you're still not pursuing the Akatsuki." Gaara says from behind me.

"I am actually... I have a big lead." I reply.

"How big?"

"As in I know who they are, what they specialize in, and what they're after." I respond, and he nods.

"Although, you should just leave it to the police force. You're a doctor."

"Are you saying I'm weak?!" I turn to him, eyebrows slightly twitching.

"Nonononononono... you're one of the strongest people I've met." Gaara says quickly, and I smile.

"Granny Chiyo's in her room if you want to see her." Temari says, and I nod, thanking her, as I ascend the stairs and head to her room.

I knock. "Granny Chiyo, its Sakura."

"Come in." She says. Once inside, I look around her small bare room before sitting beside her on the ground. "What brings you here, my child?"

I take a deep breath before continuing. "The Akatsuki." Her eyes immediately open and she looks at me with something unrecognizable behind her eyes.

"What?!"

"Please, tell me about the Akatsuki. About Sasori."

"Sasori... is, or was, rather, my grandchild. I taught him how to make puppets, and after his parents died in the war, he went crazy. He started using something good for something bad. He started killing people, betrayed the village, and joined the Akatsuki. Why do you ask this, my dear?"

"I'm going to hunt them down. They have my mother."

"But I thought she died?" She asks, and I hand her the note. Her eyes widen in surprise. "You should get the police on this."

"They've tried, but have reached a dead end. You know that Lady Tsunade trained me. You know that I can handle myself." I tell her, and she nods.

"Sasori uses poison, which should be no trouble for you because you're the apprentice of the Slug Queen. The last I heard from him, he was between us and Sunagakure, which was over three years ago. But I know Sasori, he probably wouldn't move locations unless something terrible were to happen."

"Arigato, Granny Chiyo."

"No problem. Just tell me when you leave."

"Hai." I respond, bowing before leaving.

Looks like I have a big lead...
~
The next day, I wake up, get dressed, and head to the gym in our mansion. I grab some gloves and start hitting the dummy bag, which goes flying across the room seconds later. I continue this process until I call one of my spar mates, Naruto.

"Hey Naruto! Wanna spar?" I ask over the phone.

"Of course, dattebayo! I'll be there in five!" He yells as I hold the phone farthest from my ear. He hangs up and true to his word, he arrives five minutes later in athletic clothes. "Where's Teme?"

"At his parents'." I respond and he nods.

"Lets spar!"

"Yes!"

We run at each other, dodging and swinging, none of us managing to land a hit. Naruto throws a kick at me and I catch it, flipping him over on the mat. He jumps up and runs at me again. I dodge, but he manages to elbow me in the back. I stumble but regain my balance, then throw a punch in his direction, to which he dodges again. He comes at me and throws another kick. I crouch to the ground and kick his other leg, and he falls to the ground. He jumps up and I charge at him while he regains his balance, managing to land a hit in his gut. I jump over him as he tries to hit me again and hit him in the back. He comes at me again, ready to punch, when I grab his fist and throw him over my shoulder. He quickly recovers and rolls to the side as I try and hit him again, and tries to kick my legs out from under me. I jump and he quickly stands up, throwing a punch at me, which hits me in the shoulder. This continues a little longer until we are both panting and holding our sides, where we both hit each other pretty hard.

"Good fight." He says, offering me his hand.

"Good fight." I agree, shaking his hand to conclude the fight. "Thanks for sparring with me."

"Yeah, no problem. Although we kinda made a mess..." He says, nervously scratching the back of his head.

"Eh, its fine." I reply, looking at all the ruined equipment. "You can take a shower here if you want, Sasuke should be here within the hour." I add, looking at the time.

"Thanks for the offer, but... I kinda got a date with Hinata-chan soon." He says.

"Oh, then you should let me hide your bruises with makeup! Man, I'm sorry. I had no idea." I nervously say.

"Nah, it's fine."

"I'm not giving you a choice here, baka." I respond, and he quickly nods, knowing how bad my temper can get.

"Haaiiiiiii!!!!" He yells, running down the hall.
~
After helping Naruto, I take a quick shower. Then, I bandage my own wounds. I managed to get a couple bruises and a medium-sized scratch running down my left thigh from when I got slammed onto the corner of the mat.

I slip on an oversized green long sleeved tshirt and kaki capris. I head downstairs, where I decide to start on dinner. I slip on my apron and grab a skillet, deciding to prepare some chicken with green beans. As if on time, Sasuke opens the door and heads inside just as I finish making dinner. I set up the table and dish out the meal.

"You're home early." I say.

"Yeah, they didn't really need my help." He replies.

"And Itachi?"

"Gone." He grumpily says, and I immediately quiet, saying grace before eating. Don't ask why I never do it and decide to do it now, I honestly have no clue.

Itachi was sent on an undercover mission to join the Akatsuki and discover more intel on them. Nobody knows this except for Sasuke, Fugaku, Itachi and me.

We eat silently, and once finished, I grab his plate and my own and put it in the sink to clean later. Knowing Alice, there is a good chance that she would clean them before I could. Honestly, that woman should get a medal, despite being my maid. She says she does it out of her own good heart instead of her work.

"Thanks." Sasuke says from behind me.

"You're welcome." I respond, deciding to run away the grease around the stove.

Suddenly, he wraps his arms around me from behind, his head resting on my shoulder. "You have no idea how much I love you." He whispers into my ear, and I smile brightly.

"I love you too."

He kisses my neck, then turns me to face him. Expecting a kiss, I lean in only to be tapped on the purple mark on my extremely large forehead. "Ehhhhhh??!!" I exclaim, blushing and pouting.

"Arigato."

"For what?"

"Being my wife." He says.

"Eh, no biggie Sa-suke-kun." I reply, and he ruffles my hair, slinging an arm over my shoulder as we head to the living room.

"Mother and father want to see us tomorrow." He says, and I nod, eyes starting to droop.

Surprisingly, he gently puts his hands on my back and rubs it gently. "Sakura, you're too stressed and tense. You know what? That's it. I'm calling you in sick tomorrow."

"What?! No!" I exclaim, jumping up.

"I'll call you in sick for two days if you don't sit still." He says, and I sigh.

"Fine."

He smirks.