Smol Announcement: From now on, sasusakucoded's Sunday is sasusaku au day. Yay!
Thanks to everyone who encouraged me to write more AUs and fanfics. 🙇♀️
---
Sakura can't believe how she ended up in this situation— marrying a stranger just because of family ties. In the village, her family is renowned. The Harunos lead the food and fashion industries and Sakura's father is considered as an influential person close to the Hokage.
Her soon-to-be-husband-in-a-few-hours is from the Uchiha clan. They are a humble clan that resides in the remote part of the village.
It's her first time seeing the guy. He looks handsome and quiet but the idea that she has to marry him because of a silly deal between her and his great great grandfathers irks her. Their great great grandfathers were comrades in the last shinobi war. They promised each other to marry off their children to merge their families. The problem is both of them had only one child and both are males. This repeated for several generations until a female was born in the Haruno side.
"You may now kiss the bride."
And just like that, Sakura and Sasuke are married.
---
As soon as they reach their new home, Sakura takes out a two-pager from her bag and gives it to Sasuke. "This is our contract."
Sasuke is confused. He thinks it is their marriage contract from the church. He starts reading it and realizes it's a totally different one.
"Let me get this straight. Only my grandfather wants us to get married. My father just agreed because of the stupid pact. As soon as Grandpa is gone, we'll get a divorce."
This shocks Sasuke. Even if he doesn't like the idea of marrying someone he just met, he has made up his mind that this woman is his wife and he has to take care of her.
Sakura is waiting for his reply. It seems that he can't process her plans. She reiterates, "so we just have to wait."
He nods and reads the contract again. The last line says, "do not fall in love with me."
"If you agree, please sign both pages and keep one as your copy."
He signs it immediately and gives the paper back to her.
"Great." She points at the door, "that will be our bedroom. We should still stay in one room in case they visit us. And oh, the contract is between the two of us only. Don't tell anyone."
"Got it," Sasuke says while following her to the room.
---
The following days are tiring. They have to attend family functions that Sakura's grandfather and Sasuke's parents have prepared.
Sasuke is shy around the Haruno's acquaintances. He stays in one corner and watches them from there. Sakura is quick to find him, reminding him that it's part of their duties as a couple to mingle with others. She takes his hand and introduces him to their friends. Slowly, Sasuke gets the hang of it and enjoys learning new things about Sakura through conversations.
In the Uchiha's abode, things are different. They have a more intimate event. All of Sasuke's favorites have been prepared. Sakura is hesitant to eat crabs and lobsters and Sasuke notices. Apparently, she doesn't know how to open them so Sasuke gladly takes a few and cracks them for her. This makes Sakura happy because she feels special and she appreciates the food more because he helps her.
---
Weeks have passed and Sasuke starts to get more fond of his wife. He learns that she likes designing clothes but her passion is to paint. He likes it when she tells him about the painting techniques she use. He's interested of whatever topic she wants to talk about.
Sakura, on the other hand, finds Sasuke nice and kind. She specially likes it when he prepapres food for her or when he does small things even if she doesn't ask him to do them. He's still too quiet for her though. He only talks when she asks him questions.
They call each other "love" to make their marriage more believable in the eyes of others.
Sakura taps Sasuke's shoulder and gives him a new phone. "Use that. Your current one's cracked screen is an eyesore."
"Thanks, but I can't accept—"
"Just take it," she turns her back and leaves. "I'll be at the gallery until later. Bye!"
---
Sakura is preparing for her art exhibit so she spends more time at her gallery. Sasuke decides to drop by and bring her dinner.
He goes in and sees Sakura talking to someone. It is her father.
"—but really? You're going to give me the most basic man and think that I won't file for a divorce sooner or later?! It's so stupid, Dad! I thought you'll agree with me on this!"
"Hey Sasuke, why are you here? Let's go inside!" says Ino, Sakura's bestfriend.
Sakura and her father look at the door simultaneously and see them.
"I– I just dropped by to bring you food." He puts it on the table while looking down. He greets his father-in-law and nods at Sakura before leaving.
"Hey, you're leaving already?" Ino asked.
He just nods and walks towards the train station.
When he thought they're getting closer, it hits him that everything is part of a ploy. They have a contract to follow and he must not misunderstand things.
"Go home now and say sorry to him," Kizashi says in his stern voice.
"Why would I? What I said.. That's the truth.."
Sakura's father leaves knowing that he can't do anything with her daughter's ego. Ino doesn't dare ask questions. She just tells her that she needs to go too.
Sakura continues her painting, constantly making errors here and there. "Did he hear everything? What does he think of me now? Is he hurt? He must be.. Most basic man.. Why did I even say that? Where did I get that term? He's definitely not basic. He's simple, sure, but far from basic. So why did I say that? Well.. Who cares. This marriage is just a phase.. We'll part ways soon enough.. I couldn't care less of what he feels."
She opens the food bag and sees the note.
Don't forget to eat, Picassokura!
She smiles at how silly it is. She also realizes that she hasn't eaten since afternoon. She opens the bento box and sees that it has some of her favorites. She wants to eat it so bad but her guilt is preventing her.
With no progress, she decides to get food from the vending machine instead. "This is what I deserve," she says while taking her first bite.
She enters the house and sees Sasuke in the kitchen. He greets her and immediately sees the food bag.
"Sakura, I'll take care of that," he says while taking the bag from her.
She's hesitant. The least thing she wants to happen is for him to think that she didn't like the food that he prepared. "No, it's fine!"
Too late. He has the bag and is aware that it's still full. He nods and goes back to the kitchen.
She goes to their bedroom and takes a shower. "You're so stupid, Sakura!! That will hurt him further!!"
She's waiting for him to come into their bedroom but he's still in the kitchen. It's been hours since Sakura arrived, so she goes there to talk to him.
"Hey.. I'm sorry," she starts. "I– I said those words because I was really pissed. I told Dad about the contract and hedidn't agree with me at first.. That's why.."
"It's okay.. What you said is true.. A basic man like me doesn't deserve someone like you.."
"No– I didn't mean–"
"It's okay. It's good that you were upfront."
"But I offended you.. I swear I didn't mean to say those words.."
"Maybe I was offended.. But it's no big deal. That's the truth, I can't do anything about it."
"I want to make it up to you. Tell me anything you want!"
"Paint me," he laughs.
His laughter makes her a little relieved. She agrees to paint him and both of them go to bed.
---
Because of that incident, Sasuke starts to distance himself from Sakura. After all, there's no reason for them to be closer with each other now.
Sakura's days are per usual— she goes to her gallery and paints the promised portrait. It's a surprise to her that she can actually paint him without a reference. She thinks of his face when they eat together, or when he sleeps, or when he's doing some chores.
She calls Ino to look at the painting. "It's done, finally!"
"Wow! Sasuke must be really pleased! Looks like he's from one of those period dramas.. What's the title?"
"I don't have a title yet, to be honest. Do you think he'll like it?"
"I'm sure he will!"
For some reason, Sakura keeps on looking at the door and checking her phone, as if anticipating someone's arrival or message. Ino has noticed this and asks her, "expecting someone?"
"No.. Why?"
"You keep on glancing at the door.. Also, I haven't seen Sasuke these days. Did you tell him not to go here?"
"No, I didn't." It occurs to her just now that Sasuke doesn't visit her anymore. Not even once since she started painting his portrait.
This thought remains in her mind for the rest of the day. Now, she can only think of the things he stopped doing ever since that incident at the gallery happened.
"What do you mean he stopped doing things?"
Aside from her dad, only Ino knows about their situation and plans. She's open with her and trusts her very much.
"He doesn't text me anymore. Before, he sends me multiple texts a day, asking if I've eaten. He doesn't eat dinner with me too. He still prepares the food but it's either he eats later than me or he doesn't eat at all. He also stopped calling me 'love' when we're alone. He only calls me that when we're outside."
"What's the problem? Isn't that what you want?"
"Yeah.. But abrupt change is confusing.."
"Your contract is rather confusing! You say you don't care about him and he shouldn't care about you.. But you keep on doing things for him."
"Ino–"
"You had his parents' distillery up and running. You bought new equipment for his football club. You paid for his clan's mortgage–"
"It's not like I paid much money for that–"
"That's not the point, Sakura. You're doing all these wifey things for him in secret and you're telling yourself that he deserves them because he's nice."
"But.. He's really nice–"
"Yeah! Your driver is also nice. Would you do the same thing?"
"Ino, that's different!"
"And now you're bothered because he stopped doing the little husband things he's been doing."
"I'm not bothered! I'm just.. Confused.."
"Sakura, it's not like your contract is something concrete. You can always terminate your self-made contract, you know. I don't know if you're aware but you talk about him almost 24/7."
"I don't! I just talk about him because he's my current subject!"
"Yeah right! 'Sasuke's football skills is top-tier! Sasuke's hair should be the standard for men's hairstyle! Sasuke did this, Sasuke did that!' Sakura, please. Don't kid yourself."
"But.."
"I haven't seen you paint so passionately before. So, there's really something different. Think about it."
Sakura overthinks about it indeed. She never cared about any guy before. This feeling is new to her, so she's not sure if she just misses his presence or if she's really in love with him. Regardless, she's excited to go home to tell him about the painting.
She's about to close the gallery when she sees a familiar car outside. It's her grandfather. It also seems that he's with her dad.
"Dad? Grandpa? What are you doing here?"
"I am sorry. You shouldn't be burdened by the pact, Sakura," her grandfather says as he enters the gallery.
"What do you mean?" she asks, looking back and forth between her grandfather and dad.
Her grandfather sees the painting. "For someone who doesn't care about someone, you sure did put effort on painting this.. Well, Sakura. You don't need to anymore. You don't need to pretend."
"Grandpa?"
"Sasuke paid a visit this afternoon. He told me everything. You can cancel that contract or whatever deal you have with him. You can file for a divorce freely."
"He went and told you?"
Her grandfather inspects the painting closer. "He said you don't deserve to be punished like this. He'll take the blame if people will ask. He said you shouldn't be trapped because of a deal that happened way before your birth. He's right. I'm sorry, it's my fault. I really just wanted to fulfill my grandfather's wish."
Sakura doesn't know how to react. She wants to say many things but words are not coming out of her mouth.
"Starting tonight, that contract is void. You can live in peace. I'll make sure of that."
"Grandpa.. So.. Does he hate me? He didn't say anything to me.." she asks, almost sobbing.
"No, not at all. He said he loves you, so he knows he has to let you go."
"He said he loves me? He never told me!"
"Because it's part of the contract right? It's funny because it seems that he has memorized every line of those rules–"
"Wait, is he at home?"
"Yes, he said he'll pack his things asap so it's easier for you–"
"I must go. Dad, please close the gallery for me!" She gives him the keys and runs towards her car.
"Hey, don't drive fast!!" Kizashi reminds her.
---
She's panting when she arrives. He's there, ready to leave. He's waiting for her to say goodbye properly.
"Sakura–"
"So, that's it? That's the reason you're not calling me 'love' anymore? That's the reason you stopped doing things you used to do for me? You want to rescind the contract–" She can't continue her statement and starts crying while holding onto him.
"Sakura.. This is what you've always wanted, right?"
"Is it true? You love me?"
"It doesn't matter.."
"Is it true?!" Sakura repeats her question louder.
"It's true! I love you! It hurts that you'll never love me back but it hurts me more to see you miserable with me! I'd rather let you go than see you hating your life because of that stupid pact."
"Who said I was miserable? Because of that one incident? Sasuke, you don't understand. I've never been this happy before.."
"You were happy.. with me?"
"I was in denial because it would hurt my ego. I made that contract.. I made the rules.. Then I'll be the one to break them? I kept on telling myself you're just nice.. You're kind and cool.. That's why I like you. But it's deeper than that, Sasuke. I love you. I know it took me so long to realize.. But I can't see myself living here or anywhere else without you by my side."
Sasuke can't believe what he's hearing. This can't be real. He can't process that the woman who despises the idea of getting married to him is now in love with him.
"Sakura. Are you sure? It's your chance to be free again."
"Did you know, I've finished your portrait today. I was so happy. I was pleased with the result.. Before I left the gallery, I put the title on it thinking I'll surprise and show you tomorrow." Sakura takes his hand. "You know what, come! Let's go there now."
Sakura calls her dad to go back and open the gallery for her. He complies and even her grandfather is intrigued.
When Sasuke and Sakura arrive, it's already open. It's obvious that Sakura cried on their way and her father can't help but worry.
"This.. This is beautiful, Sakura. Thank you.." Sasuke says while looking at its entirety.
"There's the title," Sakura points at a small card at the bottom of the painting.
"Love of the Artist's Life.. Sakura?"
"If that's still not enough for you to believe that I love you–"
Sasuke pulls her for a hug. "I'm sorry. I should've told you. You don't have to prove anything, Sakura. Just tell me I'm allowed to love you and I will. With all my heart."
Sakura takes the contract from her bag and torns it into pieces. "Null and void! Sasuke, please love me with all your heart and I promise you that my heart is yours and yours alone."
"I think we can leave now, Kizashi. So, nothing changes right? You guys are still married. Our ancestors are pleased with the fulfilled pact.. Everybody happy. Good." Sakura's grandfather laughs. "Sasuke, you take care of her. That's my only wish."
"I will, sir. That's a promise."
Kizashi leaves with his father. "Dad said everything I wanted to say. Take care, Sakura, Sasuke. We're leaving."
Sasuke is still staring at the painting. "It's really detailed, love.."
"You don't know how much I missed you calling me that."
Sasuke kisses her and says, "let's go home. I have to unpack and organize everything again."
They shared a laugh. "Don't worry, your wife is going to help you."
"You mean the love of my life."
"Hey, that's my title for you! Pick another one!"
31 notes
·
View notes