Arranged Marriage - Panda28 - Naruto (Anime & Manga) [Archive of Our Own] (2024)

Boisterous laughter, claps and congratulations echoed around her. Many people here were already drunk, trashing the garden. Not that it really mattered, as she wasn’t going to be the one to clean up the mess, although Sakura felt sorry for the palace cleaners.

She was getting married, which was supposed to be the happiest moment of her life.

Except what was there to be happy about when she never chose to marry?

“Your highness?” Green orbs blinked and stared at the woman before her. Shizune was one of Sakura’s mosttrusted maids although in her case she may as well be the one who raised her.

Then again, if that was the case Sakura wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place.

“Is everything alright? Is the drink not to your liking?”

“No, it’s fine.” Sakura cracked a smile. “I just can’t believe I’m getting married tomorrow.”

Sakura looked at her fiancé. A dashingly handsome man who could melt a girl’s heart with a smirk. He was polite and well-mannered, with dark blue eyes and messy red hair.

A guy any woman would want, right?

Yet he wouldn’t look at her once, sure Sakura wasn’t thrilled with the arrangement but that didn’t mean they couldn't get acquainted and get along. He saw her as beneath him, didn’t see her worth his time.

On top of that, he was seen with other women, and not even subtle about it.

It was only agreed by their parents, the Kings and Queens themselves.

Shizune gave a sad smile placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“I understand but try not to worry. I’m sure everything will work out.”

They didn’t care though, they needed an heir and her Kingdom owed them thus the deal of an arranged marriage was placed. A Prince of high class wedded to a Princess below them.

She didn't have any choice in the matter and had to do whatever it took to please them.

“Oh, I wasn’t talking about him.” Shizune stole her glass taking a sip herself. Which one was bizarre in itself and two, what was she talking about?

“What do you mean?”

Sakura was to be his Queen, they were in debt. Regardless of the circ*mstances, she had to do whatever hedesired... until maybe she could find a way to escape unless a miracle happened.

“It doesn't matter, forgive me. I'll get you another drink.” The maid took off, how odd.

Sakura shrugged thinking maybe Shizune already had one too many drinks secretly and wasn't herself.

More loud obnoxious laughter could be heard, and her face scrunched up as her fiancée and his friends played another drinking game. How was he going to wake up tomorrow?

“Your drink your highness,” a huskier voice could be heard behind startling her. He held out the tray with her drink.

“Oh, thank you,” Shizune must have called him over. His black orbs stared into her emerald ones, he didn’t look familiar but did? Perhaps he was new.

“Excuse me? I don’t think we’ve met before, have we?”

“I don’t know why you would remember me.” His tone cameout harsh and accusing.

Ah right, unlike herself her future husband wasn't as kind to those who worked for him, always making them overwork. Bossing them about for every little thing.

Maybe she should change her previous statement about him being polite. What she reallymeant was only looking out for himself.

His face changed, posture more relaxed as he puts away the tray.

“My apologies. But yes, I am new. Started a couple months back, you might have seen me around.”

Ah, so she had met him before.... vaguely.

“You look like you're having fun.” Sakura tried to make a light joke to get rid of the awkward tension.

“You don't look like you are having a good time yourself.” Sakura scowled crossing her arms.

“What do you-”

“The maids talk,” was all he said. They would, she didn’t care though. Whatever they said was probably right anyway.

“It’s not like I have a choice in the matter.”

“He doesn’t seem like your type.” She scoffed at that. “And you would know?”

“I do, more than you realise.” Sakura eyed him.

When she awoke Sakura still felt slightly dizzy, she was against a tree and saw the man from before sitting by the water. Where were they?

“What happened?” She stood up, using the tree for support. Did he knock her out?

Why?

What for?

“You weren’t feeling well so I’d thought take you here to get away from everything.” Why did a sudden uneasiness wash over her?

“Now wait just a second, you can’t… you can’t bring me out here. I barely know you, this is kidnapping. Who do you think-” Her voice squeaked whenhe took off his clothes casually disregarding them.

Sakura quickly averted her eyes looking away.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking a swim? I thought that was obvious.”

Um hello, you kidnapped me, brought me in the middle of nowhere and expect me to be rational?

His tone was so calm as if nothing was wrong. What world was this guy living in?

“You should join me.” Hearing him get into the water Sakura peeked to see if it was safe to look and saw him floating on his back against the water. Never had she wanted to punch a man so badly.

Except for her fiancé

“I’ll pass, now explain yourself. Why did you bring me out here? What’s your motive?”

What was his motive?

Is he holding her hostage?

Did he plan to kill her?

Are their others?

Maybe it was her imagination or the fact it was so dark but it almostseemed like he was... hurt?

“What did they do to you?”

Huh?

Then she saw it.

A tail.

Sakura took a step back not quite believing it.

“You’re a… merman?” The creature snorted.

“Not even close, I’m a mershark. A lot different than a merman I assure you.”

She could see it now, he was changing gradually, his skin slowly turned to grey scales and his eyes turned red like what she saw before. Even his hair grew a bit longer.

Did he grow bigger as well?

The more she stared into his eye the more pieces were slowly coming together.

“I know you. You’re the reason why our people have been missing.”

It had to be him.

Sakura had heard about the rumours, about a beast or some creature. It would lure women out into the ocean, and they were to never be seen again. Like how sirens would lure in men.

So, this was how he did it. If he could walk on land he could lure in as much as wanted.

And now she was next.

The question was why.

Why do such a thing?

Well duh, he wants to eat us!

“Why are you doing this?” What was the point in asking the question?

She felt frozen and couldn't move, she was scared and shaking but she had to know.

“I did it for revenge.” He was getting angry now. Claws digging into the ground almost like he was about to jump back out and drag her regardless.

She could still run away from him and knew she should. Yet her mind told her to keep quiet and not anger him further.

But she had to know.

“Revenge for what? What did we do to you?!”

“They took you away from me!”

What did he say?

“What?”

He looked so tired, so drained and heartbroken. “On your back, there’s a bite mark, right?”

How did he…

“Yeah… but that was because I almost got eaten when I… when I swam out…” No way!

“That’s a mark, a mate mark. From me.”

It was getting difficult to breathe.

“You're my mate.”

Her knees gave out and without realising tears began to fall. She was still processing everything, and her mind was telling her to run.

What if he’s lying? He could be saying these things to lure her in. How can we trust him how can we?

But he wasn't!

Her parents kept her away from the sea, because of the ‘incident’ saying it was too dangerous.

Yet Sakura had no memory of it.

And maybe that was why he seemed so familiar?

“We’re the same.” His voice broke her thoughts, and he held his hand uh claw to take.

“If you don’t believe me, come into the water for yourself.”

“The water?”

“You’ll change like me and then you can decide yourself on what you want to do.”

She believed him.

“I... I don't understand. Why can't I remember you... us or anything. How did this happen?”

“They took you. Once we set a foot on land, we turn human ourselves. Our memories are wiped. They know about it, and they use it to take advantage of us.”

That still doesn't explain one thing.

“You remember… you’ve been on land, and you remember me. How?”

“Because I lost you, I won't let anything get in the way of finding you again.” For some reason, Sakura felt her heart skip hearing those words.

“You never told me your name.” Ah right.

“Sasuke.” Sakura reached out to him, feet dipping into the ice-cool water.

“You think she’ll remember.” Shizune stood by Kakashi looking down at the sea.

“No, and she won’t ever again. They’ll have to make new memories.”

“I can’t imagine how scary it must be for her.”