-Normal Talking/ Naration
-Character thoughts
-Sakura's 'inner' self
-Stressing certain words

Prologue: An Unexpected Engagement

"Darling! Great news! You are to be married!"

Funny how eight simple words could turn someone's life upside down and inside out. I'd love to say that I took the news as a lady of pure breeding would have; calmly, with a few murmured words of appreciation and admiration at how my mother had found such a wonderful match for an unworthy daughter such as I. Unfortunately, due to my father's indulgent nature towards me, I opted for the blunt approach to such surprising information.

"No."

Of course, my outright refusal of the situation went unheard as my mother continued to flutter about the room, a fan waved energetically beneath her double chin- Causing her flushed appearance to deepen, instead of dispelling it as it should have.

"And you wouldn't believe who has asked for this match!" she resumed, once she'd done a turn around my bedroom, pausing every now and then to straighten the lace doilies on my pedestals and arranging the frilly curtains at my windows to satisfaction.

My eye twitched with mild annoyance, and I shot my mother a withering glance over my newly bared shoulder, though she didn't catch it, so enthralled in her own self-importance was she. The dramatic pause she had craftily inserted to gain the room's attention was working perfectly- For even I was hard pressed not to urge her on.

After a few moments, I heaved a sigh of resignation, and uttered the question my mother so desperately wanted to hear.

"Alright mother, you've piqued my interest. Who would be stupid enough to ask for my hand in marriage?"

The caustic edge to my voice failed to deflate her enthusiasm, and she beamed proudly at me, her chest aquiver.

"The Marquis of Harrowfield- Lord Hyuuga himself!"

I raised a slender eyebrow at this, silently commending myself for my calm composure; and I bit back the scathing retort that instantly leapt to my lips. It wouldn't do to upset mother- I'd regret it later.

"Oh?" I replied quietly, though it came out on a sharp exhalation due to the sudden harsh tug on the laces of my corset. Mother took it as a gasp of unadulterated delight. Curse that calculating smile that only mothers had. It made me ever so wary.

"Isn't it wonderful?!" My mother asked of no-one in particular.

"Yes, Milady! So I do say so m'self!" came the ever-ready reply from the maid who had been solicited to help me with my morning ablutions.

'No it's not bloody wonderful,' I mentally grumbled, shifting my weight impatiently from foot to foot. 'That Hyuuga is such a vain peacock. He spends more time preening in front of the mirror than he does tending to the tenants on his estate.'

"Miss, please try an keep still! I'll have to start all over again if y'keep a-fidgetin like that!" A firm slap to the bottom stilled my movements, and I tried to remain as motionless as was humanly possible.

I remained silent as my mother continued to prattle on about this and that, shoving my maid firmly out of the way to take up the task of lacing my corset to her approval- Effectively cutting off the circulation around my breasts as well as stemming the amount of oxygen that filtered into my lungs. After a few moments of being tugged around unmercifully, I began to feel just a tad dizzy, and to save myself from having one of mother's 'remedies' for such a 'fit', I let my mind wander.

'He might be a total nodcock…But you must admit, he is rather handsome…'I frowned at that, mentally shaking my head and offering a rebuttal to my 'fickle' side. Did I not think the same about Lord Uchiha a few weeks back? 'It could be worse. Your mother could easily have dumped you off on that blonde…Field Marshall…Uzumaki wasn't it?' I tsked at that, my frown deepening all the more.

So lost in my thoughts was I, that I hadn't caught a word of what my mother had said.

"…Sakura?"

"Hm? Sorry, I wasn't paying attention," I apologised absently, shifting a little in the various directions my mother directed me. I was surprised to find that all that remained was the dress itself, as I was standing there in my stockings and undergarments- The light wooden frame that would produce the desired 'hip' shape draped lovingly around my now slimmer waist.

My mother released a frustrated sigh, and yanked a strand of my unconventional pink hair- Yes pink, and yes it was natural; mother doesn't know which side it came from, but staunchly stood by her belief that it came from father's side.

"This is why you are still unmarried at the age of sixteen," she murmured tartly; "Why, your elder sister Marjorie was wed at the acceptable age of fourteen."

I pulled a face at that, hoping to God that she wouldn't start gushing about that prim and proper sister of mine. Married at fourteen to a Viscount, pregnant at fifteen…And now with another on the way at eighteen. I wasn't jealous- She could keep her Viscount, and her more than adequate monthly allowance of two hundred pounds. But then again…She did have an adorable three year old daughter whom I doted on endlessly.

"But enough about her," Mother was all business again now, and glancing at the mirror, I could see the critical gleam in her eye. "Such a shame, you would have been such a prime catch if it wasn't for that forehead of yours…Not to mention this garish pink hair."

I scowled at that. I quite liked my hair- It was original, and nobody else had it. The forehead comment…Well, I'd been dealt worse insults and I merely shrugged them off; there really wasn't anything I could do about it.

"Why oh why couldn't you have been born a blonde like that young chit Lady Yamanaka? Her beauty puts your own uniqueness to shame," she lamented, gazing at me intently via the looking glass.

That got my goat- Sure, Lady Ino (my best 'friend') was far superior to me in practically everything; she could sing better than I could, play the pianoforte with far more skill and flair than I could ever hope to emulate…And her beauty was legendary, she was tipped to be the 'belle of the ball' at this years Season. But still…Wasn't my mother supposed to be supporting me? Shouldn't she be accentuating my positive points instead of bemoaning my negative ones?

"Why can't you compliment me like a normal mo-…" I started, my fists clenching with annoyance.

"Sakura, don't interrupt mother when she's talking," Mother interrupted, and I added 'hypocritical' to her long list of faults.

I bit my tongue for the umpteenth time that morning, and instead concentrated on squirming my way into the pale blue silk dress with the pink bows that had been chosen for me to wear, grunting inelegantly as the material snagged first on my forcibly jutting bosom, and then again around my hips. Why can't getting dressed be a simple task?

"Now where was I?" Mother mused, adjusting the dress so that it fell in a becoming way around my petite figure- Petite as in flat-chested and narrow hipped. "Oh yes! Tomorrow you will be travelling to the Hyuuga Estate in Harrowfield to legalise the engagement as well as perform the necessary rituals that come part and parcel with such celebrations."

"Oh joy…" I muttered, my sarcasm ignored once again as mother had retreated to her 'happy place'. One look told me that nothing was going to spoil her mood today.

Inhaling sharply through her nose, my mother tottered around me to survey her handiwork, making noncommittal noises beneath her breath before placing an awkward kiss on my cheek. Her hand patted at my hair which had yet to be arranged, and she smiled contentedly.

"This will be the match of the Season," she predicted with barely contained glee, "Unless of course Lady Yamanaka lands Lord Uchiha…I hear as the sole heir to the Uchiha fortune, what with the death of his entire family and the banishment of his elder brother…He has decided to settle down."

I opened my mouth to say something, but she beat me to it again. I was forced to close it once more with a snap, my impatience reaching the point of no return.

"Now dear, I must be off- Lady Cartwright wishes for me to call on her this morning, so I will not be joining you for breakfast," Mother bit her lower lip with a slight frown as she glanced at the clock on my mantelpiece. "I'm not quite sure what time I'll be home tonight as there will be a rout later on…Your father will be attending that with me, so I suppose you can use this time to gather your things and prepare yourself for tomorrow."

And this is where I would have added something, had my mother paused long enough for me to get a word in edgeways.

"Try to stay out of trouble, Sakura. And think on this if nothing else; this match is for your benefit, as well as the benefit of the family. You cannot have made a better one, if I may be so bold as to say so."

Another proud smile was bestowed upon me…And then she was gone in a whirl of silks and perfume, leaving me to stare at the place she'd recently vacated, my face slack with shock.

'Benefit you, you mean…' Was my first thought after snapping out of my momentary stupor. My features tightened to an almost painful degree, and I lashed out at a nearby footstool with my stockinged foot, wincing and cursing in a very unladylike manner beneath my breath.

My maid had taken this exact moment to flee the room for fear of my famous temper, and upon noticing that she too was gone, flopped down facedown on my bed, my face burrowing into the quilted coverlet.

"…When did my life become so complicated?"

JollyRancherz: My first fanfiction is underway! There won't be any Japanese words in this story, as the time period is during the Eighteenth Century and will be set in France and England- Thus there will be no useage of the wonderful Japanese language. Sorry for all thos sub-lovers out there! This is strictly AU, though as ou can see with Sasuke's background, his family was murdered and his brother 'exiled' though it hasn't been said whether he killed them or not. I will however add a glossary to each chapter that needs one to explain certain English words for those who aren't knowledgable about Eighteenth Century England . Thank you for reading, and constructive criticism as well as complimentary reviews are appreciated!

Glossary:

Rout- A small affair that the nobles arrange in the countryside to wile away the time- Like a ball, only smaller and slightly more intimate.

Season- No, not as in Summer, Autumn etc. The 'Season' is an event held at a certain time of the year; Usually between Spring and Summer where all the eligible ladies and lords are paraded through various activities such as theatre outings, balls, picnics, social visits etc in order to secure a husband or a wife. This time is also used for the younger females who have recently left the schoolroom to join the adult world and thus secure a wealthy husband and vice versa.

Nodcock- A light insult; usually meaning one who is stupid or slightly on the silly side.

Peacock- Just as the word suggests; it is usually used for the male gender due to the overly bright colours they wear as well as the expensive material and are used to describe one's vanity. Bright like a male peacock when trying to attract the attention of a female.