Welcome to my longest oneshot!

"For Whom Does The Caged Bird Sing? -- Reflections of an Ex-Geisha"

By Uchiha-Griffin. I still don't own Naruto.

This is a no massacre SasuSaku/One-sided Itasaku oneshot. Thankies and PLEASE REVIW. I beg of you.

Some rapeish-stuff going on…. You've been warned.

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Freedom.

The one word Haruno Sakura loves.

And no person-- especially a guy-- is gonna take that away from her.

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For Whom Does The Caged Bird Sing?

(Reflections of an Ex-Geisha)

By Uchiha-Griffin

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"Sakura. You are to be married in the spring, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom."

The words of Haruno Sakura's mistress, Maika Haruno, still rung in her head clearly. Maika was a kind Mistress, but very headstrong. She was more the silent type, and had long, white hair and stunning crystal blue eyes. Sakura had grown to love her like her own mother over the years.

"Marriage…" Sakura muttered to her self, rolling the word around in her mouth, seeing how it fared. She wasn't liking it so far. Marriage meant no freedom. Marriage meant being home all day long, watching the house, arranging flowers and taking care of children.

Sakura had once been one of the most sought-after Geisha in Kyoto before… the incident. After the abrupt end of her career, she had remained in her Okiya she had lived in since age seven. Now, her mistress was going to sell her off to a man she didn't even KNOW?

This wasn't like a mizuage or even like a Danna-- this was going to be permanent.

--

She had loved being a geisha because she was never attached to just one man, except for maybe about 50 or so? But the main ones were:

Hatake Kakashi (quite handsome, but a little too old for her liking) and Uzumaki Naruto(she considered him a dear friend) who always spoke to her of their friend, Uchiha Sasuke (who she had never met in person).

Subaku no Gaara called on her often, along with his brother Subaku no Kankuro (a quite eccentric person), who she could entertain easily with dance and Sake for hours on end.

There was also Inuzuka Kiba (a very kind heart), Akimichi Chouji (a larger man), Nara Shikamaru (a genius who only spoke of thesis and hypothesis), Aburame Shino (a quiet scientist who just enjoyed quiet company) and of course Hyuga Neji (a quite solemn man, but he really did love her) .

And how could she forget the large Yakuza group always requesting her presence, which consisted of Uchiha Itachi (the brother of the ever-elusive Uchiha Sasuke, as well as the man who…. She would rather not speak of it) and his partner Hoshige Kisame (A very tall and somewhat fishlike man), Deidara (an artist of explosive proportions) and his partner Sasori (a master of deception, as well as very handsome), Zetsu (strangely plantlike), Kakuzu (who kept nearly his whole body covered due to scars of a past fire injury) and his partner Hidan (an ex-priest) and the leader of the Yakuza, known as Pain (who rarely spoke).

Yes, she was indeed very popular. She was a very talented dancer with fans and otherwise, could play Samisen very well, and knew how to show her wrist inconspicuously, so the man she was pouring Sake for was the only one who noticed her show of affection. She never had a chance to sell her mizuage.

After the incident, however, none of them called on her again. Some would see her walking the streets of Kyoto on an errand for Maika, and would shake their heads and frown at her misfortune. Sometimes they would stop for a casual word with her, telling her she was still in her prime and it was a shame what happened, blah, blah, blah.

She didn't want to hear it. She wanted to forget it. She wanted it all to go away and to be able to go back to being a geisha. But she knew that was impossible.

It always was.

----

The next day, Maika-san showed her the wedding robes she would wear. "It will be a large service. Much of Kyoto will be coming to this event, so I want you to look your best." She stroked the silk fondly. "These were going to be my wedding robes, before Hiroto passed away."

Sakura placed a hand on her mistress' and smiled gently. "I am greatly honored." she said. Maika smiled back sorrowfully and placed the lid back on the storage box. "You will be meeting your betrothed today at his home wit his family present. I will accompany you for the beginning, then I will allow you to get to know each other."

Sakura nodded, a frown overtaking her beautiful features. "Yes, Maika-sama."

"I will have Kureno-san fetch you a kimono."

"Yes, Maika-sama."

"Don't look so glum, Sakura. You are marrying up, and you should be glad I have arranged this marriage for you. The Uchiha's son is a very handsome young man."

Sakura's fresh green eyes widened considerably. "U-Uchiha?!" Sakura's thoughts were ablaze. "I have to marry Itachi?! But he is a Yakuza! And the one who… How will I ever find happiness in this cold world?"

"Yes. An Uchiha. Now, go find Kureno-san so he can put on your kimono."

"Yes…. Maika-sama…"

---

Sakura stood outside the large gate of the Uchiha estate with Maika, a parasol gently rested on her shoulder and her features still set in a frown. "Sakura, please, do smile. We do not want to scare Uchiha-san away." Sakura nodded, took a deep breath, and let a sad smile sit on her lips. Maika sighed. "Do not blame me if he runs out of the room in fright."

Sakura gave a real smile at her mistress' attempt at humor. Just then, a servant stepped outside and bowed. "Welcome. They will see you know." Sakura and Maika bowed politely back and Sakura followed Maika inside.

They walked the estate, slowly following the servant, until they reached a large home apart from all the others. It was cream with red Kyoto- pavilion-style-roof details and door and window frames. The Uchiha crest was proudly displayed on the doors.

Maika looked at Sakura the same instance Sakura glanced at her. Maika nodded and smiled. Sakura smiled back and walked forward toward the front door over a red bridge that crossed a small Koi pond. The sunlight glinted off the Koi's brilliant orange and white scales. Delicate Sakura petals dusted the ground and flew lightly through the air.

Maika and Sakura reached the front door and were greeted by a maid who opened the front door. A cascade of cool air washed over the two women. "Ahh, Maika-chan, Sakura-san! Welcome." A kind women's voice said. Maika stepped forward and smiled. "It's been a long time… Mikoto-chan." Maika said with a smile, and the two women embraced.

Mikoto then turned to Sakura and bowed. "Welcome, Sakura-san." "I am highly honored to make your acquaintance." Sakura said, bowing low.

Mikoto blinked then let out a cheerful laugh. "Please, don't be so formal. You may call me Mikoto." "Thank you, Mikoto." Sakura said, smiling. Mikoto then said, "You have an award-winning smile, Sakura-chan. Please, use it often on my son so he may lighten up."

Sakura nodded. "I will do my best, Mikoto."

"Now, may we be off? My son and husband are men of little patience, as you might understand."

"Yes, of course."

Sakura and Maika followed Mikoto down the hallway to a large, open relaxation room. There were tatami mats on the floor and a low table with red and white cushions on the ground in the middle of the room. The sliding door was wide open to reveal an outdoor patio and another Koi pond with a small grey stone waterfall.

There were two men at the table, and Sakura was alarmed to not see Itachi was not the one sitting at the table, but a much younger, perhaps more handsome, man. His hair was spiked up in the back. He had pale skin and dark, faraway eyes that had a slight glint of redness to them.

The other man was considerably older. He was wearing a yukata. And had a look identical to the younger boy's: a broody scowl. Mikoto invited Sakura and Maika in cheerfully and they joined the men at the table.

"Sakura, I would like you to meet my husband, Fugaku."

Sakura bowed low to the floor. "It is my honor to meet you, Uchiha-Sama."

Fugaku nodded. When it became apparent he wasn't going to say or do anything else to acknowledge her existence, Mikoto then motioned to the handsome young man sitting across from Sakura, looking anywhere possible but at the others in the room.

"And this is my little pride and joy, Sasu-chan!"

Sakura's emerald eyes widened. Of Course. Uchiha SASUKE. Not Uchiha ITACHI! The same boy Hatake- and Uzumaki-san were always talking about!

"Mother… I told you not to call me that." Sasuke said, sounding bored. Sakura instantly blushed. His voice was like liquid velvet, deliciously dark and deep.

Sakura bowed quickly to hide her blush. "I am very honored, Sasuke-san." "Eh." Was all he said after glancing her way nonchalantly. Mikoto smiled at Maika. "Well, maybe we should retire to the main sitting room and allow Sasu-chan and Sakura-san to get to know each other?"

"That sounds lovely." Maika said to her old friend. The two women rose, followed by Fugaku, who grumbled something about Sakura not being a good choice before sliding the door shut.

The silence in the room was nearly unbearable for a person so used to being sociable like Sakura. Sasuke merely sat and stared at her with his judgmental eyes. She sat there, doing her best to stare back just as stoically as if to say, "I don't want this any more than you do."

Finally, a maid opened the door, carrying a tray full of tea things. She set it on the table and exited quickly. Sakura rose from the table and sat shamelessly next to Sasuke. He raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

She placed a teacup in front of him gracefully, the picked up the teapot. She was able to do the same thing as in the times of her being a Geisha-- show just a small bit of the skin on her wrist, a sign of being comfortable with a patron, or even a show of affection.

She finished pouring the tea and set the pot down on the table. Sasuke stared at her for a moment. Then he gave a small smile and said, "Thank you." He then picked up the cup and took a sip. Sakura smiled in self-satisfaction.

"Sakura-san, tell me about yourself." Sasuke suddenly demanded, picking up his teacup again. "I would like to know everything about you I possibly could."

"My name is Haruno Sakura, but my name before my adoption into my Okiya was Mitarashi Sachie. I am in my twenty-first year, and skilled in samisen, tea ceremony, dance, and social entertainment, but I also enjoy reading and eating yakisoba. "

Sasuke set the cup down on the table with a passive look on his face. "You were a geisha, weren't you?" He suddenly asked her. Sakura's expression hardened. "Yes. But I am not anymore. I assist Maika-sama in running the Okiya while our other Geisha, Hyuga Hinata, goes to engagements."

Sasuke nodded, looking puzzled and concerned. "Why did you quit? You are still in your prime."

"I would rather not speak of it."

"The reason I ask is Naruto-baka and Kakashi-sama still speak of you frequently."

"Uzumaki- and Hatake-san?"

"The one and the same."

"I haven't seen them in forever! How are they?"

"Just fine, Naruto-baka still seems to be head-over-heels for you and Kakashi-sama still thinks you're beautiful."

"Ah. I see…."

"So, why DID you quit?"

"I would PREFER not to speak of it."

"I'm going to be your husband in three short days. I might as well just know."

Sakura's face twisted into an ugly scowl. "I will NOT tell you, Sasuke-san! If you're so interested, go ask anyone in Kyoto! Everyone knows of my demise and will probably be happy to share with you!"

With that, Sakura abruptly stood, threw open the sliding door, and strode away, a blush covering her whole face and hot tears stinging her eyes. She ran past Maika and Mikoto, who were standing in the front room chatting about Sasuke and Sakura's future.

Maika became alarmed when her adopted daughter ran past with tears streaming down her face. "Sakura! What's wrong?!" "Sakura-chan!" Mikoto called after her. But Sakura didn't stop running. She threw open the front door and didn't even bother to slide on her sandals or grab her parasol.

The two women watched her run all the way to the front gate helplessly. Mikoto's face suddenly twisted into a demented, evil smile. "When I find Sasuke, I'll wring his scrawny, pale neck…!" "I'm right here, mother." The familiar velvet voice said calmly.

Mikoto turned around with fire in her eyes. "What did you DO?! What did you SAY?!"

"I merely asked why she quit being a geisha…."

Maika's face drained of color and her eyes widened. "Oh no…" She murmured, looking out the door in the direction Sakura had gone. Mikoto watched her sadly, then turned to her youngest son with the most hateful eyes he'd ever seen.

"I hope you're happy with what you've done, Sasuke."

Sasuke flinched. That was the first time in his life his mother had not donned that annoying nickname on him. "Mother… I…" Mikoto didn't even listen to him. She turned and walked away, shaking her head in disappointment.

--

Sakura was hiding somewhere on the estate-- she didn't even know where she was. There were so many buildings in this place-- she couldn't find the way out if she wanted to. So instead, she sat, curled up in a ball, pressed up against a wall, crying her eyes out. Suddenly a voice that was just as silky and seductive as Sasuke's spoke to her.

"Didn't expect to see you here-- Sakura."

Sakura's head flew up to see the face of the man that had brought her demise. "Uchiha Itachi…." She said, her eyes narrowing, her sorrow melting to pure hatred for the man that stood in front of her. "What the hell do you want from me? Haven't you taken enough already? My career, my…."

She was cut off as the older man's lips met with hers roughly. Sakura's eyes widened. She tried to push him away, but he held her arms to the wall she was oh-so-conveniently leaned against. He was licking her bottom lip when she finally managed to get him off her.

"You bastard! Stay the hell away from me! I don't want anything to do with you!" Tears began spilling down her cheeks again. Itachi smirked and placed his arms on either side of her head against the wall.

"You were right there, you were beautiful, and I wanted you." Itachi said. "I'm not used to being denied things I want, Sakura." His hand moved to brush some pink hair out of her face. She flinched and blushed at his touch.

"I never loved you." Sakura said through her teeth. Itachi leaned in toward her and ran his nose up her neck, his cool breath feathering it gently. "Is that so?" His tongue darted out of his mouth and touched her neck gently. Sakura shuttered. "Stop it, Itachi…!"

"No honorific? That's harsh. Besides. I'm only doing to you what I did a year ago… today." Itachi said, smirking evilly. Sakura covered her face to hide the fresh tears coming in. A year ago today?…

----

Sasuke sighed as he walked around the estate, trying to find his fiancé. "Dammit, Sakura…. Where are you?!" He muttered to himself irritably. He stopped by his relatives houses to ask if they'd seen a girl with pink hair in a kimono run by. All of them proved no dice.

Sasuke then heard something strange-- it sounded like Sakura's voice. "Stop it, Itachi…!" Sasuke frowned and gritted his teeth. What was his scum of a brother doing to Sakura? He broke into a sprint toward the direction of her voice.

"I'll save you, Sakura… I swear it as your fiancé!"

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Part two gives a bunch away. Please read it for the conclusion to this fanfic.

But first I need five reviews. I'm evil like that. Muahaha!

I am Griffin, hear me roar.