Beta: Raven and Writing Desks

A cold breeze drifted through the thin wooden walls of the barn. It made its way through the dusty air towards the sleeping couple and tickled their noses. Slowly, the female opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. There she was, in her favourite spot in the world. It was not, as most girls of her class would think, her ornate receiving room, nor was it her trimmed rose-bush garden, nor her soft goose feather bed. It was the small attic of the horse barn that sat at the side of her family's town house.

The five-story white-stone town house rose high into the capital's sky and looked over the royal Hyde Park. It was a mere twenty-minute walk from Buckingham Palace and stood in the centre of London's fashionable upper-class circle. It was, after all, the pride of the Haruno family and had been for decades past.

The Haruno's were near the top of society's totem pole, being loosely related to the royal family themselves. Duchess Haruno regularly entertained the wealthiest guests from England's finest bloodlines and even a few from the growing nation of America. She was a known beauty and was often seen in the company of Countess Yamanaka and Countess Hyuuga, two other fine society wives. However, none could say that the Duchess Haruno held more than half the beauty of her only daughter.

Lady Sakura Haruno had recently come into society that spring of 1894, a little late by some standard considering that she was already seventeen but the fact was widely accepted due to her year-long trip to Paris. In her time away, Lady Sakura had become almost fluent in the romantic language of French and learned many of the fine arts that were popular in the country. She had missed the coming-out of many of her friends, including her best friend Lady Ino Yamanaka, and even the arrival of new well-bread families from New York. However, none of this was what the young lady missed most. It was not the parties nor the boat races nor the walks in the pleasant park. All of these things she had found an equal for in Paris. The thing she had missed most was the smile of her family's coachman and secret crush, the orphan Naruto Uzumaki.

Relaxing, Sakura remembered the events last night that had led her to waking up in the bare arms of her blonde coachman. The pair had met secretly at unthinkable hours, after the rest of household fell asleep, since her arrival from Paris.

It had started innocently at first. The pair would sit up late by candle light, talking about adventures and dreams for the future. Sakura had often noted a hint of blush in his cheeks whenever she moved closer and felt assured by this. Then, one day, without warning, Naruto had leaned over Sakura, pinning her to a pile of straw and pressed his lips firmly against hers. They met up nearly every night after this, but last night was different. Last night, they went further than an innocent kiss.

"I love you." Naruto had said. The orange light of the flickering flame danced across his soft features, creating a glow to shine over him. The girl did not reply. She couldn't, for no words presented themselves on her lips.

Sakura did, however, move closer and kiss the boy like she had many times before.

Moving his rough hands to her arms, he had pushed her down on the blanket below. Sakura had moved her tongue in time with his and felt his hands roam over her body, sending ecstatic shivers down her spine. The hands had moved with purpose, finding their way to the hem of her night-gown and slipped under. A shock had shot through Sakura and she gasped with astonishment. Groaning delicately, she arched her back in pleasure as Naruto's fingers massaged her insides.

It did not take long after that until she had found herself staring at his naked form, and watching him stare back at hers. After a reassuring nod, Naruto had pressed his hips into Sakura's and ground them back and forth. It hurt at first, like a hot iron rod, but it had gotten better. Shortly after, Sakura had found herself moving with him and enjoying the closeness of his body.

Reluctantly, she pulled away from the sleeping Naruto and after replacing her nightgown, crept back into the house and up to her room. She vaguely remembered her mother saying something about a very important ball tonight and did not want to be found absent when her maid came to fit her dress.

...

"He should be here tonight!" cried the excited voice by Sakura's left ear, pulling her out of her day-dream.

"Who should?" she replied, only mildly interested. This gained a raised eyebrow from her blonde friend.

Sakura and her friend Ino were walking with arms linked around the side of the Nara's grand ballroom. It was a spectacular room, though not as brilliant as the many Haruno rooms, with polished marble floors and mint wallpaper lined with gold leaf. The Egyptian silk curtains covered the floor-to-ceiling windows allowing the room to be lit only by the shining glow of the cut glass lamps instead of the twinkling stars outside. As they strolled, the Indian red skirt of the pinkette's bow-covered gown churned with the soft violet and pearl-covered of the blonde's. Sakura couldn't help but think that if Ino were waring such a paler colour than her usual, she must have been trying to impress someone new and important.

"The new gentleman from New York! The un-married gentleman" she explained with a wink.

This must be the reason for her unexpected wardrobe choice, Sakura pondered. She had always thought Ino would end up married to either Lord Choji Akimachi or Lord Shikamaru Nara because their three families were so close. Apparently, Ino disagreed. Or maybe this was just the uncontrollable need Ino possessed to flirt with anything that had ears.

The blonde continued to speak. "He's ever so handsome! I saw him enter the Richmond Hotel just this morning. And I've heard he's filthy rich. Something with a family tragedy that left him as the owner of several high functioning businesses and the soul heir to his family's wealth. He's quite the catch!"

It was true that the gossip Ino acquired was usually correct but Sakura also knew her to exaggerate on occasion. Before the two could continue their conversation, a tall figure stepped into the paths.

"Excuse me," the white haired, well-dressed form of Sir Kakashi Hatake said. He was significantly lower in rank than everyone else in the room but the higher nobility had accepted him into their circle due to his excellent work as a knight and that the Queen herself favoured him. "But may I have this dance with Lady Sakura?" The knight regularly asked Sakura to dance at balls so she accepted graciously and began to waltz around the room. The pair engaged in small talk in which Kakashi complemented the lady on her beautiful dress and curled hair.

After taking a spinning turn, Ino showed up in Sakura's vision. She pointed enthusiastically towards the entrance and when Sakura turned to follow her friend's indication, she gasped. Standing by the wide oak doors stood a tall, raven-haired man. His face was turned away to greet the nearby people who seemed to be gravitating towards him but when he turned in her direction, she saw just how much Ino had under-exaggerated.

That was a first.

A/N: The situation of Sakura and Naruto was inspired by the Luxe series but this sorry will not be like that. Also, I don't know that much about British titles and nobility so please don't be mad if I got something wrong! (Dukes and Duchesses are above Earls and countesses which puts Sakura's family higher than the others mentioned so far). I hope you liked it!