"I'll admit that I hated you. I was about to have everything that I had ever wanted, and you took it away without a thought or a care in the world."

Oh, gods above. How could this happen? Of all the people on this bloody island, he had to choose me. There were so many women that would be better suited to being his "wife". I was going to be engaged in the coming weeks to a real man. One who could give me the family that I had always wanted. But now that I bore our Lord Salos' mark, no man would want me. It took years for a woman to earn their freedom from him. If they were lucky, they would fall in love and be released from their Divine Marriage.

I know that it was suppose to be great honor to be chosen by their god. After all, we wouldn't have our home if not for him. I still remember the stories my tutors had told me. I knew that Salos had found my clan when they had been lost at sea after fleeing from the many wars that raged on the mainland. I knew that it was only with his good will that we were able to make our homes here.

But, still I had not one but two clans who were interested in marrying me to one of their sons. It wasn't often that a main family lets one of their own marry outside the clan. If one of those men chose me I could leave this island and my clan. Not that I don't love my family, but I've always wanted to see the world beyond our little piece of it. The only way that was going to happen was if I married outside the clan.

I released a sigh as I looked toward the mountains that made up the south side of the island. That was where his realm was said to be. Somewhere in their midst was the gateway that would take the priestess to her Divine Husband. It was there that my life was going to be frozen. Soon I would stop aging altogether, and then whatever powers he saw fit to gift me would start to appear.

Another sigh escaped my lips as I looked down at the, unfortunately, very beautiful iris that now graced my outer thigh. Funny that he would choose to give me an iris as my mark. As I continued to gaze upon it, it would change colors. Going from purple to red to the darkest of blacks. No one would every mistake it for a simple tattoo. Not that the only daughter of a clan leader would have a tattoo. That wouldn't be proper.

I stopped myself from sighing again. Sighing and pouting in my room wasn't going to change anything. Unless one of the men that were coming to met with me managed to make me fall in love with them, and they returned those feelings, I was going to be the next priestess.

I had heard that the Uchiha were very handsome, but also unfeeling and cold. So, I highly doubt that I was magically going to make one of them fall in love with me. But Father had also said that Senju had expressed an interest in me. Well, more like my clan. We had developed a jutsu years back that enhanced our speed. Father said that it was almost a kekkei genkai, because one could only use it if had the proper body and chakra for it. And most outside our clan lacked the chakra for it.

I had heard that the Senju were kinder and gentler than their Uchiha rivals. That they loved deeply. Maybe the one that was coming here would be able to save me from being his priestess.

"You act as if you weren't already mine. The moment my mark appeared on your body. I claimed you as mine. No man is going to change that, little one."

I stiffened up when I heard his voice whisper in my mind. I hadn't gone through the ceremony yet. I shouldn't be this closely bonded to him. I should still have time to marry.

I heard his deep husky laugh in my head. It seemed to echo, almost mocking me. I had never laid eyes on him before, but it wouldn't surprise me if he was handsome as the Uchiha.

I heard him snort, "Child, my true form puts the Uchiha to shame. There is no mortal man that can even come close to matching me in looks or charm."

It would seem that they wouldn't be able to match him in arrogance either. He needed a whole other island just to house his ego. But I didn't really expect anything less from a god.

I caught myself before I could sigh again. My mind seemed to be going around in circles. It was true that even if I did fall in love, Salos could still kept me as his priestess. I knew that he needed a proper priestess sooner than later. At present, the women acting as such was no longer fit to fill the role. She had lain with a man and was now carrying his child. It wouldn't be long before she began to show and the whole island knew of her "shame". I didn't really see anything wrong with what she had done. After all, she wasn't married in the true sense.

"Airius, you're going to have to come out of your room at some point." Kenjin glanced down, "I still can't believe that he chose an iris for your mark. Fitting, I guess, after all, they are said to be the flower of the gods."

I glanced over my shoulder and smiled softly at my brother. We were twins. Something that rarely happens. So it was considered good luck when a house was blessed with them.

His face was a masculine version of my own. His eyes were the same shade of blue as the spring that was hidden deep in the mountain, a clear crystal blue. The only thing about us that was different, besides our gender, was our hair my brother's hair was as black as a night, whereas mine had two streaks of blue that framed my face. My father liked to say that they were the same shade of blue as the sea that surrounded the island. My mother always said that both of us had black hair when we were born. Mine had just started to turn blue when I was about five. No one really knew why.

"Ken, do you think that I'll ever marry? I have his mark now," I couldn't bring myself to look at him as I laid my head on his shoulder.

I loved all my brothers but I was understandably closer to Kenjin than I was too the others.

He was my window to the outside world. He didn't think that women should be sheltered and hidden away from the world. In his eye's we were just as strong and had just as much potential as a man.

I felt Kenjin rubbing my arm as he pulled me into a hug. " I think he chose you because the man that is meant to be yours isn't here yet. I don't think that the Uchiha or the Senji of this generation our good enough for you. The Uchiha are too cold and hard. You'll wither away with them. Where the Senji may be more loving, they can be cruel toward those that they deem different or untrustworthy. You are from a different clan and different land. I don't think that our father thought about you when he was brought these marriages."

Kenjin was quiet after that. I could see his point. Maybe it would be better to remain on the island as the priestess. I would have a place that was mine alone. I wouldn't be part of a set anymore. Also I would have responsibilities that only I could do. If I married, I would be nothing more than a broodmare. Someone to give birth to the next generation of a clan. Only there to give an heir. A pretty piece to show off their power.

Yet another sigh escaped my lips. I seemed to be doing that a lot today. I had a lot to think about. On one hand, I could have a family and maybe see a bit of the outside world. But on the other, I would be a respected priestess. My word would be law on the island. I could change so much for the better.

As tempting as that thought was, I knew nothing of politics or battle. How was I supposed to be the guardian of the island if I knew nothing of warfare? It never made any sense to me that, we women were forbidden to be trained as shinobi when Salos only ever picked priestesses.

"Maybe you're right, Ken, but I don't know the first thing about fighting or politics," I whispered into his shoulder.

He laughed softly, "You know more about them than you think, my little flower." he kissed to the top of my head before pulling my face up to look at me, "But you shouldn't take the clans' on their reputation alone. It's not that unheard of for someone to break the mold. Look at you. There isn't a person on this island that knows the forest or the mountain better. Instead of staying inside where our tutors and clan said that you belonged, you were out exploring with me and our brothers. Meet the men that are coming. See if you can stand to be in the same room with them and then move on from there."

With that, he got up and left me with my thoughts. I had a lot to think about now. And maybe, just maybe, being his priestess wouldn't be the end of the world or I could just find my other half. The coming weeks would tell.

As much as I would love too, I don't own Naruto. The only thing I own is Airius and her clan. Hell I don't even really own Salos. Please feel free to review and tell me what you guess thing. FYI... this story is going to take place in an alternate world than the main Naruto story. Think of a world like Road to the Ninja.