Summary: If my story would be told in a thousand years, let them say I walked with Giants. Let them say I lived in the time of the Young Sages. Let them say, I battled thousands of men and never once lost. And let them say, I had fallen in love with my enemy.
Aiko's Note: Wow, my first story is actually here…! I just want to thank all the fans for the support and for convincing me to write for a change. This is an odd thing for me, as I'm so use to being Amaya's editor and guinea pig, but I think I'll get use to it. And I also want to thank Amaya for being so supportive of my decision to start writing and for editing my story for me. I love you, sis, and I can't wait to see you for Christmas for the Ultimate Story Writing Marathon! Also, thank you to Miss Dany for coming up with such an awesome name. I appreciate the help, ma'am!
Amaya's Note: Hehe, Aiko's first story…*squeal* I think you guys will LOVE it! It's really good, and I have to admit that Aiko's writing style is slightly superior to mine—being my older brother and all…but any who; please enjoy!
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Rating: Mature (see warnings below)
Characters/Pairing: Pein X Sakura; minor Naruto X Hinata and Pein X Konan
Themes: Comfort, Angst (possibly), Romance, Adventure and Drama
Warnings: Mature language, sexual content, mature situations, blood/gore and violence
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Introduction
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. : Part I : .
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Ame—the Seventh Battleground
It was raining.
The firmament wore an armor of silver on this day of mourning, with ornamental blurs of black ink curling within itself. The moon no longer shone for them, and Tsukiyomi hid her face behind blue-black wisps, leaving behind the terrifying shadows of demons with her distaste.
The heavens mourned for their tarnished ground, their tears cleansing the terra of those poor, fallen souls who lingered within the sea of corpses, and the earth's mother held her labored breath. She was fearful.
And it was breath taking.
There were some things in life that were just too beautiful for the human eye, for the touch of even the purest of mortals. They were cursed beings, poisonous to the true splendor of the earth. Life's beauty came hand in hand with its transience, and those foolish creatures dared let nature's magnificence fall between their unappreciative fingers.
The Gods longed to view such purities in life, and humans did little to cherish it.
They burned cities and brought an end to life—all in the name of pitiful men tainted green with their greed. They destroyed all they touched, and it made him angry.
How could someone destroy something so precious?
"Pein,"
Hearing that voice—that beautiful, melodic voice—made his skin rise with absolute bliss. There was an angel there, smiling at him, caressing him amongst the ruin. She had been named Konan, a title befitting of such a delicate creature, he supposed, and she watched over him even in his shallowest sleep.
And he addressed her with a nod, silvery eyes catching her own. Her hand, so warm, so soft, rested upon his cheek and she offered a smile.
"You have won yet another victory."
The desire to laugh, to sneer nearly overwhelmed him, but he let only a hum escape his lips; in all the years of his life, he'd never lost a battle. He fought demons and banished spirits, and beheaded the unruly serpents of the far North—he'd fought an entire army and won.
He was unconquerable, like the mountains high above the Rain Kingdom. Many tried and all have failed; no one could compete with him, no matter their title.
"Gather the troops," Pein murmured, his eyes closing as the rain fell past his cheeks. "Gather all the treasures you lot wish. We leave for home at dawn."
Konan bowed, "Yes, milord."
He was gifted the name of Pein, son of Bishamonten, the God of War. He was sent to the mortal world to fight against the impurities that made the spiritual balance waver. And Konan was his dearest angel, the love the Gods sent to protect him.
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. : Part II : .
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Konoha—Hiruzen's Castle—the Maidens' Wing
It was dawn when the priest's bells chimed.
The morning was warm, weighty with a shuddering breath of welcome that growled where sleep bore purchase. Sunlight dappled through the stained glass and threw mysterious images of roses and ravens against the walls; and Amaterasu's fingers gently caressed her dearest children with their awakening.
The maids rose from their beds in a rehearsed manner, their expressions neutral with only the slightest lift of their pink lips for display. They dressed in their uniformed robes of white and gold, and embellished their necks with golden chokers—as if belonging to royalty.
Their beauty never once hindered their sense of responsibility, however, as their minds followed the pursuit of municipal pleasure.
A faction of maids departed from the collection of two hundred and hurried through the Southern Wing of the Palace, towards the Guard's Ward, pausing only for the armored sentinels to lift the fringe-gates of the corridors. When the guards opened the final door at the end of the hall, they bowed their heads to one of their beloved Sannin.
Her name was Sakura, exactly like the blossoms flowing from the intertwining curls of branches during the mid-spring.
She was a precious woman whose gift of beauty made many, if not all women envious. She had been deemed the fairest of all the Fire Kingdom, perhaps even beyond that, actually, and was greatly admired by many for her enchantment. The Gods had gifted her qualities of spring: eyes like the deepest plunge basins, hair like the softest petals and skin like the iridescence of the moon. Like the rain, she never dithered and encased all around her with her nurturing essence.
For years, she gracefully danced between battlefields, her holy blade parting flesh and spilling blood, and she would often times offer a prayer for those clutching the last of Izanami's golden thread. No matter how difficult the battle, no matter how stained her blade would rest, Sakura always smiled in the midst of the sea of souls.
She fought beside Sasuke Uchiha, the Sage of the Snake and heir to Orochimaru—a man of absolute destruction and darkness. He was gifted with the qualities of winter: skin like snow, hair like a raven's wings, and eyes like the void between the barren trees. Like the winter storms, he was vindictive and impetuous, and owned a voice of pure ice that sent many quaking with his rage.
And she fought beside Naruto Uzumaki, the Sage of the Toad and heir to Jiraya—a man of restoration and struggle. He was gifted with the qualities of summer: hair like the sun, eyes like the marbled sky and skin like the warm beaches of the South. Like the summer heat, he was quick-tempered and unyielding no matter the adversity, and his smile promised affection to even the lowest of creatures.
Together, they formed the Young Sages—a faction of warriors trained by the three Legendary Sages, who were viewed as royalty amongst the entire nation, and feared for their constant victories.
They were unstoppable.
When she addressed the chambermaids, one of them smiled. "Her Majesty's servants bow before her presence."