DISCLAIMER: I do not own Naruto and everything in this story is a figment of the author's imagination
December 5, 1404
It was a starless winter at the Kingdom of Laredia as it's young prince, still wearing his royal tunic, escaped the castle walls and into his kingdom's shanty but wonderful town. Sasuke Bradeford was the second and youngest son of the king who's family has been ruling the kingdom for over a hundred years. Nobody ever thought of dethroning the family because they have always been nice and generous to the townspeople. They were never different, frequently visiting the town and asking how the people have been. They always give golds and cattles to those who needs helping and in return, they gained the town's trust and loyalty. They were the perfect ruler, as one historian suggested. The Kingdom of Laredia was satisfied with their land that they never even though of conquering other territories and sacrificing the lives of their citizen.
Tonight, however, was something different. Tonight's the night where Prince Sasuke is destined to choose his bride to be and the future queen of Laredia. Sasuke's brother was supposed to be the crown prince but he ranaway during his 15th birthday. His brother never really loved the royal life and decided to live in the woods with his lover and son. From time to time they visit the kingdom and their family at the palace but nobody could persuade the older brother to come back. Sasuke, on the other hand, was the good son. His father has arranged a ball for everybody in the kingdom and there amongst the crowd, Sasuke shall choose his wife. The coal-eyed prince knew that he was lucky enough his father never forced him to marry a princess or someone that he never liked. His problem was... he's not sure if he could handle the thought of being a king. His father was great- the best even. He's not sure if he could surpass or even be at his father's level. He had this thought bothering him for months now that he decide that he should atleast know what it feels like to be a citizen. His father told him a lot of tales about him escaping the palace ground when he was younger. Sasuke thinks it's time he gets his chance to meet different kinds of women before choosing someone whom he'll spend his whole life with.
"Hmmm, do you think I should change my hairstyle Hinata?" Sasuke asked his personal maid. Hinata was shy and quiet and understanding, and that's why he chose her over the thousand housekeepers they have at home. She never judged Sasuke whenever he rants about the palace life or if he had an argument with his father. She just listens quietly and gives an advice from time to time. The best part about her? She keeps quiet about her and her master's conversations.
"Mi-milord? May I inquire the reason behind y-your question?" She asked modestly as she stood behind Sasuke's bronze door.
"I'm planning on visiting the town tonight Hinata. Probably get to know some people too. Why do you ask?" staring at his large round mirror, he replied with such respect for the handmaiden.
Hinata was stunned by what his master said. She couldn't help but tune up her voice a little when she asked him another question.
"B-but sire! Tonight's t-the grand ball your father has pre-p-pared for you! Isn't it u-unwise to do that m-milord?"
Sasuke stood up from his maroon velvet stool and grabbed the brown tunic he borrowed from the palace's hunter a while ago. Hinata helped him undress his royal robes and put on the best tunic the hunter has to offer for the prince.
"Whew. This is too uncomfortable... and rough. It's like its scratching my skin everytime it touches it. How can a hunter use his bow properly wearing something like this? Should I go and change back to my past robe?" Sasuke inquired again.
"This is actually a good kind of tunic my p-prince. I b-bet the hunter has had this in his family's posession for g-generations because n-nobody could buy t-these kind of tunics as a hunter all their life." the handmaiden explaine to the oblivious prince.
Sasuke stood quietly for awhile, obviously feeling guilty for the insensitive words he just said. He totally forgot that he's rich and not everybody's like him. But don't get him wrong, he's not usually like that but he's just got a lot of stuff in his mind that night.
"You have made my thoughts more confused Hinata. The more I could not decide if I should wear it to show appreciation for my hunter's gift or should I not in order to spare the robe from anything that might happen to it." Sasuke said cautiously as he scratched his raven hair.
Hinata bowed and beseeched, "May I speak milord?"
"Yes you may Hinata. You do not have to ask permission, haven't I told you that?" the prince reminded as he turned around to listen more to what Hinata has to say.
"Sire, I believe that it would be a great honor f-for the palace hunter if a p-prince wore his family's t-tunic. Don't you think s-so too sire?" the handmaiden spoke with much confidence than her usual.
Sasuke's face lit up with a smile and faced the mirror again, this time fixing the hunter's tunic in his body and putting a brown leather belt on his waist.
"You know for a handmaiden, you're quite extraordinary Hinata. You should have more confidence than what you are showing right now."
December 5, 2004
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Sasuke woke up to the sound his alarm clock. He had set it at 7:30 AM rather than the usual which was thirty minutes earlier. He got up, hurried to the shower and grabbed a piece of bread from the dining table where his mother was sitting, a magazine clutched in her hand. As he was about to exit the kitchen, he heard his mother spoke, "Sasuke?"
He stopped walking and turned his back to listen to what his mother have to say.
"Are you okay Sasuke? You're acting a little weird these past few weeks. And did you think I haven't noticed that your alarm clock was set thirty minutes after seven? Come on son, talk to me." His mother looked worried. Mrs. Uchiha never really bugged Sasuke about his business but she believes there's something extremely wrong with his son this time.
"Really mom, it's nothing I swear. I just tested if I could have more sleep and still arrive school on time that's why I set the alarm like that. That's all." The raven-haired guy reasoned out as he looked at his wristwatch, clearly signalling to his mom that he has no time for this conversation.
"So how was the experiment then?" His mom asked, doubtful about her son's answer.
"Not good. Especially if we're to continue this conversation mom."
.
Sasuke left the house and got into his old blue chevy truck. He couldn't understand why his dream kept stopping on that same moment. At first he thought it was his alarm clock's fault for blasting too early. But the dream stopped exactly where it always did even if he set the alarm clock half an hour late.
"Where are you?" he received a text message from Sakura, his girlfriend for the last two years.
He waited for the next stop light before replying to Sakura. He's been thinking about saying these weird dreams and visions his been having the last couple of weeks to his girlfriend. He haven't actually opened up it yet to anyone for fear that they might think he's crazy or something. But it's already getting on his nerve and his life. He needed to tell atleast one person and who else should it be but his girlfriend. Sakura is understanding and non-judgemental, she's not going to think that her boyfriend's gone crazy. Besides, she loves him. She'll understand.
After driving around for 20 minutes he finally arrived saw the evergreen front lawn of his school. Before parking at his usual spot, which nobody ever dared to get, he saw a pink-haired lady standing on the slot. It's obviously Sakura, he thought, for he knew his girlfriend was the only one who had a pink-hair in town. Sakura stepped out of the parking slot to make way for Sasuke's car as she looked at her watch. Sasuke then stepped out of his car and gave his girl a smack on the lips.
"Hey, why aren't you on Mr. Shinju's class?" he asked as he held his girlfriend's soft hands.
"Because you're not there" Sakura replied sweetly at Sasuke as she leaned over his torso and started to walk together.
"You know what, you could go ahead. I don't really feel like attending History today." Sasuke halted as he looked at his girlfriend's emerald eyes.
"Why, what's wrong Sasuke? Tell me." she looked back at his coal eyes, giving a hint of concern this time.
Sasuke avoided Sakura's eyes as he said, "Nah... it's nothing."
Sakura straightened her stance and grabbed her boyfriend's cheek saying, "Your mom texted alright? She's worried that you're in some sort of drugs because you're acting quite strange the last few weeks. And honestly, I think you're acting weird too. And that's the reason why I skipped History. You need to tell me this problem Sasuke."
Sasuke didn't know if he was to laugh or get frustrated by what his mother told Sakura. Him on drugs? He thought it was synonymous to his mom getting a cat in the house. His mom hates cats.
He placed his arm on Sakura's right shoulder as he lead both of their feet to the school playground where they first met as a kid. They sat on the iron swing and after a few silent but long minutes, Sasuke slowly started giving force on his swing in order to release the tension that he's feeling.
"I will tell you. But promise me you won't laugh alright? And I'm not on drugs by the way in case you're worried." he spoke as his swing moved gently across the air.
Sakura on the other hand hasn't moved her swing. She was too nervous and concerned about his boyfriend's situaton that she felt uncomfortable just seeing him trying to enjoy himself. This is a serious matter.
"I never judged you ever. Now, tell me."
Upon hearing the seriousness of Sakura's voice, Sasuke's feet touched the ground and gave a swing a halt. He exhaled deeply and looked down at the ground while trying to figure out where to begin.
"Hey come on, it's okay. Whatever it is... you can tell me." her voice comforted her boyfriend's obviously disoriented thoughts.
After a few moments, Sasuke exhaled and finally looked at Sakura and opened up the dilemma that has been bothering him for weeks. His eyes looked so honest that Sakura knew she was going to believe whatever things that will come out of Sasuke's mouth.
"I've been having this same weird dream for the last few weeks Sakura. I don't even know if it's a dream or something weirder because I really feel like I'm there, like physically there. Remember that one time in Bio class where Mrs. Hanjeki told us people forget about what they dream about? Well I never forgot mine and I remembered it clearly the first time I have dreamt about it. It started three Mondays ago after arriving from basketball practice. I did my usual routine upon arriving home: I fed the dog, did my assignments, texted you goodnight, and went straight to bed. That's all. But then I had this weird dream where I was a prince of some land in the middle ages. It was supposed to be the night where I choose my bride-to-be as my father- the king arranged a ball for the whole kingdom. In my dreams, I was having this problem where I was worried that I am not a person fitted to be king so I decided to visit the town in order to clear my thoughts. Then this handmaiden named Hinata..."
"What? Wait wait..."
Sakura interrupted Sasuke's storytelling as she was surprised by the mention of their classmate's name.
"Hinata? Like our classmate, Hinata?" startled, she asked her boyfriend.
"Yes! And they look very very alike, except for the fact that the Hinata in my dreams was wearing what seems to be a palace maid's clothing and her blue hair was almost covered by a white fabric. It's exactly like the maids in those old movies I swear! She had the same name too, like me, I had the same name there. She's also timid and shy like our classmate Hinata. I remember being nice to her because she gave me a great advice about this tunic I supposedly borrowed for the palace hunter. I gave her a compliment and kapeesh! I wake up with my alarm clock booming! Exactly after saying those words I swear. And if you think things couldn't get weirder than that, get this. I set my alarm clock thirty minutes than the usual, hoping to have some more glimpse at the dream. Guess what? Nothing changed. It still stopped where it always stops. It's getting on my nerves."
It was the first time Sakura saw Sasuke's eyes so sincere yet so tired. She stood up and hugged her boyfriend while he's still sitting at the swing. Sakura knew that this was something crucial and important for Sasuke that is why she's decided that whether this is just a normal dream or something bigger than what it is, she's determined to help Sasuke uncover it.
"Don't be sad love. I swear I'll help you deal with this... dream or whatever. I'm here okay? You can count on me." She comforted as she looked at him straight at his coal eyes.
"I sure do hope it's nothing but dream." the raven-haired guy replied, still sounding tired.
"We'll figure this one out. I mean, what's the worst thing that could happen right?"
Sasuke froze as Sakura spoke those last words. His mind suddenly flew away from the school playground and back at the shanty town of the Kindom of Laredia. At this point, he was talking to a lady in a red dress with white embroidery around it's edges. The lady's hair was somewhat a little messier than that of his handmaiden Hinata's. But unlike the handmaiden, her hair was that of a bright pink.
.
"I do not know if I'm ready. That's it I promise you." Sasuke said trying to convince the pink-haired woman sitting across him as he poured another cup of ale.
"If that is the sole reason, then what is the worst thing that could happen, right?" the lady replied.
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A/N: HIYA GUYS! This is basically a SasuSaku fic but while I was thinking of the plot of the story, I got confused by the thought of making it a SasuIno one. Waaah! I'm confused!
Please R&R and tell me about what you think about it or what you want to happen or who do you wanna pair Sasuke with. Because I'm confused right now LOL. A little help please? Sankyooo!
YukiiSenpai
-xoxo
