*Edited, and I apologize greatly for the horrendous version you all had to read before. I am working on updating this, so that is why I edited. Look forward to it~
I hope you like this.
Note: If you don't know, I have a 'Story Preview' story, were you can see sneak peeks of stories in the making, one of the previews is Shades, and more are to be submited soon. I hope if you read the previews you'll review on whether you will like the story or not, and maybe ideas you can give me.
Disclaimer: Naruto and the other characters are not mine, only plot.
Enjoy!
Down in the deep sea, where fish swim with no fear. Instead of people with legs walking around the people have fins, and swim around in the shining sea. One of the most gorgeous things down under though, isn't the reef, or the colorful tails swishing about, it's the golden palace of the king and queen, plus all their daughters. The castle shines throughout the ocean, viewable to anyone for miles and miles.
The castle is huge and has arcs that took time and energy to carve, the palace is surrounded by lush gardens, containing the rarist flowers. Although, some would say that the palace itself isn't the prettiest thing around, but instead the mer's that live in the house: the royal family. Their tails starting at a shade of one color at their hips, and then working to a different shade of the same color at their fins. Only a royal of one of the five royal families have tails that are shades, anyone else has one solid color, instantly giving away whether someones's royal or not.
And the tails are something that everyone is aware of, and not just because of their majestic shading. But, because royals aren't aloud to be married to nonroyals, something that's been in the rule for centuries. Although, in this palace, a young princess wants to change that rule, her heart beating for a one shade tail merman.
Light streams in from the open window as seahorses lightly neighing outside. A sigh escapes pink lips as a girl rubs her eyes awake, instantly seeing the morning light. Something strong keeps her from being able to turn and fully take in the morning though, and a side glance shows a young merman holding her tight. A light smile plasters on her face as he continues to sleep. The girl continues to smile and leans back into him, knowing she's safe as long as he's around; except for someone else sees, then she's not very safe, and he's definitely not safe.
"No nightmares?" His words whisper into her ears, his eyes still closed.
"No nightmares." The thought brings a smile to his face, since he is grateful when she has none, and is able to get a full night's rest.
"Good." He plants a kiss on her forehead, and strokes her soft pink hair. The moment is perfect, but they both know it'll only last so long. Since he'll soon have to go back to being the servant boy, and she'll have to go back to being the princess, something she dreads.
"Hey Sas-"
"Oh Sakura! Dear are you awake?" The soprano voice echoes closely down the hall, and before Sakura can even register it, the warmth is gone. Only a light kiss is planted on her lips before the black tail is out her window and out of sight.
She sighs sadly, but slips down in her bed, making it look like only she had slept in it. Sakura is just in time, since her mother swims in with a beeming smile only a moment later. As pleasant as her mother's smile looks, Sakura is always weary of it, since nothing good comes of it.
"Ah dear! Guess what!" And the never ending conversation starts, Sakura already going towards her mirror and sitting down, knowing her mother will just ask her to. The brush instantly running through her hair the moment her butt is down.
"And he is the nicest guy! Handsome too, you-"
"Guy?" Sakura watches in the mirror as her mother stops brushing her hair, giving one of her looks, knowing the girl had not been listening to her at all.
"Yes, dear. The man your father wishes you to marry? Naruto Uzumaki. He has such a nice orange tail, shaded so perfectly!"
"Mother! I told you and father I don't want to marry." No one, but Sasuke.
"Sakura, you're a princess you have to marry. You won't have a throne if you don't."
"What if I don't want a throne?" Something hard hits her head, and she doesn't have to see it to know her mother smacked her on the head with the hard coral brush.
"You're a princess, Sakura, every princess wants to get her own throne." Sakura sighs and lets her mother finish brushing her hair, knowing the sturborn women won't change her mind about anything.
"Yes, mother." The older women smiles at her daughter, finishing her brushing before putting the beautiful tiara on the equally as beautiful hair.
"Perfect." The lack of enthusiasm on Sakura's face says otherwise.
Sakura stares around the large column before her, trying to see the man her parents wish for her to marry. Someone she knows that she'll never be able to love, and most likely only be used so he may become king, because even if she isn't suppose to know, she's very confident her parents have put her in the candiancy for taking over once they die or retire. Her mother certainly hinted at it earlier this morning.
Trumphets sound, and she stands up straight, waiting for the flute to sound before swimming into the room. Her heart thuds as she waits for the signal, a high B. It plays soon, and she takes one quick breath before swimming into the room, her mother instantly instructs her to life her head up higher. An action that strains her neck, but nonetheless she moves her head up even higher by stretching her neck.
She passes the servants waiting to be called on, and then passes all her sisters, some uncaring, others giving her glares of envy. However, no one will ever know how much she actually envies them, wishing she only had to attend lessons and then be done with everything. People she never sees before come into view, but she instantly knows they're royalty, their tails ranging in colors and shades.
They give her no real looks, and soon she finds herself standing in front of a young merman, his tail orange, but ranging in shades. The one her mother said she's going to marry is what she recalls at the sight of him. Fulling looking at him, the first thing Sakura notices is his overstretched smile, making him seem too happy. Then his blue eyes, more blue than the water around them. She can agree he's handsome, but that's all to her. Nothing more, nothing less.
"Princess Sakura." He gives a deep bow, and her princess instincts instantly kick in, herself giving a mermaid curtesy in return.
"Daughter, this is Prince Naruto Uzumaki, perhaps your furture husband." Her father adds the perhaps part, but she knows that there is no "perhaps." As long as she and him live, they'll end up married, and by her calculations, soon if she can't help it.
"Nice to meet you too, Prince Naruto." She put a smile on her face, fake, but no one can tell the diffrence anymore, it's the only kind of smiles she gives nowadays in public.
"Well, how about you two go on a date?" Sakura's father suggests as he wiggles his eyebrow towards everyone in the room. The prince smiles in return and gave her parents a foxy grin, but she can only bite her cheeks to stop herself from saying all the other things she would rather be doing.
"That'd be wonderful King Haruno!" The prince exclaims in verbal response to her father, and Saura can already guess what'll happen when she and him leave. She'll be in agony because of a loud mouth and her mother will be making plans for their future wedding.
Sakura sighs as she massages her temples, the day having been more than stressful. First, she had to have reduced time with Sasuke, someone she hasn't seen since early morning. Then she was forced to hang out with some prince that couldn't shut up for a day in his life, and that was only eight hours of her life. Followed by the family dinner where all she got were glares from her sisters, along with hushes whispers about her. How she missed when she was younger and they were all close.
She sighs again, and plops down in her bed, spreading herself out and staring up at the ceiling, seeing the same thing as always. The thought instantly annoys her, and she swings up with a glare on her face. Swimming over to her window seat, she settles down and watches the mers live out in the town. Their tails are easy to see, but their faces unable to be taken in fully. How she wishes she could be one of them; how she wishes she could be the one in the town and another mermaid could be sitting where she is watching the other mess. Even if it was just for a day she thinks, just so she could get out of the palace for one day and be normal.
Not once in her life has she been out of the palace grounds, not once has she met any of the commoners of their kingdom, and it irks her. The way that they're separated and not allowed to meet, it irritates her to no end. Especially since she can't be with Sasuke just as she can't mingle with commoners. Sasuke is the only man she really wants, but because of some old law, she can't have him. The glare vanishes from her face by the thought of him, and her hands reach out to pluck a sea flower from it's vine.
"Bad day princess?" The voice makes her jump, and the flower leaves her hands, floating down to the stone seafloor below. At least it was suppose to, and it was going to until it lands on a very unsuspecting guest.
"Sasuke." Sakura softly utters out as she feels her body fill with love and warmth. His body moves around so his chest is behind her, allowing her to lean back and be wrapped safely in strong arms.
"So how was meeting Mr. Hyperactive himself?"
"You met him?" Sakura stretches her neck up, and looks up at his beautiful face. Sometimes she forgets he's a commoner with his beautiful features, but of course everyone else in her family never forgets he's a nonroyal.
"Yeah, he came yelling around earlier about how he needed some ramen or something. Wouldn't shut up either. Guess you know what you're eating at your wedding."
"Stop ,Sasuke."
"Stop what?" He buries his face in her neck, asking right in her ear.
"Joking that I'm gonna marry him."
"But you are Sakura." His voice rises, and anger leeks out of every word.
"No. I don't wanna marry him, I don't wanna marry any stupid royal!"
"Calm down, princess." Sakura lets out an angry sigh, but then leans back with her arms crossed, reved up on her marriage proprosal again.
"Stupid royals."
"You are royal."
"And I'm stupid for being one! I hate it! I just wanna be like you Sasuke."
"You wouldn't know me if you weren't royal."
"Ye-" He cuts her off with a kiss, pulling her back into the room and away from the window, and mostly away from the prying eyes down below. He only caught a glimpse of them, blue, but with all the blue eyed mer's in the kingdom, royal and nonroyal, it's hard to determine whose eyes they are by just a simple glance.
"Huh?" Sakura questions as she breaks free from Sasuke's lips.
"Thought I saw a guard." Sasuke answer back, his mind still reeling over whose eyes could have just seen them. His mind suddenly registers a match, and after a second evaluation of what the eyes looked like, he knows who the eyes belong to. And they did not look happy.
Sakura awakes with a scream in her throat, but unlike most nights when the scream is vocalized, this scream stays trapped in her throat because of the deep fearing chilling her to the bone. As Sakura takes in her environment she notices the air in her room seems off, as if somethings disturbing it. She looks around and can see Sasuke sleeping peacefully beside her, little bubbles coming up from his mouth. He is in no way feeling what she's feeling, and she knows somethings off, it has become a sixth sense for her.
She turns away from the sleeping merman, and peers around her room more closely, making sure everything is how she left it before bed. Her eyes find her vanity and chair the same, her drawers shut and undisturbed, her coral statue perfectly against the wall. Sakura begins to believe that her fear had come from a nightmare, but as her eyes sweep across her door, she finds another pair of eyes starring back at hers. Her body jerks back and fear takes over her being, watching as the eyes linger a second before the owner leaves her door, and taking their eyes with them.
She waits seconds after the man leaves before letting her eyes move away from the door, her hand clenching her wrist to calm her pulse. Her body is also slightly shaking, seeing one's nightmares become real beyond their eyelids will do that to someone. The images she tries to vanish with open eyes are no longer gone at the sight of light, and her savior is still unaware of her new discovery.
The seconds tick by, and she can hear the clock in the square gonging loudly, indicating the hour is two. What time had she waken up at? Her mind seeming to have become paralyzed and entranced in her fear; causing her mind to become clouded by visions of past, present, and future. The clock ticks once more, before all comes quiet, her body barely breathing. A sound catches her ears, but she ignores it, only when a hand touches her back does she flinch and come back to life.
"You okay, Sakura?" Turning, she finds dark onyx eyes looking at her, sleep still ridden in his eyes. They trying closing, but he fights to keep them open. Only for her. His hand is on her lower back in order to rub small circles on her clamish skin.
"I, I had a bad dream. It seemed so real, and I jus-"
"Shh." He sits up, and pulls her to his chest, her safe guard. His lips linger on her hair, and his hands rub her arms, ensuring her safety.
She slowly feels the comfort come back into her bones, and she lays back down against him. Letting her eyes stare at his solid chest rather than the door with peering eyes. He plants one last kiss to his forehead, before he makes himself comfortable. Sakura watches as his eyes shut, and his breathing becomes even, but even with her back to her door, she can't find sleep. Her eyes remaining open and staring at his chest for the rest of the night.
She's awake as the first light of the day breaks through the water, basking her and Sasuke in a soft glow. His eyes still shut tight, even as the sun begins to become brighter and probably heating his back. Sakura smiles and plants a kiss on his lips, even if she couldn't sleep again, he did calm her down. But, something wouldn't let her fall back into sleep.
Her body wiggles away from his, and goes to look out the window. Loving the sunrise almost as much as the sunset. Her body leans out the window slightly in order to smell the morning flowers, and the last few night flowers that are still open. Even the scents of the flower in the garden below reach her nose and as always.
Sakura smiles as time goes by and colorful tails began to appear in the town, their bodies swimming around without a care. They don't have to worry about someone catching them, or being forced to marry someone they don't love. Sakura sighs as she thinks about how she'll have to spend a whole day with the merman her father wishes her to marry. A whole day unable to be with Sasuke once again.
She hears him stir in her bed, and turns to see him rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. The blanket falling off his chest, and only covering his waist down, his built torso available for her eyes to graze.
"Did you sleep at all?" She turns back to the outside, hoping he won't catch her in her own lie. Her fingers playing with a strand of her pink hair.
"Yes."
"Sakura."
"I did."
"No you didn't." She turns towards him and glares, his face holds a smirk at knowing her so well.
"Fine, maybe I didn't sleep at all. What about it!"
"That stupid prince will have to put up with you when you haven't slept a wink. I think I might even feel sorry for him." Sasuke states as he yawns and stretches a bit, still fighting sleep.
"Hilarious." He just smiles back at her, and leans back on the bed, his arms crossed behind his head.
"Are you pouting?" Sakura inquires as she sees him looking straight ahead and not at her.
"No." She smiles slyly and swims her way over to him, leaning down on him.
"Yes, you are."
"Am not."
"Yes, you are. You're jealous because I have to be with some other merman for a whole day." He growls at her, his mouth no longer a grim line.
"Tch. You should probably get ready, your dear mother will be up soon to fetch you."
"I'm not a dog." He just smirks at her as she goes to her dresser, hoping to find something that might coverup more than she usually does. Clam bras are great when you want to impress a guy, but that are not so great when you want to get the message across to a guy that you have no interest. Most of her tops are clam bras, but luckily Sakura locates a loose shirt she usually saves for when she's sick. After making her discovery, Sakura turns back around to see if Sasuke approves, but he's gone. She frowns at the empty bed, knowing he's not even hiding either. She sighs as she moves to sit down at her vanity, her mother calling up as soon as her bottom hits the chair.
What a long day it'll be.
A certain merman smirks as he wakes from his deep sleep. His body engrossed in the finest blankets, on the softest bed making his body completely relaxed, and well rested for the exciting mission he has planned for the day. The exciting though isn't spending the whole day with the pretty mermaid princess, no. The exhilarating part is at night when the little princess will be asleep, and when he'll finally be able to put his plan into action.
He knows the princess has someone she really loves, he found that out for a fact last night. She'll no doubt be absolutely bored on their date, unwilling and probably a royal pain, but she'll have wished she enjoyed it tomorrow.
He smirks as he gets up off the bed, already guessing the king will have one of his followers summoning him to the throne room soon.
He runs a comb through his hair, the smirk stuck on his face as he rehearses what he's going to say to the king. Should he be right out direct? Or maybe, more of a subtle approach? Either way, he knows that by tomorrow morning, the princess will be his, and his alone. The thought brought an evil glint in his eyes, knowing that the poor commoner boy has no chance of defending himself. No doubt in his mind says that the king would not get rid of the problem immediately.
He swims out of his room with a confident swim, sure enough, one of the king's butlers is standing there to take him to the throne room. He follows behind the other merman at an angle, so that he doesn't catch commoner germs. The man leads Naruto all the way to the throne room, and even when he instructs Naruto to stop and wait for an introduction, Naruto swims past him and enter the throne room unannounced. Uncommon and usually considered disrespectful, the servant merman gasps in shock afraid of what the king will do. However, the king seems to show no mind to the prince's actions. The king is the only one in the throne room as well, so there are no shocked gasps from any princesses or queens.
Perfect, Naruto thinks.
The prince still bows politely as he should, but instantly makes puts on his concern afterwards.
"Your highness, I have, troubling news." The king only raises an eyebrow, so he continues on.
"Yesterday, last night, I had been taking a swim around your grand castle, and happened to have a flower land on my head, and when I looked up to see if someone had dropped it, I happened to see something quite interesting." The king actually speaks to him this time, clearly taking the bait.
"And what did you happen to see?"
"I saw! I saw, your daughter's heading poking out of her window, and another head poking out as well! A male's head! I thought perhaps he had simply been telling her something, so I continued my walk. I simply imagined he was a servant and was telling her some news or that she had been summoned. However, later at night when returning to my room, I happened to stroll by your daughter's room, and thought best if I took a peek. I started ponder the fact that he could have been a killer or kidnapper! Therefore, I peeked into make sure your daughter was okay, but. I all I found was your daughter wrapped up in another man's arms " The kings eyes shoot open wide, his mouth a gaping O, and Naruto fightst to keep his smirk hidden.
"Another man you say? Did you get a look at him?!" Naruto nods with eager, ready for the storm that will soon come.
"Indeed your highness, he had dark hair, spiked in the back, black ta-" He needed to say no more, the king's surprise simmering anger turning to full out rage as his fist clench and eyes narrow.
"I believe I know the man you speak of, I shall have him called and you can identify him as the person or not." Naruto nods, and swims to sit down, knowing the king must be trying to control his fury.
"Bring me Sasuke Uchiha."
The water is ten degrees warmer by the time the servant leaves.
"Sakura why are you wearing such a shirt? It covers everyone, and doesn't show anything!" Queen Haruno asserts as she points at her daughter's top. Sakura only crosses her arms at her mother though, looking up at her from the side of her bed with resistance.
"I see no reason to make him think I'm agreeing to this."
"He doesn't need to know that! He knows you and him will be married, it's already been agreed on." Sakura's eyes snap open at that, she had known she would most likely be marrying him, but she didn't think it would be decided so fast.
"But mother! Why don't I get a say in it? It's my life and I want to marry who I love!" Her mother put her hands on her hips, and makes herself seem even more like a threatening queen ordering a servant than a mother waking up he daughter.
"And who could you possibly love Sakura? Your coral statue? You haven't met anyone else sweetie, so therefore you can't be in love. Just learn to love Naruto; he's a wonderful boy!"
Sakura doesn't say anything to her mother, knowing she possibly can't mention Sasuke, and the thought hurts her. She's never ever been able to tell anyone her secret and has to hide who she cares about.
"Yes mother, but what if I did meet someone and th-" Her mother gives an unlady like snort, and tosssd her head to the side, her blonde hair going with her head, slightly suspended in the water.
"No more buts dear, you are marrying Prince Naruto Uzumaki, and that's final."
"But why can't anynone else marry him? You have five daughters!"
"I said no more buts!" Her mother doesn't answer her question, and Sakura knows she lost the battle, no, the war.
"Yes, mother." Her mother finally smiles, and pulls her up.
"Now come dear, we're already been keeping your father and Naruto waiting way too long." Sakura nods and follows her mother out, hoping that something would draw her or her mother away, but nothing keeps them from their path to the throne room.
Sasuke glares at the guard dragging him to the king, hoping he, or the other will drop dead. He hasn't been told why he's being summoned, dragged, to the throne room, but just that he has to go there. He has a slight idea as to why, that stupid loud mouth comes to his mind instantly. Sasuke can still picture those eyes looking up at him and Sakura from the garden below the balcony. He knows that those blue eyes belong to the prince.
There's no fanfare as Sasuke enteres the throne room, they don't waste music on commoners like him. The king is already seated on his throne, not looking too happy. The prince is seated on one of the chairs by the king, looking quite pleased seeing Sasuke dragged in. The guards bring him only a few feet away from the king, but he still has to look up at the threatening face. His pulse silently starts beating faster as the king ruthlessly glares at him.
"Sasuke Uchiha, I have been told something, and I wish to clear your name, or have your name tainted. Prince Naruto, could you please tell me, is this the man you saw sleeping with my daughter?"
The words stop Sasuke cold, sleeping with Sakura? He had just thought it would be about being seen in her room, not being caught actually sleeping with her. That itself is in a whole different category of punishment compared to being just in the princess's room.
"It is sir, I'm sure of it."The prince's voice holds arrogance, something Sasuke has assumed comes with royal blood. He wishes that the prince will drop dead off a cliff instead of just dying after his little tattle tale. Maybe even eaten by a sea monster at the bottom of the cliff too.
"Very well. Sasuke Uchiha, for you being with my daughter, in her room, bed, and Atlantis knows what else, I, the King of Konoha, sentence you to the dungeon. For life." The king's eyes are full of pure anger, and Sasuke can't happier for just getting jail time, rather than death. Sasuke suspects it was because the king actually liked him slightly before the news.
Sasuke takes a glance at the prince, seeing him actually looking up at the king in surprise, he thought Sasuke would have gotten death. Sasuke throws the prince his own smirk when he understands why the prince seems upset at his sentence. Sasuke finds his revenge is a bit better since the prince turns to look at him just as Sasuke throws the smirk at him, Naruto isn't the only with arrogance.
Sasuke's smirk full of arrogance doesn't last long though as he is guided out of the room as murmurs echo down the corridor. Sasuke can't make out what is being said or who the voices belong to at the far distance, but once they get closer, his ears catch a voice he can loves. The charming voice gets closer and closer to him, and Sasuke keeps craining his neck to get a glimpse of her. It doesn't matter now if anyone sees him looking at her the way he does in private, he's already going to the dungeon.
The neck straining works, because at the very last second before Sasuke round the corner, he catches a glimpse of her. Then she catches of glimpse of him and their eyes lock as he is led around the corner and she is led into the throne room.
The glorious castle decorations faded out from that curve; slowly the walls lose any decoration, and Sasuke finds himself slightly scared actually. For where he is going and where Sakura is going. He is scared for himself because he castle doesn't seem as majestic. Then he is frightened for Sakura and as he recalls the look Sakura gave him for a brief second. She looked so lost and terrified, and whether it was for him or herself, he just wants to go and hug her. Followed by him telling her everythings fine, but he can't.
Slowly, Sasuke and the guards begin to descend deeper into the castle, the light from above fading. Simple grey stone begin to appear in the place of elegant gold colored stones, and Sasuke soon fins himself in an opening with cells all along the wallls. The guards don't rush, but they don't wait take their time in putting him in a cell. As Sasuke goes into the cell, he can tell it's the only with someone else in it.
The cell itself has only a bed, complete with a pillow and blanket. Nothing looks comfy about it as Sasuke takes it al while thinking about how a bed is what screwed him over. Realizing he has no choice, Sasuke sighs and plops down onto the bed. His mind instantly fills with horrible thoughts: Sakura being sad, Sakura marrying that stupid prince, and Sakura living a happy life without him. All depress him, and he tries to sucumb to sleep to ward off the unhapy thoughts.
Sakura frowns deeply as she watches Sasuke get carried away by guards, his eyes showing so much emotion for her. Once he turns the corner and leaves her sight though, she doesn't feel sad, she feels furious. Her fists even clenching as she starts to piece different things together. Her mother seems unaware of the whole ordeal, and is waiting for the fanfare, but Sakura isn't anymore.
She swims past her mother, and straight towards her father lounging on his throne. Her mother calls out after her and demands the music play so she can follow Sakrua deeper into the room. Sakura's father seems surprise to see his little girl so angry; he's never seen her eyes glaring straight at him. He watches as his wife frazzled swims behind her.
"Why father, is Sasuke being dragged to the dungeon?" Her voice echoes in the open room, causing everyone to turn and look at her.
"Simple dear, he commited a crime; be happy he is going to the dungeon, he could be going to his death."
"And what crime did he commit, father?" All eyes watch as the princess yells at her father; everyone is surprised that the soft spoken girl can have such a harsh tone and direct it at her own father.
"He was found in the bed of a princess." Sakura is about to scream whose bed, but she remembers last night and how she was woken up by eyes watching her. Then she remembers she had been wrapped in Sasuke's arms before and after the scare. Her eyes suddenly narrow at the realization, zoning in on the blonde prince sitting only a few feet from her father.
"And what proof do you have?" Sakura's eyes turn back towards her father, away from the prince who is trying to hide his egoistical smirk.
"Prince Naruto confirmed it was him that was in the bed." Sakura keeps her gaze on her father, but sends hate waves towards the prince, hoping maybe they'd make him die some how. No such luck.
"So, so what happens now?" Her father rises to his full height, and looks down at her, making Sakura feel less than miniscule. Her father can be beyond intimidating when he wants to be.
"You will spend the day with Prince Naruto, and not ever speak, see, or hear Sasuke again. Understand?" Sakura nods, slightly scared if she does anything else. Her mother seems happy that Sakura has to spend the day with Naruto, and Sakura doubts she even knew who Sasuke is, was.
"Of course, father." Sakura drops her head slightly, and her father nods before sitting back down, motioning for Naruto to go towards Sakura.
"Well, let's go get some breakfast then." Prince Naruto offers to Sakura with a smile as he swims down to her. Some would find his grin charming, but Sakura finds it disgusting, and she merely puts her arm in his and lets him guide her out of the room. Her mind screaming at her to punch him in order to wipe that smug grin off his face.
"Who was Sasuke dear?"
"No one you need to worry about."
"Good, Naruto and Sakura are just perfect for each other!" She coos before she smiles blindingly at the exiting couple. Her husband can only nod in response.
Sakura swims into her room defeated, dejected, and most of all, miserable. Usually, if she has a bad day like this Sasuke will come into her room at night to cheer her up, but he can't do that anymore. Sakura plops her on body on her bed, and let the tears she had held in all day fall. They pour and pour out of her eyes from the thought of losing Sasuke, marrying Naruto, having to spend the whole day with Naruto, and having her sisters tear her down at dinner.
The day with Naruto had been boring, all he did was talk about himself, what he liked, and whatever else she had tuned out. She didn't get one word in, and it annoyed her, she liked voicing her opinion, not being something that just listens. Then her mother had asked her some wedding questions when Naruto had to leave for a minute. Which ultimately led to dinner where her sisters talked horribly about her; mostly switching between being found with a commoner and 'too perfect.'
Sakura lifts her head slightly, and sniffs as she looks out the window to see fading sunset. Her eyes are now puffy, and red from the crying and they only get worse as she rubs at them as she tries to cease her crying. The sun continues to move lower and lower, and her tears finally stop following as the sun is halfway set.
Sakura still sits on her bed until the sun completely disappears and she becomes submerged in darkness; her body stays upright and alert though. Contrary to her mind that is lost in space and oblivious to the world as she tries think of solutions, one for every problem. Her first problem being that she has to see Sasuke soon; meaning she has to figure out how to get down to the dungeon without being caught.
She tries to think of an answer, but can only come up with the obvious answer of don't be seen. Which is not going to work. Feeling dejected, Sakura finally lays down, and tries to cuddle into her pillow in order to get comfy. Her body seeking another's warmth naturally, but no warmth greets her. Wanting this wretched day to be over, Sakura closes her eyes and lets her mind be free as she drifts off and leaves her cruel reality world behind.
Only to be woken up hours later, her eyes popping open like saucers, and her breathing ragged. A scream stuck in her throat, her nightmare had come back, and another nightmare coming with it upon waking. She couldn't be comforted by her lover's arms, protected against everything, no, she had to try to fall back asleep with horrible visions behind her eyelids.
Sasuke shudders in his bed, the thin blanket doing nothing to keep him warm. He had known when the sun had gone, despite being unable to see it. The water had instantly cooled, and dropped drastically in temperature. His body unadjusted to such cool water had then begun to shiver instantly. The one guard that had been down in the area earlier had left once the temperature started to drop.
Sasuke tries to get himself warm, but no matter what he does, he remains cold. He imagines being in bed with Sakura, her bed warm and inviting, her body pressed against his, making him even feel safe. The last thought is one fact he thinks she'll never know, at least now that he is locked away and unable to tell her. The fact is that Sakura believe she's the one that keeps her safe from her nightmares, but she also keeps him safe. She herself is his safe haven.
Nightmares.
Sasuke scowls at the thought, she'll be all alone, and few nights go by were she doesn't have a nightmare. Some nights, she won't have one, especially when he's around. Then there are most nights where she wakes up in a cold sweat; however, there are the nights that Sakura has nightmares that leave her screaming and thrashing in her sleep. Sasuke has to shake her constantly for minutes to get her out of the horrid dreams she encounters. After he wakes her, she'll shake and cry for minutes, her mind and body scared; but he would comfort her and she could fall back asleep.
Without him though, she will be sure to have nightmares, and when she wakes up scared as can be, no one will be there to comfort her. She'll probably be awake to morning, afraid to close her eyes, and she'll fall asleep when the sun comes up. Yet, her mother will then barge in, and despite Sakura's lack of sleep, she will prepare her for the day. A day most likely to be spent time with that stupid blonde prince.
Sasuke scowls at that thought of that idiot taking his Sakura away from him and making him stay down here in the dungeon. Without even realizing it, Sasuke's mind began to calm down as he thought of Sakura, and he slowly falls into a light sleep with a scowl on his face as all he can think of is that idiot kissing his Sakura.
Sakura groans at the ceiling as she still can't sleep, frusturated tears in her eyes. She can barely see the sun peeking out, and she knows that if she fell asleep soon, her mother will be up to wake her moments later. She lets a few tears fall over her cheeks, and wonders why she's cursed with horrid dreams, ones that can make anyone scream and shiver.
She sighs as she sits up, sleep obviously not an option any longer. She doesn't move for the longest time, her head tilted down, her bangs covering her eyes. One might think she has finally fallen asleep, but in reality, she is thinking about the previous day and the days to come.
Sakura also thinks about Sasuke; she's relieved that her father didn't have him killed, but being in the dungeon is not much better. Sakura had only been there once when she was little, and she thought it was the worst place anyone could ever be.
A noise catches her ears and Sakura lifts her head up, and stares out the window. She notices the sun is rising even higher, as the clock dongs in the distance. Sakura begins see the mer's coming out of their houses, the younger one's most likely leaving for school, something she never attended, and wishes she could. Although, Sasuke once told her it wasn't all that great.
Sasuke.
Sakura turn hers head back to it's straight position at the thought of him, and tilts it back, her eyes glued to the ceiling. A frustrated groan escapes her lips. She knows she'll never be able to get sleep or be happy without Sasuke. That blonde prince is definitely not an option, she can't bear to be around him before he threw Sasuke in the dungeon, how can she be around him now that he threw her beloved there?
Merry laughter breaks her gaze from the ceiling, and the chatter of two people takes her out of her bed. Slowly, she swims towards her door, listening for who the second voice may be She almost makes it to the door when her mother pops in, hands thrown high in the air, showing she expected Sakura to be in bed still.
"Dear! Oh-you're up already. Well, this lady,"
Her mother moves away from the door, allowing the second person to enter. Sakura grimaces as she sees the lady is older even than her mother, and her hair is styled in a way Sakura wouldn't think is possible. Her face is coated in make-up as well, and even thta doesn't hide the deep wrinkles. Sakura questions why her mother, who she admits is fashionable, would bring such a weird person to her room.
"She is Madame Prestinastile, your beauty stylist for the day!" Her mother is obviously overjoyed, and clasps her hands together with glee. However, Sakura becomes panicked, her mother had hired this person to prepare her to have a day with the prince? What would Sakura's hair even look like after she is done? Plus, why is she getting a stylist for a date.
Her mother pays no mind to her scared daughter though, not even offering a word of condolence. The queen just pushes her daughter down on the chair in front of the vanity, and then lets the stylist work.
The pulling and yanking of Sakura's hair and scalp begin immediately, and they make it so the only sounds in the room are Sakura's occasional squeaks and the voice of the stylist as she asks the queen to do something.
One thought in Sakura's mind becomes absolute as she feels her face go numb:
She won't let Prince Naruto have her love or life.
Part 1! I was going to finish the story completely before publishing, but I love this story so much I wanted others to read it. I hope you liked it. And warning-the second part can take some time, this part certainly did.
Hope you liked!
Fav, review, vote, and all that please:)
