Cherry Blossoms in Winter

- Chapter 1: Your Eyes on Me -


Summary: Sakura Haruno is betrothed to Lord Uchiha's firstborn son and heir.

But she can't help thinking of his handsome younger brother.

And why is he always staring at her so intently.


The world was beautiful when autumn took over the land, decorating trees and bushes, even entire forests in bright colours. A golden evening sun hung low on the horizon colouring the sky red and pink and orange. In sunlight the leaves of the forests shimmered in yet more magnificent reds and yellows. They crossed a broad river on a stony bridge, and the colours of the sky reflected in the gentle waves of water. A fishing boat slid comfortably over the river, while the fishermen and young lads ware waving at the passing cavalcade.

They were on the road for ten days and all the time Sakura had done little more than sitting in her narrow carriage and watching the landscape passing by. As expected, the ride was extremely uncomfortable and just lacking in variety. Halfway through the very first day her desire for a carriage ride already vanished at the constant jolting, and she didn't even wanted to endure this endless sitting. But she had no choice and so six days prior they crossed the border to the Uchiha territory. Since then, Sakura's view turned increasingly into a mountain landscape with huge, dense forests. It looked amazing, nevertheless it appeared so foreign for Sakura that a strange oppressive feeling spread in her chest. Soon this would be her home as well. After all they didn't take Sakura Haruno to the Uchiha without reason and maybe one day she would even bear the Uchiha name. At that thought a shiver run down her spine and she tried to suppress this image as best as she could.

"Sakura," a woman's voice called. Then Tsunade appeared riding beside the carriage. "It won't be long. Tomorrow we will arrive at the Uchiha residence."

Sakura nodded. The thought, that soon she had to face the Uchiha Lord and his family, caused her to be frightened. She fumbled nervously at the tip of her olive-green cloak, in which she had wrapped herself to keep warm. What if they don't like me? If I'm not good enough for them? She knew, that her family and the whole Haruno clan expected a lot from her. The last thing she wanted, was to disappoint her family.

Of course Tsunade noticed her anxiety immediately. "Don't worry, Sakura. Just be yourself and everything will be fine."

Sakura had doubts, but when she saw her master's confident smile, she dared to hope.

"Tell me Tsunade, how are the Uchiha? You visited them once, didn't you?" Even in the Haruno's territory one heard some stories about the Uchiha. Once Sakura had heard someone say, the Uchiha were cold and cruel and had fun hunting and torturing their own people. But Sakura wasn't so foolish to believe everything people said.

"Yes, actually I escorted your father on a few diplomatic gatherings with the Uchiha" Tsunade answered. "To tell you the truth, I don't like them. They are terrible arrogant and stubborn." She sighed. "But they will treat you well, Sakura. Besides I'm with you and I will protect you." She winked at the young girl in the carriage and let her horse galloping to the cavalcade's head.

Sakura wasn't really calmed, but at least she had no longer the feeling of being thrown alone into a snake pit. Once more, Sakura asked herself, how she – only daughter of Kizashi Haruno, head of the Haruno clan – made it to be in this situation: as future wife of the Uchiha dynastie's heir.

Indeed the Haruno clan was rather modest. The Harunos weren't very rich or powerful. Even their territory could never come close to that of the Uchiha. On the other hand they were known for their fertile plains and their great horse breeding. While the Uchiha's countryside consisted of mountains and lines of hills, rice fields followed on rice fields in the Haruno's land as far as the eyes could see. However the equestrian art was their real expertise. Sakura herself had been a little child when she learned how to ride a horse and it seemed to her as if she had never done anything else. Tsunade had taught her everything she needed to know. She had even shown her how to use bow and arrow. Sometimes Sakura was allowed to attend her family's annual hunting trips. Sakura would have loved to spend the journey to the Uchiha on a horse's back. She had even begged Tsunade several times to allow her riding on a horse. But she had told her that the Uchiha didn't like their women to ride or see them behave like a man. So Sakura had surrendered. But the thought she might never been allowed to sit on a horse again, pained her badly.

At age seventeen now Sakura was young and maybe a bit naïve, but she wasn't stupid. She knew very well what would be expected of her. She also knew the purpose for which she was sent to the Uchiha. But that didn't mean, she had to like it too.

When her father had told her, he would send her to the Uchiha's court, so she could marry Lord Fugaku Uchihas first son and heir uniting the families, she had become so angry. She had even yelled at her father. But Kizashi Haruno had just stood silent, waiting for her to calm down. And when her voice had become so raspy she couldn't speak anymore, he had sternly reminded her not to bring any shame on their family and left. That had settled the matter and few days later Sakura was on her way to the Uchiha's castle.

Now being so far away from home, she was actually sorry, that she had yelled at her father. And she regretted not saying Goodbye to him because of her anger and obstinacy. Now she missed her parents very much.

The sun set slowly at the horizon, when suddenly the group came to a halt. Dusk wrapped the world in a dim light, which would soon fade into darkness. Sakura peered through her carriage's windows getting to know why they had stopped. They were on a hill surrounded by a softwood forest. A group of horsemen was waiting directly in front of them, to far away to be recognized in this twilight. But it couldn't be more than a dozen.

For a better view Sakura got out of her carriage and watched as Tsunade led her horse to them. The evening air was so cold, that Sakura wrapped her woollen coat tighter around her body. For a few moments it was so quiet that she could hear the horse's heavy breathing and the wood's crackling. Somewhere an owl cooed and in the distance a lone wolf howled.

Tsunade talked to one of the horseman, but Sakura couldn't understand their words. Then the two headed towards Sakura and the rest of them and when two banner-men followed, Sakura recognized the Uchiha clan's crest on them: a fan in red and white on a dark ground. The horseman approached Sakura in front of her carriage, never alighting from his black horse. No doubt he was an Uchiha. He was wearing dark leather and his hair was as black as a raven like that of all Uchiha. Moreover he sat in his horse's saddle with an unaffected dignity Sakura had not seen before. In the gloaming his skin seemed fair and flawless contrasting his dark appearance in a pleasant way. It wasn't until he stood directly in front of Sakura, that she could see his face. His features were hard but strangely noble. He kept a straight face, not offering any sign of emotion. But with his onyx-coloured eyes he stared directly into Sakura's emerald-green ones. For a moment it took her breath away and she felt like paralysed by his gaze. But then her cheeks flared up and she hastily turned her eyes from him.

"I'm Sakura Haruno," she spoke out, hoping he couldn't see her blush in the darkness.

Sitting gracefully on his black horse, he looked her over intently. "Sasuke," he said simply. Then he turned to Tsunade again. "You're late. We awaited your arrival at noontide."

"I apologize for the delay, Your Grace," the blonde warrioress answered. "Because of the carriages, we were forced to take a detour. It took longer than expected."

"Hn."

Your Grace, Sakura realized with concern. I didn't address him properly!

"It's late. There's an inn nearby. We'll spend the night there and head out at daybreak," Sasuke ordered. Once again he looked down at Sakura and their eyes met for a brief moment. "Get back in your carriage, Sakura." Then he turned his horse and rode back to the escort's head. The Uchiha dynastie's crest flaunted proudly on his back.

This evening Sakura didn't meet the young Uchiha warrior again. He was too far ahead and Sakura couldn't see him from her narrow carriage. When they arrived at the inn and Sakura was finally able to leave the carriage, Sasuke and his men were nowhere to be found.

The night was terrible. The Haruno girl was given the inn's best room. Still the bed was lined with old straw and the sheets were so thin that the underlying straw scratched her back. Here somewhere in nowhere one just wasn't equipped for high-born visitors. Sakura had no choice but to make the best of it. She couldn't sleep half the night and when she finally fell into a restless sleep, she dreamed of onyx-eyes, that hunted her like ghosts through a foreign forest, and of a deep voice whispering her name.

Tsunade woke her early the next morning helping her quickly getting dressed. They didn't have much time, so the morning wash was limited on the bare necessities. Sakura didn't mind though. After all she was none of these perfect spruced up princesses.

"Uchiha bastards! They're always in a damn hurry!" Tsunade cursed loudly, as she laced Sakura's cream-coloured dress.

"Tsunade! What if someone's listening?"

"Oh, don't worry about it, Sakura. There's no one here except us and you won't tell anyone, will you!?" Tsunade smiled.

"Without you I couldn't get through with all of this," Sakura admitted sincerely.

"And you won't have to, child!" Tsunade promised her and kissed her on the cheek. "Besides, these Uchiha are overly concerned with themselves. No wonder they always look so grim with that stick up the ass."

Sakura laughed.

"Especially this Uchiha brat thinks he's someone special," Tsunade scoffed. "Thinks, the world revolves around him, because he's high-born."

"Are you talking about Sasuke? Is he the Lord's son?" For a brief moment Sakura felt her heart flutter.

"Sasuke Uchiha, yes. He is Lord Fugaku's second son." Tsunade watched her thoroughly. "You're not disappointed that he's not the first son, are you Sakura?"

"No," she lied quickly. But she was certain, that her blush betrayed her. Sakura was promised to Lord Fugaku's first-born son and heir.

Tsunade said nothing more. Instead she cloaked Sakura in the olive-green coat, although it was still stained from the long journey. Since they had no more time, Sakura let her long pink hair falling openly over her shoulders.

Just when they were ready, someone knocked at the door. Without thinking Sakura opened the door, being greeted by those appealing onyx eyes, that hunted her in her dream.

"Sasuke," she squeaked surprised until she realized her mistake. "I mean Your Grace ... Lord Uchiha."

Sasuke Uchiha, however, was neither displeased nor angry. He seemed rather annoyed. "Are you ready? We can depart now and everyone's waiting for you."

"Yes, of course," Sakura said.

Now in daylight he still looked more handsome than every other man Sakura knew. His black hair was wild, unkempt and spiky at it's ends. Sakura thought, it looked well on him.

"Hn." Then he left.

Sighing Sakura closed the door. Now he probably assumes I'm a foolish little girl, she thought bitterly. Tsunade cleared her throat noisily. But Sakura ignored her and collected her remaining things. Soon she took her usual seat in the carriage and the group of travellers was back on their way.

The morning was grey and the air was damp from the fog. The mountains around them became higher and more impressive. Soon they went uphill. Sakura was fascinated with the landscape and whenever they got in a long bending, she could see the cavalcade's head, where Sasuke and his men were riding. Despite the uneven roads he made them hurry up.

It wasn't long until Sakura knew why. Before midday it started raining. A steady drizzle at first, that bothered neither the horses nor the horsemen. And Sakura sat dry in her carriage anyway. Some time later though the light drizzle became a veritable torrent, that whipped in men's and animal's faces all the same. Even in her carriage Sakura wasn't safe, because the rain poured through every opening and soon the water was up to her ankles. Even the road became so wet and muddy that the horses had difficulties to move forward. Nevertheless Sasuke hurried them along. To top it all the carriage's axle broke suddenly and Sakura fell so unlucky down on the carriage floor, that the front of her beautiful dress was completely soaked.

The cavalcade stopped immediately. Tsunade jumped of her horse and helped Sakura getting out of the ruined carriage. Sakura pulled her cloak's hood over her head to protect herself from the heavy rain, but the moisture got still through her clothes and soon she was soaked to her skin.

"What are we going to do now?" Sakura wanted to know. She shivered and clutched her cloak tightly.

"Head to Uchiha castle as fast as we can, I suppose." Wind and rain were so load that Tsunade nearly had to scream. "There's no shelter here. Only rocks and mud and this frigging rain!"

Then Sasuke appeared next to them. He was as soaked as anyone else, his dark hair clung to head and forehead. Yet the way he sat on his black stallion made him appear so casual and unaffected as if the rain wouldn't bother him at all. "It's not far anymore. We could reach the castle this afternoon if we keep on riding."

"Well, and how does that work, Uchiha? The axle broke and it will take hours until it's repaired or we'll have a new carriage," Tsunade was furious.

Sasuke glared at her. "That's not my problem. You've got another carriage. Just throw away the damn luggage and use it for your little princess!"

"You! Uchiha-basta..."

Sakura covered Tsunade's mouth before she could say something that would provoke Sasuke any further. She smiled weakly and tried to defuse the situation, although his words had hurt her a little. "She doesn't mean it, Mylord. I could ride on my own. That's no problem at all. I could take one of the carriage's horses."

"Impossible," Sasuke interrupted her.

"Why? I'm a Haruno. Even as child I..."

"We have no additional horse tack. Besides I don't want to be held responsible if you fall from your horse."

Fall from my horse? Does he want to mock me?! Sakura was startled. No one had ever questioned the Haruno's riding skills.

"Your Grace, Sakura can ride with me. Two women shouldn't be to much weight for a horse," Tsunade suggested.

Sasuke cast an unbelieving glance at Tsunade's white mare. The horse snorted and breathed heavily. "Your horse is already at the end of it's tether. You're glad if it brings you to the castle. It won't make it with two people on it's back." He was thinking for a moment, but he knitted his eyebrows as if something made him uncomfortable. "My horse is stronger," he just said and stretched out his hand to Sakura.

Without thinking the young woman took his hand and leaped with his help on the back of the massive animal.

"Hold on tight. I won't slow down because of you," Sasuke said.

"Don't worry. I know how to sit on a horse's back," Sakura responded perkily. The hem of her dress was ridden up to her knees so that her underskirt could be seen. She didn't care though.

"Hn." Then Sasuke Uchiha told some men to stay behind with the carriages and the next moment they rode off.

Sasuke's stallion was bigger and stronger than the horses Sakura was used to. But when they broke into a gallop, it hardly made any difference. Sitting on a horse again and watching the world pass by, solely this feeling made her smile. And because she had to cling close to Sasuke's back, so that she wouldn't fall down, the icy wind didn't hit her quite as hard. Moreover his body felt warm and she shivered no more.

Soon the Uchiha's castle came to view. On account of the rain Sakura didn't dare to keep her eyes open for too long. However the pale stones of the castle wall and the shiny reed roof battlements couldn't escape someone's notice. The building was narrow but tall, and had twin towers that were connected with a round path. The castle was on two sides surrounded by a deep canyon, on the third side the mountain rose steeply. Even now in the heaven's dull grey, the castle looked gorgeous.

Then they were riding over a small bridge that was naturally formed in the mountain. The abyss beneath was so deep that Sakura didn't dare to open her eyes. Involuntarily she embraced Sasuke firmer. If it bothered him, he didn't complain. They crossed a huge gate and came to a halt on the castle's courtyard. There was no one except some guards. And Sakura was glad for it, because as dirty and soaked as she was, she would've been terrible embarrassed to face the Uchiha Lord now. Besides her pink curls were awfully rumpled and her once beautiful dress was torn and stained.

"Will you be able to descent from the horse on your own, Lady Sakura?"

It took a moment for her to comprehend Sasuke's words and suddenly she realized, that she still clung to him, although they had already stopped some time earlier. "Of course," she said hastily, let go of him and descended a little clumsily from the horse. "Thank you, Mylord."

Their eyes met.

"The servants will lead you to your chambers. Just wait here, Sakura." Sasuke's voice was dark but unusual tender. His face didn't reveal any emotion. Then he trotted with the remaining Uchiha men to the stables.

Sakura watched him for a while, but she didn't need to wait long until some servants came to her. It wasn't before now she noticed that the rain had stopped.


Author's note: Soo... I had this idea for the story and just started writing. I hope you like it so far.
I apologize if my english sounds strange sometimes. It's not my native language, but I tried my best.
Take a look at my profile for the german version of this story.
Reviews would be nice!