Prologue

Marriage.

The word sprung up images and phrases in her mind as if it were a page in one of the books that she so adored. Documents, Dowries, Money, Children, Ceremony, Status, Rank, Man, Wife, Legacy, Alliance, Life, Death, Honor.

Hu-man. That was what the race was called. Human. There was the man. Then there were the wives, daughters, sisters, maids, mothers, and matrons. The females who served the men. Were they humans too? Or were they animals, no different than the horses they rode? They served wordlessly, but not without intelligence or feelings. But whose to say the horses were not in the same position? Although, women did get to talk sometimes in public. Though it was Sakura's father's wish sometimes it was not so.

Love.

The thing Sakura had heard and read about. The miracle that occurs sometimes between and a man and a woman. Did it exist? Marriage also was something that occurred between a man and a woman. Was that where their similarities ended? Probably so. After all, Sakura's parents were married, and there was no miracle that seemed to go on between them. Indeed, everything about marriage seemed to be ordinary and proper and orderred. It truly could not be any other way. There were no miracles in that. But the only men Sakura really knew were her father, The King of Konoha, Father Damien, brothers, Uncle, servants, and later, her husband. So how could this miracle ever occur? It seemed impossible. Was impossible.

That's why it's a miracle, you fool.

Sakura silenced that part of her mind that was always so passionate and vulgar, improper. Scandalous thoughts lead to scandalous actions and lack of virtue. Indeed, thoughts in a woman, she had heard, lead to scandalous thoughts and lack of virtue.

This was what she had heard from men who spoke to her father about her. They quoted the old proverb. A stupid woman is a virtuous woman. Processes of the female mind were wicked and resulted in further wickedness. No man wanted a thinking woman as wife, no matter what her status and looks. It was dangerous to let her know more than women's work and basic literacy. And to let her fratrenize with that foreigner was just adding more kindling to the fire. As if letting the man live in your home was not bad enough.

ButKing Hikaruwished for his sons to be educated in western ways of thinking, so he let the man reside here. He had said nothing about Sakura.

Father Damien was the one man Sakura felt she might be able to love. Imdeed, she did, in a way. But not in the way it was depicted in the books and legends. It was more like the feelings that were written about in that book, the bible, where it talked about the feelings the disciples had for Father Damien's God, Jesus. Indeed, the book used the word 'love.' So yes, Sakura loved Father Damien. Him, and no one else on this earth.

He loved her. Yes, she knew that. She was his daughter, his pupil.

Father Damien had arrived in Konohaten years ago, seeking refuge from the Mist Warlords who hated the Christians. Many people in the village rejected him, butKing Hikarutook him in. He wished for his sons to learn the ways, sciences, and philosophy of the West, so that when the leaders of Europe came to Japan, they would not be able to cheat them in negotiations. So the priest was taken in by the family, given his own quarters, anything he wanted, and permission to practice his religion as payment for the boys' education.

It was a sad thing, in truth. Sakura's brothers, Yoshio, Daisuke,and Lei, were lazy, stupid, spoiled little brutes who skipped out on their lessons to play games and abuse the servants. Despite the Jesuit's best efforts, they did not change their ways. Father Damien almost gave up, if it were not for three-year-old Sakura.

Sakura was basically ignored by her parents, who just doted on the three boys. She was taken care of by Kakame, an old, senile woman who snapped, hit,and screamed at the little girl at random moments before falling asleep in her chair. The maids took care to make sure Sakura was dressed and fed, but other than that, the little girl ran amok whenever she wasn't caught or subjected to Kakame-sama's madness. It was on one of these escapades that she met Father Damien.

It was only a few months after his arrival when Father Damien met the child. But instantly, he was enraptured by her astute questions and clever statements. A bond quickly grew between the man and the little girl, and she soon became his pupil.

Father Damien taught her French, Spanish, English, and Latin. He taught her philosphy, history,mathematics, politics, astronomy, science, and religion. She took it all in and read all his books and ordering more and more. Father Damien nurtured and spoiled her, raising her as the daughter he never had. They spoke to each other in English, a language no one else in the household knew. It was Damien who comforted her when she hurt herself or was abused ny Kakame, it was Damien who told her she was beautiful, it was Damien who made her into a human, and still thought she was good.

It was him who had taught her about Jesus and the Blessed Mother. He told her the bible, taught her about the church, and baptised her in secret. Sakura fell in love with the christian god, and most of all, the blessed Virgin who was clothed in the Sun. She converted secretly, and became more-or-less a Catholic.

Indeed, he called her a credit to her sex and her family, possessingas much intellect and worth asany man. Beautiful.

Sakura was beautiful, at least that was what her parents noticed when she turned twelve. Decent figure, big greeneyes, and silky pink hair. Yes, she was pretty and well-mannered. She would have to marry.

She had cried at first at he prospect. She did not want to marry, she wanted to stay with Father Damien. But she did not show her tears. If she did, her father would think the priest dangerous and send him away forever, or worse. But she cried into his lap when she told him and he stroked her hair.

"Sakura-chan. Do not worry. Marriage is the balm of life, your passage into motherhood and your way of bringing honor to your family. Besides, we shall never be fully seperated, we will always be together in spirit, and we shall meet again in God's Kingdom, I promise."

Sakura just continued to cry though, how could she believe that? But eventually, she dried her tears and waited, finding her refuge in books and her last stretch of time with her beloved priest. But it seemed God smiled upon her, for her father assigned Father Damien to be her escort.

She was to marry Prince Uchiha Itachi, Head of the Uchiha Clan, Heir to the throne of the Land of Fire. The boy's parents had died when Itachi was thirteen, leaving him and his brother orphaned. They had been the ward of Lord Hatake Kakashi for four years, but now Itachi was seventeen, nearly old enough to marry and take control of his kingdom. He needed a wife with money and a good family name. Sakura had both, so the contract had been set.

Sakura was to live in Lord Hatake's Household for a year before she would marry Itachi and reign as Queen.

But as the carriage rolled along the edge of the dark mountain, Sakura knew she cared not at all for Honor, Unions, and children. It was not worth it at all.

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It was in a coarse robe at the crack of dawn on an empty stomach and with bare feet that Lord Uchiha Sasuke, Prince of Fire, sat on a boulder at the top of a hill, meditating.

The sun rose steadily, and he greeted it with a smile. Another day was beginning. How interesting.

The air was chill, but he scarcely noticed. Soon, the sun would warm the air, and no longer would he shiver. A blessing. Truly, he should not be out here at all. He had only just gotten over a horrible case of pnuemonia, and still was recovering his original strength. But that would not rob him of this special time. He sighed in appreciation of rays of sun casting over him, weakening the cold slightly. An erotic shiver went down his spine as he surveyed the sight below him with a regard conflicted.

Lord Hatake's estate from here was a sharp contrast to it's actual size. It was like a little village, really. But from here it was an anthill.

Lord Hatake was a smart, strong man who took in many orphaned nobles, male and female alike,and oversaw their education. They were taught by strong, powerful Nin and lived in comfort until they came into control of their inheiritances at eighteen. Lord Hatake would oversee everything until then, placating relatives, marrying off sisters, managing finances. He did this for everyone, but Itachi and Sasuke were the only ones he taught personally. The boys were both treated with an even higher regard than the others. But as the crown princes, it was only natural. Therefore, they were given much more luxury, and, to Sasuke's personal displeasure, much more attention. It did not please him, though he knew Itachi loved it; Sasuke perferred solitude.

"Your Highness! What are you doing!"

Sasuke groaned and turned. "What is it, Haku-san?"

"What are you doing out this early in the morning with bare feet? Right after you got over that horrible illness! And where did you get those clothes! They are so disgusting! Are you trying to kill yourself! This is not good. And your brother's fiance' arrives in the afternoon! You put on your sandals and come back down to your quarters immediately! We have too much to do! And you need a bath!"

Sasuke groaned again. He had forgotten, how was it possible? Great, another stupid ceremony to sit through. He looked down at himself. It was true, he was a bit of a mess. He sighed and let the kind-hearted shinobi lead him down the hill to get ready.

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Sasuke found himself, eight hours later, scrubbed, primped, and decorated within an inch of his life. He stood modestly behind his elder brother, waiting. He was dressed in a galant, formal robe of blue silk Haku picked out for him, swords at his waist, his family's symbol on his back, and blue paint below his eyes. Itachi wore an identical outfit, only in red, and around his head was the symbol of his kingship.

It was a golden wovenband with two gold feathers pointing down over his ears. At the center of the crown was his families symbol, a fan made of pearl and ruby. Only the king wore this crown. Sasuke wore won like it, except his was silver, and his had no feathers. But he intended to someday wear his father's-he would never, ever accept his brother as king, never- crown and sit on his throne.

No, but now was not the time to think about that. It was time to act excited and welcoming to the new girl who would become his brother's wife. Pity she had to die too. What was her name? Something to do with flowers... Oh, yes, Sakura, Princess Haruno Sakura of Konoha. But he didn't really care that much, Sasuke didn't care much for women, despite their obvious ardor for him and his brother. Women were always flirting with them, but while Itachi indulged in this, Sasuke just avoided them.

The call of the announcer broke him from his thoughts. The Princess was going to enter finally with her escort. She had been here for hours, that Sasuke knew, but she needed to get ready to meet Itachi until formal introductions could begin, her escort made sure of it. It was some Catholic Priest from France in Europe, that much Sasuke knew. He smirked, they had never had a priest here before, this could prove interesting..

The Princess enterred the room, and all eyes centerred on her.

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AN: Okay, I'm going to wait and watch for a response before I post the next chapter, tell me what you think! I started this since I'm looking for a new angle, and I thought religion would make a tasty little pickle. Oh, and just so you all know, I'm not a Catholic, I just made Sakura Catholic since I know a lot about it and I thought making her a bit of a martyr would be fun.