Two weeks later: The ball

In two weeks, I learned every stupid thing there was to know about being a princess. Like the proper way to curtsy and how all princess had to so was provide sexual release for their husband and give them as many sons as possible. It sickened me. Is it really so much to ask that the man I marry actually love me? That was the whole point of marraige... wasn't it?

Aunt Cami and I were riding in the carrige to the castle in the land of the fire. I was twisting my hands in nervousness, but the gloves I was wearing didn't really help with that.

My dress was dark green color with a black corset over top. It was in style, according to my aunt. The dress fell to my sides, it wasn't puffy or anything, but it did acsent how thin I was. And the sleves were tight fitting, and as they came to my forearm, they dropped and were made of the most expensive lace. The colar came up to shoulders and wrapped around them. It didn't show off clevage, but it was still considered alluring in a suttle way.

Needless to say I was scared. Not about meeting the prince or possibly getting chosen (which Aunt Cami made quite clear had to happen) but about what would happen if he did chose me. After all the 'princess training' I over heard Aunt Cami talking about how she was going to kill us both and since she was going to be the closest thing we had to family she would take power and then marry the ruler of the land of wind.

She would become the worlds majority power and my familys good name would be ruined and we would go down in history as power hungry traitors. This wasn't what my parents wanted.

"Listen closely girl." Aunt Cami said, her voice cutting through the air like a knife. "The search to find the prince's match will be held in stages." I didn't understand.

"Don't give me that look." she snapped, I could tell she was holding herself back from hitting me. "The first stage is the ball. The prince will dance with every girl there and chose 10 to stay. Since your a princess of one of the 5 whole power countrys, you get an automatic pass. You and two others. The princess from the land of the mist and the princess from the land of the wind. You three are going to get special treat meant since the prince's parents wanted one of you three. But they also wanted him to be happy so thats why he get to pick 7 others."

Made sence to me. When getting married you want to be happy. Too bad my parents weren't alive to consider that about me...

We arrived at the gates of the land of fire's gates. Thank the lord this was were Aunt Cami had to leave. Now I had to travel by myself to the palace in the city of leafs. It was customary.

We rode for another 4 hours, it was dusk by the time we got to the palace. Right on time, all the other princess were starting to arrive too. I carefully exited the carriage and climbed up the stairs to the palace.

All the halls were beautifully decorated. I couldn't tell if it always looked like this or if it had taken along time to set up. Either way I pitied the people who had to set it all up. I knew what it was like.
When I got to the ball room it was like some public school only everyone was the new kid. So it was like some giant awkward silence and the only sound anyone could hear was the classical band playing some Chopin song.

Then the music stopped and loud trumpets started playing. Then like the cue it was every girl started the crowd around the red carpet that ran through the center of the room.

"Introducing- Prince Sasuke Uchiha of the Land of Fire." Soon every girl there had crowded around the carpet just to catch a glimpse of the infamous prince. I too was shoved in the crowd and basically
dragged to almost the front of the carpet.

Now every girl there was doing nothing but talking and whispering and soon enough, girls who had never meat each other looked like the best of friends, and all because of this one boy. Crazy.

There, walking down the carpet with perfect posture and poise, the prince Sasuke Uchiha. He was gorgeous. His raven hair perfect with his pale flawless face. His body, rip but not bulky. A perfect body, perfect face. But his eyes. The only flaw I saw in him. Not that they were ugly (they too were gorgeous), just empty. His eyes showed a huge void almost. And his face reflected this. He wasn't sad but... blank. Like he couldn't feel anything.

I understood. I felt the way he feels. I still feel that way. I know what it's like. No. I didn't pity him like most, or all, of the girls here. No, I admired him. He had no one but himself, and speaking from
experience, it was hard.

But in a way I guess I did pity him. If he chose me, (and auntie dearest even rigged it so I would get more time with the prince), he would get killed. I don't want anyone to get hurt (okay maybe my aunt a little).

The prince reached the throne and sat. And all the girls who hadn't swooned or fainted, were still chattering away. Except me. I was too freaked out but how fangirlish these princesses got in a matter of minuets.

The anouncer guy came back."Now, introducing the lovely princesses starting in order of rank." Oh
great. That means me, right up front.

"Introducing, princess Kioko from the land of mist." Everyone started clapping respectivly as a girl in a royal blue dress that showed off a lot of clevage, walked up the red carpet. Her hair was a bright
bottled blonde and her sun kissed skin made her emerald eyes stand out. She was beautiful. I was jealous, gentally, I reached my hand around and touched one of the scars on my back.

"Next we have princess Emi from the land of lighting." I froze. After about 3 seconds which felt like 20 minuets I gentally pushed my way past two girls in front of me. I walked about 40 feet and stopped about 5 feet from the throne like Kioko did and curtsied. After hold that for 4 seconds I turned and walked to the side of the throne where I was gestured to stand.

I was on the opposite side of Kioko, and I swear that everytime she thought I wasn't looking she would give me the dirtyist looks. (Seriously! She would give my aunt a run for her money!) But out of the corner of my eyes I swear I saw the prince sneeking peeks my way. But he was probably doing this so he could see the other girls who were at my side.

"And now... The first dance between prince Sasuke and princess Kioko." everyone clapped respectively.

Sasuke rose from his throne and walked up to Kioko. They bowed to each other and Sasuke held out his hand and Kioko took it. Together they walked out to the empty dance floor and began dancing.

I could tell she was whispering to him but I couldn't hear what because of the music. After about 6 minuets of them dancing, someone tapped my back lightly , I turned and someone dressed in livery
gestured for me to go dance. I nodded and walked calmly to where they were dancing and paused in front of them.

Sasuke stopped the dance and gave Kioko another bow, and she gave him another curtsy. As Kioko walked away she glared at me evilly. I couldn't help but shudder.

I curtsied to Sasuke and he bowed. I offered my hand and with surprising genteelness, he took my hand and wrapped his other arm around my waist. Taken back slightly by the sudden closeness, I felt my face heat up for a moment. I smiled lightly and placed my hand on his chest.

Together we danced. It was like gilding. His touch was so infinitely gentle, but I could feel his muscles under his clothes and how much he was holding back his strength.

His eyes still held that blank void. I knew mine did too but I learned to push the majority of those feelings away and tried to enjoy life.

Slowly the dance ended, and for the first time since we started dancing, we broke our stare. I then did a curtsy and left giving a small smile to the girl behind me. I walked away to go and stand close
to Kioko who was still giving me dirty looks.