Title: covenant

Theme: fantasy, #43 demon

Note: Kuroshitsuji, anyone? :)

Word Count: 713

Sakura sighed, rubbing her temples wearily. Taking a break from her paperwork, she rang the bell near her desk, feeling the need for some good tea—and maybe some dessert, while she was at it.

In not less than fifteen seconds later, there was a knock on the door, and Uchiha Sasuke stepped in, already wheeling in a cart of Earl Grey tea and an apple and raisin dip pie into the study.

Sakura grinned at him, thanking him cheerily as he poured her a cup of tea. "Excellent as usual, Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke's calm black eyes eyed her for a moment, before he inclined his head slightly. "Hn, milady," his smooth, baritone voice sounded, causing a hot rush of something coursing down Sakura's veins. She smiled at him again sheepishly, accepting the porcelain cup and taking a sip.

Sasuke remained in the room, silent and waiting for any command. Sakura rolled her eyes. "You can go now, Sasuke-kun. Shut the door on the way out."

The tall young man inclined his head again, turning on his heel and striding across the room and out the door. The door shut with a quiet 'click' and Sakura reluctantly submerged herself in her paperwork again. Several hours later, the last of the party invitations was properly declined, with an apologetic (although not sincerely so) letter accompanying it. Undoubtedly, there would still be more to come—more parties and troublesome balls to decline. It was vexing just having to reject them. But the season was nearly over, Sakura reminded herself; she just had to bear it for a few more weeks.

With another weary sigh, Sakura leaned back into her arm chair and stretched her arms. Being the head of the Haruno family, a fact undisclosed to many, was a rather tiring job. Imagine, though, if people had found out that the head of the household of Haruno was a mere woman! And someone as young as her, to boot. Oh, how scandalous that would be. And though Sakura cared least of what society thought of her, she would not steep so low as to degrade her family's name. It was convenient, however, that she needn't attend social gatherings (unless absolutely mandatory) at Almack's, or so and so's townhouse. To be introduced to so many people, to potential marriage candidates even, it was simply unthinkable for Sakura.

At least her work was finally finished with, she thought happily. Perhaps she could call over Shikamaru, and engage him in a game of chess.

Standing up from her chair, in her hurried actions, Sakura knocked off the stack of papers sitting on her desk. Cursing extensively at her foolishness, something she would have been scolded harshly for, if any of her childhood tutors had heard (it was horribly unladylike, apparently), she dropped to the floor, trying to gather as much of the pieces of paper as she could into her arms.

Something had caught her eye, though and she picked it up: a pure white envelope, sealed with a red wax. Sakura blinked at it curiously. It didn't really look like an invitation to a party, and she hadn't noticed it amongst the other letters...

It was early the next morning when Sasuke entered his lady's chambers to wake her up, only to be startled to see her already awake, struggling to put on her clothes. His emotionless face only faltered a moment, before, regaining his composure, he helped his mistress lace up her knee-high boots and placed her long green velvet overcoat over her shoulders. Sakura stared at herself in the mirror, adjusted her top hat a little on her head, and beamed.

"My cane, please," she said, holding her hand out to him. Obediently, he placed her walking stick in her hand, the gleaming head of a snake curled around her fist, ruby eyes gleaming.

With one last assured glimpse into her looking glass, Sakura turned and left the room, her coat flapping outwards. Sasuke followed her, silent and unquestioning as usual, always one step behind her, but never did he allow himself to walk alongside. He was her shadow; it was his duty to keep her safe.

After all, they had made a contract.

And demons like him were quite unable to break such vows.