Title: The Secret Kingdom
Summary: AU Sakura wants answers. Naruto wants to be recognized by his people. Sasuke wants...something. Will they get all that they want and more in a magical kingdom torn by war?
Pairings: NarutoxSakuraxSasuke
Disclaimer: Kishimoto-san owns Naruto. I own Asantia and the three Races. Kishimoto-san refuses to sell me what's his. I refuse to sell what's mine. That is, until he changes his mind...
Genre: Fantasy/Romance
Chapter 4: The First Guardians' Mistake
Long ago, when the earth was young, God created animals and plants to live in it. Among them, He created Guardians, creatures one with creation yet apart from them. Then God created Man. Man, that He created in His image, Man to whom He gave responsibility over His creations. And God was pleased.
But the First Guardians were jealous of God's masterpiece, thus they decided to create creatures representing their ideals and continuing their purpose. They wanted to create beings far superior than that of man.
But, the First Guardians could not decide what creature they should create. Raicelli, who loved all things living, wanted to create a race that draws their strength from the very essence of nature. Osume valued independence. He swore that he will create a race that could produce their own energy like the sun. Ilasu wished for a race that has the versatility of humans and the gifts to bend energy.
Thus, each of them created a new race to their liking. Their creations resemble Man, but each have abilities Man could never gain. The First Guardians breathed their life to them and became part of their creation's existence. But the First Guardians were never meant to create new beings, thus there were flaws present in the new races named after them.
The Raicelli were powerful and had a strong bond with nature itself, such that nature could communicate and obey their wishes. But their energy comes from the essence of life, and when they are parted from the energy of any living object, they weaken and die. On the other hand, the Osume does not need to the essence of life to survive, however, their unlimited energy come with a price. Constant use of their abilities draw out more energy, and this overflowing power eventually weakens and destroys their body. And the Ilasu, though more stable than the previous two races, realized that they need constant spiritual energy in order to remain solid. Without high spiritual energy, they eventually fade away.
But the three races continued to live behind the background as Man began recreating the earth. Still, as Man expanded their reign over the planet, the Raicelli began to weaken, the Osume fought more and more, and the Ilasu began fading. The three rulers of the races decided that they had to do something.
The Raicelli summoned the powers of nature to create a land bountiful with its gifts and high in the favor of the spirits. The Osume created barriers that would envelop the land, making it inaccessible to Man. And lastly, the Ilasu used their magic to sustain the land, to keep it alive and inhabitable. They named their new kingdom, Asantia.
Peace reigned in the land and the day came that they decided to establish a class system. The Ilasu, who compose the majority and whose magic is weakest, decided to step down and voted that the Raicelli whose magic keeps the spiritual elements and environment at bay should be the rulers. The Osume who are the definite powerhouse of Asantia, were given the job as their new kingdom's military.
Soon, another consequence of the First Guardians hastiness came to effect. Living together, the three races could not avoid intermarriage. Though the Ilasu could marry to Raicelli and Osume alike, the same is not true to the other two races. They discovered that marriage between the Raicelli and the Osume are sterile. Furthermore, the children of Osume, even with an Ilasu parent, would always be Osume. The children with Raicelli and Ilasu parentage are still Ilasu, though their abilities are considerably stronger. These children eventually began to compose the noble class.
The result of this inconsistency in genetics resulted to an imbalance of power. The Osume continued to multiply and gain power. The Raicelli dwindled, and the nobles began taking power. Eventually, the Osume rebelled and fought for the control of the kingdom, creating their own royal family. In this war, they discovered the potency of purebloods. The pure blood descendants of the original three leaders of the races found out that they could control the race their ancestors once ruled without question. For the Raicelli, they also discovered they could control the nobles as well. And the fight commenced with the Osume and several Ilasu at one side, and the Raicelli, nobles and other Ilasu at theirs.
The war ended with the Osume failing and retreating to another region of the kingdom. Knowing that the three races need each other to sustain their kingdom, the two regions maintained an atmosphere of mutual enmity, the war to control Asantia ongoing to this day...
Sakura strolled casually to school, feeling like she was still in a dream, vaguely remembering how her parents returned home late and asked about her day. Instead, she would remember the story Fukasaku told her. She barely slept last night, imagining the world she never thought possible despite everything she researched.
"You said that I'm a Raicelli but you said that the Raicelli are always purebloods. You saw my Father and you confirmed he was human." She remembered asking the toad. "How is that possible?"
"I don't know." Admitted the toad. "When I tested you, you are definitely a Raicelli. I don't know how it came about, but I certainly don't doubt what you are!"
Sighing, Sakura stared at the flowering cherry blossoms. One mystery was down, and another one up. Fukasaku and Naruto were going to go around looking for the rogues, but the toad promise to train her after school. This made her smile, she was finally going to learn how to control her abilities.
"You look better when you are smiling."
Sakura tensed.
Sasuke frowned.
Visibly nervous, Sakura walked on but Sasuke kept pace with her.
"You are very rude."
Sakura glanced sideways. "W-why do you say that?" she asked, nervously.
"You did not greet me a good morning." He replied nonchalantly.
Sakura pouted with irritation. "If you want someone to greet you, you should greet them first!"
Sasuke walked ahead then turned to face her.
Sakura froze, surprised at his speed.
"Good morning, Sakura."
Sakura felt her heart stop as she saw a hint of a smile on Sasuke's otherwise stoic face.
"Aren't you greeting me back?" he raised an eyebrow.
"G-good morning." She replied nervously, her cheeks reddening.
Smirking, Sasuke held a stray lock of Sakura's hair and placed it behind her ear. At his touch, Sakura, if possible, became tenser.
"Why are you so afraid of me, Sakura?" He asked, his voice low.
"I don't know." Her reply came out as a whisper as she found herself hypnotized in his eyes.
Sighing, Sasuke turned and walked towards the school. "You should learn to know which feelings are yours and which are not."
Snapping out of her trance, Sakura blushed and hurried after him. "I have no idea what you are talking about! But stop assuming things about me! Y-you Stalker!" Upon saying the last two words, she covered her mouth and froze.
Sasuke shoulders were shaking. Sakura's blush became an even deeper red when she realized he was laughing.
"Stop laughing!" She told him. "What else would you be?! You followed me the whole freaking day yesterday!"
"I'm new here, and so are you. I was thinking that since we're strangers, we should go together." He replied in an amused tone.
"You are lying." Sakura declared. "You didn't have to scare away my seatmates too!"
Suddenly, Sasuke turned his head and glared at her. Sakura stopped, seeing that he was no longer amused.
"Sasuke-san?"
Sasuke shifted and faced her again, and once more Sakura found herself mesmerized by his deep coal black eyes.
"I want you to love me, Sakura."
Sakura blinked.
"W-what?"
Sasuke shook his head. "You really are annoying."
"W-hat – Sasuke-san, what are you doing?!" she started as Sasuke dragged her forward.
"We'll be late for school."
"I can go to school perfectly fine without your help!" she snapped as she took back her hand and hurriedly walked past him.
Sasuke followed her, his smirk returning.
Sakura tried her best to ignore her seatmate the whole day. She felt frustrated for still being tense around him, while he was apparently, relaxed, lazily doing his schoolwork. By lunchtime, he grabbed her hand before she could rush off again.
"Take your hands off me, you masochist jerk." She muttered.
Sasuke dropped his arm but followed her to the rooftop. Sakura sat nervously trying to ignore the boy who just quietly observed her.
When school was over, Sasuke was still walking with her.
"You're not exactly making me lo-like you if you keep acting like a stalker!" she told him as they reached her apartment building.
Sasuke observed her trying to hide her reddening cheeks and smirked.
"I don't like arrogant jerks like you!" she added.
Sasuke stared her down, and she found herself caught in his gaze again.
"I'm not giving up. You will fall in love with me."
Sakura felt herself heaving before she realized that Sasuke already left.
"Stupid, arrogant bastard!" she muttered as she entered her apartment, immediately stumbling as she collided with a hyperactive blond.
"Welcome back Sakura-chan!" Naruto greeted. "Do ya have anymore ramen?!"
"Idiot!" Sakura hit him in the head. "Don't surprise me like that!"
Upon seeing Naruto's shocked face, she realized that she just hit a guy. "Oh, sorry."
"No, I should be sorry!" Naruto replied, grinning.
After locking the door, Sakura looked around. "Where's Fukasaku-san?"
"I'm here. " The toad called out from the living room.
"Are ya okay, Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked her, his eyes squinting. "Ya seem troubled."
Sakura reddened as she remembered Sasuke. "I'm fine."
"Coz if anyone is troubling ya, I'll beat them up for ya!" He gave her a huge grin and a thumb's up.
"You're not solid here, Naruto, you can't touch nor beat up anyone." Fukasaku reminded him. "Don't make promises you can't keep."
"I always keep my promises!" Naruto declared. "And I promise that I'll do everything to make Sakura-chan smile!"
"Idiot." Sakura smiled. "But, thank you Naruto."
Naruto blushed as he saw Sakura smile. "Anytime, Sakura-chan."
"Enough fooling around." Fukasaku cleared his throat. "Sakura-san, it's time to begin your training."
So chapter 4 is done, I hope no one got too bored with the long history lesson. I thought that it was essential that everyone knows about the Asantia and the three Races since the story will be revolving around them.
To blooming flower08, Thank you but I want to ask how you thought Sasuke is of a different race? Did I really make it that obvious? Anyway, the Sasusaku moment was inspired by your review, please tell me what you think about it.
To Icecream Skittles Addict, I hope I updated fast enough. I plan on updating weekly, every Friday or Saturday and only forces beyond my control (like no internet connection) could prevent me. Please tell me how you like the story.
To everyone who is reading, thank you and please review, Iknow there's a lot of you out there. I need your help to improve the story and to determine the final pairing.
Questions to ponder:
What did Sasuke mean when he said, "I want you to love me?"
How could Sakura be a Raicelli with a human father?
What promises will Naruto make with Sakura?
Answers and more in the upcoming chapters (Man, I sound like a cheesy soap opera anouncer.)
Till next time,
Chantrea Moonbeam