A/N: I have that habit of writing my heroines as feisty and powerful, but not powerful enough against the male lead. Ugh. I'm sorry. It's just how my fanfic goes. I mean, who would be able to resist Naruto men? Sorry, in my mind they're bishounens in a tux, with beautiful eyes and chiseled jaws... so yeah...sue me. XD

CHAPTER 7: No Return

"Sasuke-sama, there's an urgent message for you."

Sakura watched the man clad in black suit whisper something to Sasuke's ear. After delivering the message, Sasuke waved the man off and turned to her.

"Sakura."

"Y-yes?"

"It seems like there's an urgent meeting I have to attend to. Would you be okay here by yourself?"

"Huh? O-of course! Go ahead. I'll be fine." She smiled.

"Very well. If there's anything you need, you can ask any of them for assistance."

Sasuke gestured towards the uniformed men who must be his body guards. She nodded.

"'Do enjoy the party, I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Y-yes. Take care, Sasuke." She whispered as she stared at his frame which was now being blocked by two of his men following him.

She sighed.

'Hmm, would it be impolite to go back to Sasuke's suite now?' She wondered. 'He said he'll be back. So, I guess I'll just have to stay here then.'

Sakura was in the middle of sulking when her stomach suddenly grumbled.

'Shoot!'

She nervously looked from side to side to see whether someone heard such embarrassing sound but there was none.

Good thing the people were busy inside their own little bubble, and of course she's also thankful for the soft music playing in the background.

She still couldn't believe that a person could be this rich as she approached the buffet table. She understood the fantasies portrayed in magazines and televisions but as a simple girl from Mist, all the things around her are kinda difficult to swallow.

'I really don't want to appear pretentious but Sasuke did say to enjoy the party, so I guess…it's okay to pig out?' She thought.

Several men also had the audacity to approach her and engage her in a conversation. She understood most of what they were saying. It was probably one of the perks of having a rich friend back in Mist, but if they thought that they could charm her with their flowery words, then they were mistaken.

Nobody could charm her the way Sasuke did, that she even went as far as to allow him to touch her in places she couldn't even imagine.

"Sakura-san, you look flushed. Are you alright?" One of the men asked.

"Huh? Ah! Yes. It was probably the food, I think I ate something spicy." She sheepishly smiled.

"You're enjoying yourself aren't you?" Said the woman with long dark hair who suddenly joined the small group, taking all the attention away from her.

"What? Oh yes. Of course." She answered, tucking a tendril of her hair behind her ear as she suddenly felt self conscious because of the two extremely beautiful women who approached the group.

'They look like the celebrities I see in the television. Or are they models? Either way, they're all so beautiful and slim...' She thought as she looked at the plate she was holding which was still overflowing with food.

The other woman, the blonde one, spoke.

"Imagine slutting yourself to these guys right after what Sasuke-sama said."

"W-what? No. You're mistaken."

"Tell us. What did you do to get that close to him? Huh?" The woman suddenly attacked.

Sakura reflexively took a step back as both women stepped inside her personal space, looking down at her like she was some sort of dirt under their shoe.

The men surrounding her tried their best to mediate but it was no use.

"We've been trying our best to be acknowledged by Sasuke-sama...but you...what's a nobody like you doing at his side?" The other woman said, pointing a finger at her chest prompting her to take another step back.

"W-wait. Stop! I-I didn't do anything. I just helped Sasuke when he was injured. Any person could do that. Plus, I don't even know a thing about him-except that he's rich and has a tattoo on the side of his neck."

In an instant, it was as though the whole ballroom hall fell silent as the words came out of her lips. Then the murmurs started.

'What did she say?.'

'She saw the seal.'

'What is she still doing here?'

'Maybe he's going to kill her later?'

Sakura was confused. What were these people talking about? Whispering things about murder, power, and a cursed seal.

"T-that's impossible." She heard the blonde woman whisper.

"What are you talking about?"

The woman only shook her head and stared straight at her.

"You really don't know anything about Sasuke-sama, do you?"

Sakura shook her head.

"You said you saw a tattoo, right?"

"Yes. What about it?" Sakura asked.

"That mark on his neck is known as the cursed seal, and no one has seen it. Ever. It was said that if a person sees it, that person will die."

Sakura's heart suddenly skipped a beat because of what the woman said. Then she started chuckling nervously.

"W-what the hell are you talking about! That's ridiculous! As you can see I'm very much alive, geez. Are people in Konoha like this? Living on superstition? It's the 21st century. Get a grip people."

But as she said those words, Sakura found herself backing away from the crowd, seriously wanting to escape the suddenly suffocating atmosphere.

"I—please excuse me. I need to go to the ladies room." She hastily said, and dashed towards the double doors where she came in.

Sakura felt conflicted as she began running to and from the hallways, searching for Sasuke.

How could those people—those who were enjoying the party say those things towards Sasuke?

Wasn't Sasuke a good person? They're at his party right? Aren't those people friends?

Yes, their meeting was quite a peculiar incident, but if he was really a bad person, he should've harmed her already, right?

So, why?

Obviously, she had no idea who he was, but who was he to elicit such strong fear among all those people? If she remembered correctly, the Daimyo of the Fire Country wasn't surnamed Uchiha.

'But what's with all the body guards?' She thought as she hid herself in one corner when she saw a man clad in black suit coming her way.

When the man passed, Sakura continued moving until she stopped in front of a door upon hearing hushed conversations.

The voices were a little muffled but she was positive that one of them belonged to Sasuke.

Sakura tried knocking but it seemed as though her knock was unheard because they continued with the conversation.

She then flattened her ear on the surface of the door when she 'accidentally' turned the knob, opening the door slightly but not so much as to disturb the flow of conversation.

That's when she heard all the things she needed to hear, and now, all she wanted was to go home.

Inside the room, the brothers were talking...

"Sasuke, it's good to see you in one piece. But I can't believe you got yourself slashed at, back in Kirigakure." Genma said as he accepted the glass of liquor from Sai who was distributing one to his brothers.

"They've made quite the retaliation, sending a few coffins back to us. We were worried that you might be in one of those." Sai added.

"Please, it was a small injury, that's all. It didn't even land on the right place if they really wanted me dead."

"Oi, teme. They wanted you dead alright. We've buried five of our men's bodies because of what happened."

"And what about them? There's nothing left to be buried on their part. They're nothing but ashes now. It's what happens when insects like them betray me and the Konoha mafia."

"Now, now, Sasuke. I don't think you want to be speaking like that in front of a lady. She's from Kirigakure after all." Kakashi suddenly uttered, earning bewildered looks from his brothers.

Tilting his head towards the door, Kakashi signaled Sai to move behind it. The latter noticed that the door was slightly ajar and that someone was at the other side-Sai jerked it open.

"Ah!"

Sakura appeared and nearly stumbled.

"Sakura." Sasuke called. "What's wrong? Is the party boring you?"

The men watched as Sasuke closed the distance in only a few short strides, but was surprised at the next turn of events—except Kakashi.

'Konoha mafia? Was Uchiha Sasuke the head of the Konoha mafia?'

Sakura heard everything as she stood dumbfounded and immobile behind the oak door.

Based on what she heard, a huge part of the business district in Kirigakure was now controlled by the organization.

'This-this isn't possible. I thought the Kyodaija was only a name of their corporation or something but...'

The door suddenly swung open as a man who looked a little like Sasuke stared at her.

Sakura tried to speak but she couldn't move her lips. She also saw the way the others were looking at her but their features don't seem to register in her mind.
Her hands suddenly felt cold and clammy, and she had difficulty swallowing her own saliva. She suddenly found herself slowly backing away.

Sasuke started to walk towards her, stopping just before her, and showing a her a glint of amusement in those onyx eyes of his.

"I-I want to go h-home. I-I still have school tomorrow, and...and work, and my b-boss might be looking for me already. I-I'm really grateful t-to you for this opportunity. It really is a dream, b-but I really need to go back." Sakura stuttered as she trembled in front of him.

She couldn't even take a step back when Sasuke reached for her face, gliding a finger on the side of her cheek.

"Sakura. I don't think you've understood me the first time."

The hand that was gently caressing her a few seconds back had now made a grab for her chin as Sasuke tilted her face, urging her to look directly at him.

"Didn't I say you couldn't leave? I've told you before. I always get what I want, and there's nothing I couldn't get. You won't be returning to your country, Sakura...Because you're mine."

"What are you talking about? This can't be happening. No. No!"

TBC