Eight

Sakura's face was one of astonishment when the man before her– the prince – reached out to take her hand. As he kissed her knuckles, she had the strangest urge to laugh; he was kissing her through his mask.

She wondered bleakly if her father had sent for him, if only to mess with her mind, or if he was here of his own accord. Didn't she have enough to deal with already? Even so, she couldn't help being just a little charmed by Prince Kakashi. Only a little.

"And you must be Princess Sakura. The pink hair is a bit of a giveaway," he added mischievously.

"Yes, you are correct. It's so the assassins can identify me quickly," she whispered, mirroring his conspiratorial tone.

Kakashi laughed outright.

"So what brings you to the palace, so far from home?"

The prince's eyes held mirth as he said, quite candidly, "You. I had heard your company was something to be witnessed."

"Well," Sakura said, "I do hope it meets your expectations."

Kakashi smiled– at least she thought he did, she couldn't see through his mask –and let go of her hand. He then proceeded to put his own hands in his pockets in what seemed like a relaxed gesture. She felt the absence of an air of formality that there often was with other nobles. "I am glad we met. It is a shame our paths have not crossed before."

Sakura nodded in agreement. Of course she had not been acquainted with all of the world's monarchs, but she had to admit it was unfortunate they hadn't met before. Having someone close to your age, like Naruto, who understood the heavy burden you carried whilst having to hold your head high, was a rare pleasure.

Though, from his build and face, she could tell he was quite a bit older than her.

"It's nice to have another sovereign around," she said honestly. "Have your roomings been sorted?"

With the tilt of the head, Kakashi nodded. "Yes. I was planning to stay at court for quite some time, but now I'm not quite sure."

"Oh?" she asked, dazed.

"We'll see."

Sakura changed the subject, for she could not question a royal. Even if she was one. "I would offer you a tour of the palace, but I'm afraid I have another commitment at this moment," she said apologetically. She was meeting with Hinata following her earlier conversation with Naruto.

"It's not a problem; I understand fully."

She smiled, and after seeing it returned to her in his eyes, genuine and kind, she headed towards her friend's room.


"Oh, it was amazing!" Hinata was gushing. Sakura had asked about the festival she had attended with Naruto the night before. "And Naruto was very attentive, always asking if I was comfortable or enjoying myself. But what was really the best was when we forgot we were betrothed monarchs, but just two people spending time at a festival."

Listening to Hinata filled her heart with inexplicable joy on her behalf. The girl seemed so arrested with the night's events; in the infrequent years Sakura had known her, she had never seen her look happier.

"What is it like?"

"The festival, you mean? Well, there are lanterns almost everywhere–"

"No, not that..." Sakura said, instantly feeling bad for interrupting her. "I mean having someone you care for feel the same for you? What's that like?"

Now Hinata paused, giving her the saddest smile.

Sakura suddenly wondered why she hadn't asked Hinata of her feelings on her betrothal before. Before guilt overtook her, she reasoned it was probably because it had happened many years ago when they were much younger.

"If you're inferring that it was always like this... it wasn't. Sakura, I know it's difficult to accept that your future is not always going to be in your hands. I can empathise with what you're going through."

"Really?" Sakura asked bitterly. She knew she was being unfair, but she couldn't help it. "Your father also gave away your hand without any consultance from you?"

"It was different for me and Naruto-kun," Hinata admitted, looking down sheepishly at her hands neatly folded in her lap. "We had met before many times, and we were already friends."

Sakura could see that her friend was remembering the past, those days when their worries were nothing short of proper etiquette. Their childhood seemed so far away now. Both were soon to be married, whether they liked it or not.

"Being pushed into a marriage that benefitted your kingdom more than yourself..." Hinata trailed off. "But I was asked. And I did say yes. Naruto was a noble man; there was no reason for me to refuse."

Sakura immediately understood. She had almost felt the same before, back when she and him had assumed they would ultimately marry each other. Naruto was steadfast and loyal, easy to accept once you'd had years of close friendship with him. It wouldn't have been a romantic relationship, but it would have been simple.

She was suddenly frustrated that she hadn't been tethered to someone she had known since infancy. Would that have made it easier? But when she thought about who would've been sufficient to marry, she could think of no one else apart from one of her best friends – and also the very person Hinata was currently engaged to.

Naruto, though an idiot most of the times, she could've lived with. Sakura was sure they would've had a fun lifetime together, but she would never truly have loved him, not in the way that was proper. Besides, Hinata and Naruto made a beautiful pair.

"No one says you have to marry straight away," Hinata was saying. "It's the prospect of a future heir that everyone cares about. To know there's safety in the monarchy. Just look at Naruto-kun and I."

The two had been engaged for a few years. But time was gaining, and she knew they would soon be officially conjoined. Their ages were 'ripe', as the advisers called it, which meant it was the best time for them to bear children and secure a future sovereign.

Hinata laid a gentle hand upon her own, her smile a little timid. "Sakura, I know it's unfair, but given what we are..." royalty, Sakura filled in, "allow him a chance."

A chance.

Why was that so hard to comprehend? She supposed she had treated him harshly, but she had no clue what his true motives were. For all she knew, he only wanted to marry her for the throne.

Did she not deserve something more?


The northern gardens were filled with vibrant blossoms in springtime. Sakura had decided to take a leisurely walk in order to clear her mind. What Hinata had told her reverberated in her mind.

A chance.

She did not think he was worthy of such a thing. But, she was worthy of more. What else did she have, other than this life? Sakura could not let it be ruled by the fact that she had to rule.

Still, even after so much, she could not help feeling there could've been someone better; someone who helped strengthen an alliance or offer new trades.

Angrily, she wrung her hands. Why must she always think of her kingdom before herself? It's like she had been wired to do just that. Weren't there already plenty who had that job? It had been her father who had chosen him, her father who had always had the best judgement and did nothing on a whim.

He had to have chosen him for a reason. But whatever that reason was, it eluded her. No matter how much she tried, a definite answer did not come to her. Her mind was left tirelessly searching for clarity.

The birds chirped as Sakura continued her walk through the garden, stopping occasionally to admire the verdure, thoughts whirling in her head like fireflies.

It was a while before she heard footsteps approaching.

"Sakura," he said in greeting.

She nodded back, "Hello, Sasuke." He had appeared out of nowhere, not for the first time. There was a small pause, in which her mind repeated to her: a chance.

She remembered the last time they had been in each other's company, and the question he had posed before he had seen her chopped hair. Are you well rested? She cleared her throat awkwardly. "And I am fine. What about you? Are you well rested?" she echoed, eyes looking anywhere but his.

Sasuke stared at her. She wondered if he was taken aback that she had recalled his words, or if he had noticed her blatant lie.

"Yes," Sasuke said after a moment.

She let out a laugh, sounding more like a relieved breath. "Of course you are; the bedding in the palace is made from heavenly stuff."

His mouth quirked at the side, and her heart increased speed with the knowledge that he was repressing a smile. She had never seen him smile. Not a true one.

"You mean like the peaches?"

Sakura raised her eyebrows. "I thought you hadn't had the peaches."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "After watching you eat one, I was curious to try one for myself."

Full-blown grinning now, Sakura prompted, "And how did you find it?"

"They were nice," he hesitated, averting his eyes, "I even went to the peach orchids."

She laughed and it filled the air with a warmth he had never witnessed.

"I can take you there. That is, if you haven't already been." Sasuke's head was muddled. Of course she had been there before; she had lived in the palace her whole life.

"Oh!" she said, her giddy joy clear on her face. "Really? Shall we go now?"

"Now?" he paused. His cheeks were tinged, but that could just be from the walking.

Sakura nodded, trying to contain the excitement that was welling inside of her.

He led her towards a part of the palace she had never thought to visit – never thought had existed. Her own ignorance baffled her. She had lived within these walls for all her life, eaten the peaches every year, yet had never once been there.

As they walked, she politely asked him about his time here, and Sasuke responded minimally about how he had explored the grounds, but mostly spent his time in the library or training grounds.

Soon, there were peach trees surrounding them, as if they'd stepped into another world. Their sweet, intoxicating scent filled the air.

"How did you even find this place?" she asked, marvelling at its simple beauty.

Sasuke glanced at her as they walked. "I was told the peaches were grown in a secluded orchid."

Each tree was ripe with the fruit, scattered with them as if boasting their bounty. The afternoon sun filtered through the gaps in the branches, its light soft rather than impeding.

"I don't usually like sweet things," he confessed.

"Then you won't like me," she attempted to joke, but then she flushed, realizing how it could've sounded. "I, um-"

Where was that acclaimed wit when she needed it?

Sasuke, however, seemed unperturbed.

They walked closer to the heart of the peach garden, safely enclosed by the trees like a secret.

He reached out to pick one, and offered it to her with no words. She took it from his outstretched hand, already anticipating its tangy taste. Sasuke plucked one for himself too, and their eyes locked as they bit into the fleshy fruit, her heart leaping at the tension that strung between them in that moment.

Sakura averted her eyes instantly, not sure if she was capable of keeping his gaze without drowning in them. She cursed her racing heart for making such a big deal out of this. Their eyes had locked – nothing more. But she couldn't get the image of Sasuke biting into the peach out of her mind.

His eyes. His dark, unforgiving eyes had seemed so sensual, so heated, that it surprised her that she was still breathing. Sakura didn't dare look back at him, but instead carried on walking through the orchids.

She cleared her throat, the silence having gone on too long for her comfort. "Peaches have always been my favourite. Every year I would get so excited for them to come into season. I used to eat so many that when we were younger, Naruto once joked that I'd finished them all."

"That loud-mouthed dobe from the luncheon?"

"Hey," she said, giggling, "that's my friend you're talking about! And if you recall correctly, you're the one who provoked him," she added matter-of-factly.

"Hn. He deserved it."

"Not in front of the nobles! I thought we went through this already–"

"We did."

She turned to him, "What do you have against Naruto, anyway? He's harmless."

Sasuke shrugged. "He's annoying."

"You've literally only spoken to him once," she laughed.

"Why is he even here at court?" he said, looking at her.

They continued walking. "Our parents thought it would be good for us to grow up together, so he's lived in this palace with me for most of his life."

As loud-mouthed and obnoxious as he was, he was one of her closest friends, and she couldn't imagine it any other way. Some of her fondest memories were of them learning how to ballroom dance together, and how angry she would get at him for tripping over his own feet.

Without Naruto, her days would've been bleaker, void of the sunshine warmth he always possessed.

"I suppose he won't always be here," she said, eyes bright. "But Naruto is the closest I've had to a brother. I've known him for nearly my whole life. When we were little, he would even come running to me when I was in the middle of my tutoring in the strategy room, asking me to patch him up after he'd scraped his knee or elbow whilst playing in the gardens. I would tell him to go away because what I was doing was important, but I'd still fix him up anyway." Her face was animated as she spoke.

Sasuke looked away from her quickly as if he was hiding something.

They were coming to the end of the orchids, nearing the palace that rose up in the distance like the night time moon. The trees were getting sparser as they neared, the fruit still as vivid as before.

She froze in shock. There, beyond the orchids, she could see the back of a figure wrought in stone. No wonder she had never been here.

"That– that's my mother's statue."

Sasuke stared at her, mildly bewildered.

Taller than any of the surrounding verdure, she was almost as glorious as the palace; white marble unmarred with impurities, probably to symbolise the woman herself.

Sakura's mother was an enigma to her. She had died during childbirth, and Sakura had spent a lifetime never knowing her. Of course she knew of her– just not about her. Not because her father kept it a secret, but because she had never asked.

"Let's go from here," she said. She didn't want the pain to get to her, not now and not in front of him. In no way had she been prepared. She'd always just used to view it from afar, this being the closest she'd ever gone to it – and though she knew it was only stone, her chest tightened.

"Sakura." His voice stopped her from turning around and leaving. "My mother is dead too."

"What?" she said, the word as ineloquent as she sounded.

"And my father too." She could've sworn she heard her heart cracking. But of course – it made sense. Sasuke's parents had never formally accepted the marriage as they usually would have.

It struck her once again how she knew hardly anything about him at all.

"I don't want your sympathy, as I'm sure you don't want mine." He was right; she hated it when people apologised for something out of their control like this. "I just thought you should know."

She understood what he meant: that she was not alone in this. It was ironic how the one thing they had in common had to be so tragic. His words also meant he trusted her. She didn't ask him to reveal this information, and he didn't seem like the type who did it often, but he had.

A chance.

She hoped he would take it.


Surprise I'm still alive! Thank you so much for sticking with me, I'm so sorry for the long wait! It terms of sasusaku, I promise it will pick up soon/after this chapter. I just don't want it to feel unnatural, you know?