Previously:

Sarada looked up and saw the sky covered in dark clouds, the first snowflakes were now falling down upon the land.

Boruto chuckled at her stunned expression, "What is next? You have not seen snow in Konoha either?"

It was true though, Sarada thought. This was the first snow she'd seen in this place. Was it a sign that something new is about to begin? And most importantly… would it involve the man she had in front of her?

"My dearest, I'm so happy you could finally visit us." Sakura kissed her daughter's forehead for the eighth time that morning – not that she was counting.

Sarada hummed happily as she hugged her mother even tighter than before. "Yeah, I'm happy too." It had taken her two days since she'd first planned to visit them, but at least she had not been stopped because of toys this time. Instead, Mitsuki had apparently bought all the ingredients she would need to make the washing soap she'd told him about during their visit at Yuki. Chocho had dragged both her and Karin out of their dining table that morning to show the products to them and Sarada had immersed herself in her new job almost immediately.

She'd been making soaps in different shapes and scents and colors for two days in total that even her hands reeked of soap now.

"Do you think that Queen Tenten will like it just like aunt Karin said she would?" Sarada had asked her friend, whom had then proceeded to nod her head vigorously.

"I do not think there is any single person in Konoha who would not like your washing soaps." had been her reply.

Sarada had noticed both Mitsuki and Karin looking at her. She'd been able to hear bits of their conversation as well. She had been the topic…

"She seems happy." Karin had began the chatting. "I think she is excited that she has the chance to give it to the queen."

Mitsuki had looked at her. Not that Sarada had seen it, since she had her back turned toward them, but she could feel his… their gazes.

"You are right," Sarada heard his voice. "She may not have said so… however, she must have been frustrated to lose her memories." Yes, I've been frustrated to have ended up in here, Sarada had thought, forcing a smile at Chocho's direction. "Though, she still remembers how to do this."

Karin had laughed quietly. "Sarada has become less mature since her injury I will admit but… there are times when she says things that sound wiser than anything I would ever think of. Not to mention that her attitude has changed for the better too."

Sarada had smiled at that.

"Many times, I pondered sending her back home… glad I did not… I want that… before I die," Sarada felt like choking on thin air. "I want to find a good mate for her here. I want to always see her laughing face."

"Yes," Mitsuki had nodded simply. "I feel the same way."

Up until the end of their conversation, Sarada's heart had been racing as if it'd been a car out of Formula 1, meanwhile trying to focus on her job instead.

It hadn't been easy.

Especially not when Karin had asked her to go to Mitsuki's studio for an ink pen, since she wanted to write a letter to whomever.

Now that Sarada was thinking about it, she was almost certain that it had been a set up… but why would Karin do that for her? For them?

Mitsuki had informed her that Karin was already sleeping, but had asked her to mix some ink and Sarada – ever so curious – had agreed… only to come to the saddest realization ever…

She did not know how to read those characters…

The situation had worsened even more when Mitsuki gave her a poem as a gift – even though she'd said that she preferred songs over poems and had been quick to tell him that Sayonara Moontown is her absolute favorite – but she had been forced to smile like an uneducated idiot to him nonetheless.

Obviously she was an idiot for making that big of a slip. She'd totally forgotten that the 'songs' Mitsuki had been referring to meant the "commoners' songs" a.k.a. forbidden source of entertainment for a noble lady like herself.

Noble lady or not, Sarada had never once ran for her life before, but she'd been more than happy to see herself out.

Sarada sulked when she remembered that she'd forgotten to take the poem to have her mother read it to her since even though she'd ask Chocho to do it, the girl had only laughed awkwardly and informed her that the only think she knows how to read is her name.

Sarada gave off a deep sigh as she –with her head still lying in her mother's shoulder – extended her, soap reeking, right hand for her father to take. This was her first time at her mother's room and the coziness and the fresh scent of it made her feel like when she was small and Sakura would help her bathe.

The room was small but not that much that people would feel uncomfortable in it. It was colored with a rich rose gold and the mint green covers of her bed looked magnificently under the morning sun of winter that was coming through the white curtains which were decorated with cherry blossom petals.

The four-chairs table – in which three were occupied by them – stood with a proximity of three meters afar from the bed and behind it – and behind them too – stood a shelf filled with books, papers and scrolls.

They'd been sitting like that for a few minutes, Sakura was busying herself with the caressing of her daughter's long and wavy black hair, while looking at her mate with a sad look that sinned her precious emerald eyes.

Sasuke cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Sarada," her father addressed her, "Ask us!"

"Sasuke, don't rush things on–"

"No, it's alright." Sarada interrupted her mother, taking her head off her shoulder. "I want some answers this time. It… it's one of the reasons why I came in all honesty."

Sasuke nodded. "Before," Sarada trailed off. "Before that, I want to know something else."

"What is it?" Sasuke asked.

"Do you, do any of you know what type of girl I was before the accident?" she asked in a low voice.

"I've been observing you ever since you came to stay at Mitsuki's residence as Karin's niece." Sasuke told her.

Sarada looked down. "And your mother has too."

She looked up at her mother, whom then proceeded to give a sly smile at her direction. "Yeah, I'd been praying that you would come to stay in Saikyo ever since I learned that you existed."

Sarada chuckled. "This is not what I meant though. Papa," she looked at him sternly. It reminded Sasuke of his own look. "Do you have anything to tell me that I would find interesting about my ancestor? Anything at all?"

Her father's look now matched hers. "He has visited you then. Damn it girl, you really have bad choice in your partners, that's for sure."

Sarada rested her forehead onto her hands and tugged her hair in frustration. She knew that better than anyone. First Iwabe had let her down and now the third prince had chose to marry another woman of status instead of her… or was it the other way around? She shook her head before rising it up. She could not care less about any of them, much less for the prince.

"Well, F," she chuckled miserably. "Just look what came above my head."

"Just stay down for some time darling, it'll be fine I'm sure." Sakura reassured her, while rubbing her upper arms.

"Yeah, I don't think I can stay away from trouble for more than… two hours max." she breathed.

Sasuke chuckled and shook his head, some of his long black hair falling above his left eye in the process. He got up from his chair where the three of them were sitting and made its way toward the shelves behind them. He took an object of what seemed like a purple scroll and made his way to his chair again.

"What is that?" Sarada asked, raising one eyebrow. "Are you giving me a way to pass my free time though I will say that you're pretty late." she said, waving his hands to him.

"Actually, here is the truth about our travels." he said and Sarada's mouth fell open. "Sasuke, you should try and say 'what we believe to be true'." Sakura intervened.

"Whatever woman." He said and Sarada watched her mother roll her green orbs before bursting into laughter. How I love these two… she thought as she wiped away her tears.

Sasuke sighed at their antics and proceeded to unfold the dark violet scroll he was holding and scanned it up and down. "So according to this," he began and Sarada became all ears, her laughter long since controlled. "this effect is called Bijuu Noroi."

Sarada snorted. "Figures. Obviously it would be a curse."

"That's the same reaction I had when I first heard of it." her mother chimed in.

"Anyways," Sasuke cleared his throat. "It also says in here that it occurs only to the descendants of the Four Founders."

"Let me guess," Sarada interrupted him again. "The Uchiha are one of the Founders?"

"You guessed it right."

"But… what about mom?" Sarada asked in curiosity only to have her mother hit her playfully across her forehead. "I'm not like you Sarada. When I first traveled, I happened to go from the present to the future. And," she emphasized. "My grandmother is a Senju too and the Senju clan is one of the Founders as well."

Sarada nodded, humming silently. "But…" she started. "it seems impossible for any member of the clans to be able to do that."

"It is indeed. It happens only to some members." Her father informed her.

"What about them makes them special?"

"A mark!"

Sarada touched her forehead instinctively as she looked at her mother for confirmation. Sakura's nod was enough for her to know how it worked.

"The Mark is actually something that one's born with," Sakura began, swiping some of her pink strands off her forehead, so to show her own dark violet diamond-shaped mark. "You were born with yours, I was born with mine, even your father was born with his."

"Wow, I've always thought dad's was a tattoo." Sarada said. Her father's mark was behind his left shoulder, three black tomoes surrounded by an ancient seal-writing. She'd thought that it was the coolest thing in the world.

"Anyways," Sasuke cleared his throat, "as you might have already guessed, when one does the travel for the first time the mark fades. It only appears after going back to your own time."

"And how do we go back?" Sarada asked hopefully, but her parents' expression changed. They looked as if they'd seen the Grim Reaper…

"By dying." came the reply that sent a chill at Sarada's deepest core and bone.

"What?"

"What your mother was trying to say is that… when traveling for the first time, one must die in order to go back to his or her time. The birthmark will appear as well," he showed her the back of his shoulder, his once-thought-to-be a tattoo mark shining darkly in the first morning hours. "Mine appeared after I returned."

"But… what happened? My head is about to explode. You guys need to clarify things more." She breathed while clutching at her heart. Death… death… she would have to freaking die if she ever wanted to go back? Fuck!

Sasuke gave her a look full of pity and Sarada – for the first time in her life – did not mind it one bit. That was just too much.

"So what kind of death will I have?" she asked. "Will it be quick? Or will it be gruesome enough to soften the curse? Enlighten me." she spat.

"Sarada, don't be like that. Besides, you haven't heard about the best part yet." Her mother pat her head lovingly. "Oh?" Sarada turned toward her. "What's the best part? I'll go to heaven?"

Her mother laughed. "Will you be satisfied with such a boring thing like heaven, my darling?" she gave Sarada a wink before continuing, "But all jokes aside, what I meant is that the time we spent here might look like years long, but back in the present it'll be way shorter."

Sarada's mouth fell open. That was good news indeed. "Oh, I see." she said quietly. A few minutes passed by the silence that fell between them. Nobody seemed to find the willpower to utter another word. It irked in Sarada's mind to ask her mother and father about their 'deaths', but she knew them well enough to be sure of the fact that they wouldn't give her an answer. Not today at least.

"So," Sarada began, remembering what Karin had asked out of her the last time she'd met her and her husband. "I've been thinking hard to find a way for me to blend in with the ladies of this place." She quoted the last part. "Karin has said to me many times that I don't know the things the other nobles ladies do, nor do I like the things that other ladies do. The only thing I've done so far is make soaps."

"Hn," Sasuke snorted. "That's obvious. Whose daughter are you?"

"The one and only Sakura Haruno's." Sarada answered with a smirk at her father's faked hurt expression. He knew how much she loved it when he did that. It made him look so out of character and yet so sweet at the same time. Her mother offered her right hand in the mother of all high fives.

"Sasuke, don't look so down." Sakura said to him as he shook his head breathing away a sigh. "How about you offer to give Sarada a tour to your own quarters?" the pink haired woman suggested. "I really don't think that's a good id––"

"I'd love the idea." Sarada interrupted him and looked at her father with her most irresistible-yet puppy eyes. Her father did not stand a chance against that mighty weapon.

He really didn't.

Hence there she was now, walking beside her father in relaxed steps, taking in the view of the legendary Konoha Palace. Her father's quarters were quite spacious and – as predicted – colored in a rich matte dark blue.

Sarada entered cheerfully in his studio, trying her best to maintain a satisfied expression and 'forget' about what she'd learned half an hour ago.

"…"

"…"

She was gaping like a fish out of water at the sight before her. She knew that her mouth had fallen open but she could not bring herself to close not only her mouth but her eyes as well.

The fourth prince was right in front of them, his back turned toward her and her dad, humming a beautiful melody as he stretched his triceps… half naked.

Sarada took in the view, his muscles, his hair tied in a small loose bun, his neck, his scars – probably from sword slashes – his scratch marks, his sun-kissed skin that even though normally Asians do prefer pale skin, she was finding it to be drool-worthy. Sarada hoped that she wasn't drooling though. God forbid it.

Sasuke had his eyes closed, not because of the Boruto's insolence, Sarada was sure of it. He coughed loudly and the prince turned toward them, his eyes widening considerably.

Not just his.

Sarada's eyes widened as well. His back muscles were nothing compared to how the prince looked up front. Sarada ordered herself to look up instead and saw a blue crystal – just like the color of his eyes – hanging loosely around his neck.

The silence was unbearable.

"If I had known that this is what you would cause me on your first very day, I would have never agreed to your stupid request." said Sarada's father with an irritated voice.

"Yeah, sorry." the prince whispered. "I took part at the morning prayers today and got a little bit tired." Boruto finished wearing his white velvet shirt before turning his gaze to the girl in the room. "Careful!" he said with a casual tone. "A little more gawking and you will never be able to see again." He finished with a chuckle.

Sarada nodded her head stupidly. "Y… ye… yeah." she stuttered. Goddamn Sarada, why the fuck are you sounding like you haven't seen a naked man before in your life? the girl taunted herself silently, averting both his and her father's gaze. "So umm…" Sarada began, but had the inevitable need to clear her throat. "What brings you here?"

Boruto raised an eyebrow. "Could ask you the same thing." He replied before making his way toward them, though Boruto's attention was mostly on the girl. Nonetheless, when he spoke next, he actually looked at her father instead. "I find it weird that you are in her company to be honest."

Sasuke snorted. "And I find it weird that you chose my quarters to inhabit, but yet here we are."

Boruto sighed. "Oh come on, uncle Sasuke, do not be this mean."

"But Lord Sasuke," Sarada almost called him 'father', "is right though," she winked at the prince, before narrowing her dark onyx eyes. "What brings you here?" she didn't mind that she was asking the same question for a second time.

"Lord Sasuke's quarters are part of the King's palace as well," Boruto said simply. "Besides… I cannot see the stars that rise only in Konoha from my own room."

Sarada blushed at his remark and proceeded to admit silently that he had a very much desirable memory indeed… though, she would rather be dead than tell him that.

Sasuke looked at their interaction with a judging look. There was an undeniable tension between his daughter and the son of his best friend going on and Sarada was not aware of it. Neither of them were aware of how the two looked to a third party's eye.

"Sarada," Sasuke called out to her. "Did you not have to prepare for the visit you'll make at the palace soon?"

Sarada looked toward him. "What? Oh yeah, the visit!" she finished awkwardly. When Boruto raised his left brow at them, Sarada had the inexplicable need to tell him the reason as to why would she be visiting, but her father interrupted them yet again. "So, get going now. You might be running late. And do not forget to be careful." He added as an afterthought.

"Yes… of course… I'll do that." She cleared her throat and will a last glance toward the blond she exited from the other door that her father had told her about during their walk to his place.

"Goodness Gracious," Sarada began murmuring, "aren't I too old to be having these stupid hormones?"

She shook her body furiously before walking toward the residence. Too bad she could not shake the image of Boruto's upper body from her mind at all. She was really confused.

AUTHOR'S NOTES

*some explanations*

Sakura's grandma in this fic is Tsunade... for story purposes.

Noroi translates into Curse from Japanese, while Bijuu means Tailed Beasts, so the words Bijuu Noroi technically mean The Curse of the Tailed Beast.

... and YES, I KNOW THE CHAPTER IS SHORT and uneventful... but at least it's quick… and has plenty of SASUSAKUSARA (what more would you want?) so yeah... happy reading everyone. *sweat drops*

ALSO the lovely CrazyZaika has asked permission out of me to translate "Scarlet Sun" into German and I've obviously granted it so if any of you understand German better than English then be sure to check it out once she posts it...

Come to think of it, there's no BoruSara fic in German at all and THAT. IS. A. SIN.

I wish you all plenty of enjoyment during your read, and don't forget to leave a Review!