Sakura woke up early; Before she opened her eyes, she heard Sasuke's steady breathing. He was still asleep.
Her cheeks flushed when she recalled how both of them went to sleep together; she initiated it though. She couldn't fall asleep in her huge separate bedroom, She decided to seek comfort in the Emperor's presence, and here she was now, curled up against his solid chest.
It was a test for Sasuke that proved her wrong.
Ever since The Emperor began showing interest in Sakura, she made up her mind that he only desired her body, and his interest in her was just lust, physical attraction from the mighty hunter to his weak pray. But as time passed, Sasuke showed genuine interest in her as a person.
By coming to him last night she wanted to prove herself that she was right and this was nothing more than so-called chemistry, she thought he would take her willingness as Concord to get her in his bed.
But surprisingly to her, he didn't even try anything.
He had her in his arms all night long yet he did nothing aside from making sure she was comfortable and covered.
She didn't want to wake him up so carefully she got out of the futon and left the room, The guards bowed to her as she entered her own, She put a lightweight floral kimono, and closed it with light green obi. Brushed her hair, washed her face with rose water that was provided for her and left the room.
"Do you wish to have your breakfast in the garden Princess?"
One of the maids asked her.
"Yes, Maybe later when the Emperor and Captain wake up."
she smiled
"I'll take a walk meanwhile."
"I'll tell the guards M'lady."
"No need" She shook her hand "Isn't the whole inn, and it's surroundings guarded by our soldiers?"
"Oh.. That's true Princess, but still, Emperor would not like if you are walking around all alone."
"No, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't mind, besides I want some time alone."
"Yes M'lady"
"Yes, M'lady." They bowed.
She went outside, it was a beautiful morning, Sunshine glow made everything way attractive than it seemed, Birds were chirping, sweet scent of flowers and blooming trees filled up the air, Sakura went down on a small pathway that led to the river, she admired the nature, She decided to get closer to the river.
Naruto's voice woke Sasuke up, not what he was expecting.
Sakura was gone from his room; he went outside where the knucklehead's voice was coming from.
"Man Sasuke, your room has the best hot spring pool!"
"I see you made yourself comfortable Dobe."
"Oh did I wake Sasuke-same?" Naruto softened his voice.
He ignored Naruto's attempt to sound like a girl "Have you seen Sakura?"
"The guard's told me she wanted to walk around alone apparently."
"Hn... I don't like that!" Sasuke sighed.
"Stop being so possessive Sasuke! Or she will lose the little interest she has towards you!"
"I'm not possessive; it's dangerous for her to walk around alone."
The Emperor went back into his room and put on clothes, White Haori shirt, and dark navy pants.
"No time for a bath." He said and pulled the top part of his hair into a messy bun.
He heard Naruto before walking out from his room. "Wait for me."
Sakura spent her time thinking about everything that bothered her mind,
Her godmother asked her to get close to Sasuke, as close as it was expected from the future Empress of the Fire Nation.
She sighed as she still doubted Sasuke's intentions towards her.
She didn't want to act as Ino, or any other girl would respond when they were in the presence of the great Emperor.
Sakura thought about it, the hatred that she felt towards Sasuke was gone after getting to know him.
She found him very attractive, and every time he touched her she felt something tingling inside of her.
But still, it was not enough for her to fall in love with his head over hills or make him fall in love with her.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard something. She stood up and looked around.
"Is anybody here?"
Then she noticed movement.
three men came out from the bushes; they were dressed in ripped simple clothes.
"Are they locals?" She thought.
Two men followed from behind. Their faces were scary; there was something in their eyes, something vicious.
they were whispering something that she couldn't understand well, something in their dialect.
One of them stepped forward.
Sakura tried not to look scared; she thought of possible ways to escape and get help.
"Well well, what do we have here? did they close down this Inn for a beautiful maiden like you?"
"Who are you?" She hissed...
"You'll find about that soon enough" He chuckled.
Two of them were probably younger than her, the one speaking to her was perhaps the same age as Sasuke and Naruto, and the other two were in their 40's. They held knives. And one of them held a spear.
"I don't have any weapon to protect myself," she thought. she was trembling yet with a firm tone she said.
"If you value your lives you will leave me alone. now!"
"Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha"
"Ha-Ha-Ha"
They laughed. Then the expression of the one who was talking to her changed.
"Hold her for me will ya?!" He said. And two men behind her stepped forward, She tried to escape, but it was pointless.
They held her arms.
one of them sniffed her
"Boss she smells so good."
"Mmm and she feels so good!" The other one rubbed her rear side.
"Let me go!" She yelled.
"Let me go you pig!"
The one who was being called the "boss" stepped forward and slapped her.
"Don't talk to me in that manner you whore!" He yelled.
From rage Sakura kicked him right in his crotch, he fell back.
"You'll regret that when we are done with you!"
"You two" He turned his head to his other companions.
"Catch her legs and hold her mouth let's take her in the forest and have some fun!" He smirked. His hands still on his crotch.
Sakura fought as she could but no use, they were holding her tight. from the river bank they walked in the forest.
"Lay her down!" He ordered.
"Gin, you go first."
"As for myself pretty maiden you see, I like watching I'll enjoy this to the fullest." He laughed.
The two young boys were holding her down, while the older man tried to hold her legs.
Her kimono was ripped, and her shoulders were scratched.
She didn't want to show them weakness but couldn't help herself from crying.
"Sakura-Chan!"
Her eyes widened; it was Naruto! She but the hand that was on her mouth and yelled as hard as she could.
"You bitch!" The man slapped her on the other cheek.
"You bastards what are you doing!" from the corner of her eye she saw Naruto running towards them.
"Naruto step away." She heard Sasuke's calm voice.
"Who the hell are you?!" The boss barked at them.
"Let go of your filthy hands from her or I swear to god!" Naruto yelled at them.
"Gin! Yoda! Show this little shrimp proper manner to talk to us." The Boss Laughed.
"Naruto stay still! It's an order" Sasuke hissed while he was slowly walking towards them.
Gin was first to run up against Sasuke.
Sakura was shaking and crying.
The sight of her in this condition made Sasuke's blood boil.
He took out his Katana and dropped it on the ground.
"I will kill all for of you with my bare hands."
Before Gin used his knife, Sasuke easily caught his throat.
"Ugh," He coughed.
"I want to feel your blood on my hands." He said calmly.
"Only then I will feel relief."
he took a deep breath, "You shall be punished for what you've done to Sakura!" He roared in rage as he singlehandedly broke Gin's neck. And dropped the body.
The two men who were holding Sakura let her go and went after Sasuke.
While he was kicking the hell out of Yoda, before they approached him, Sasuke punched the young men in his rib cage so hard that Sakura heard the bones breaking.
Naruto jumped down from the little hill to help Sakura stand up.
While Sasuke fought with the two men.
"How dare you touch her?!" He punched one of them in the face.
"How dare you yell at her?!" He elbowed the other man in his gut.
"How dare you made her cry?!" with a final punch he poked out the eyes from one of the men as he fell crying.
Sakura saw as guards were approaching them.
Naruto hissed "Stay out of this if you don't want to get hurt."
Then he smiled and looked at Sakura.
"Princess let's go; you don't need to see this. This is not how Sasuke acts..."
"No" She shook her head.
"I don't want to look away! I want to keep my eyes on him."
"As you wish" Naruto nodded and took his cloak to cover her.
When Sasuke was done with them, he saw how the man who was their leader run away, from his pants Sasuke grabbed a little shuriken and threw at him piercing his shoulder, and he fell in pain screaming.
"I won't kill you, if I do, it will be an easy way out for you." He smirked.
Sakura's heart stopped as she saw his smirk. It was as if she was looking at a different Sasuke; she had never seen this malicious side of him.
Towards her, Naruto and others he was calm and somewhat gentle.
But right now, in front of him was the Viper, that she saw on the battle arena back in Konoha.
He was dominant, fearsome and he brought death with his hands if he desired.
Naruto felt uncomfortable to have Sakura see this scene.
She felt thrilled, she stopped shaking, and her breathing became steady.
The past year she has lived in fear, after losing her father and her country. She felt that death and horror followed her wherever she would go. Except for when she was next to Sasuke, for her, he would become the death.
Then she paid attention to what Sasuke was saying.
"I won't kill you, but you will be interrogated. and I will make sure you will be tortured." Then he turned back and went towards. Sakura and Naruto.
"Naruto how the hell did they enter the area?!"
"I will find it out." Naruto bowed, feeling guilty that Sakura was endangered because these lowlifes breached through his security.
"We will leave immediately and stop at camp before arriving at the destination."
"Roger that!" Said Naruto and he left Sakura's tiny body in his arms.
"I'm sorry." He whispered so that only she could hear.
"Thank you!" She answered back. And couldn't help but cry her heart out with her face buried in his shirt.
They took Sakura to treat her injuries.
Sasuke continued rest of the road riding with Naruto.
While Sakura slept in the carriage.
She woke up as soon as the motion stopped.
They've arrived.
This camp was similar to the one they stayed for the first time.
Her maids escorted her to the tent. It was precisely the same as the one before.
Sasuke was sitting in the chair.
"Leave" He ordered. and everyone left.
Sakura was standing alone at the entrance, looking at him, he had bathed and changed her clothes.
"How are you feeling." He said in his usual calm smooth tone.
"I... I'm alright, I feel... safe, now." She tried to smile but couldn't.
"I suppose you don't want to eat."
"Mhmm" She agreed.
He stood up and poured a drink for her and himself.
Then he gave it to her.
"Drink," he said
"It will help you fall asleep and relax."
She took it from his hands and drank it all.
The bath is ready for you, he said.
"I want to, but I feel I have no power in my limbs."
"I will call the maids then." Sasuke looked in her eyes; they were swollen from crying; she still had a mark of that man's hand on her cheek.
He bit his lip, and he regretted that they didn't find her before she got in this trouble.
"No need" She smiled trying to assure him that she was okay.
"Just help me get out of this." She looked at her dress.
He walked her to the bathroom, a bath filled with hot water was ready for her.
He let her hair down from a bun; then he began unbuttoning the dress, slowly it fell, he gave her his hand to lean on him while getting in the bathtub. Her back and shoulders had scratch marks and bruising from the morning's encounter.
Hot water was pleasant; it soothed her sore body. She tried to wash her hair but her arms hurt.
"Let me" He murmured.
She nodded approvingly. He washed her hair; he had never done it before. Usually, it was he who was receiving service from others.
He never even had the desire to do something like this to others.
But it didn't bother him now. Her hair was soft and pleasant to run his hand's through.
"She must be stressed," He thought. And began to massage her scalp slowly. Trying to remember how exactly the servant massaged his scalp to make him feel good.
"Thank you."
He couldn't see her face, but he felt that she was smiling genuinely this time.
"Hn" He grinned.
Hi everyone! thanks for the reviews and messages! :) I wrote several chapters so I will upload them soon :) xoxoxo