Disclaimer: The usual…with pickles.

No Turning Back

Chapter 13

Her faithless confidence was disheartening. One moment she was certain of her words and actions, only to question her very reason for being there the next.

Sitting down on the soft bed, Sorano gazed about the generous accommodations provided by the Daimyo. It came with its own bathing facilities as well as a balcony that looked out over the vast gardens. She made a mental note to ask one of the others to seal off her room with sealing scrolls, though Neji probably already thought of that. If they made it too easy for the enemy to reach her room, it would be suspicious.

Tsunade's request had surprised her on some level. She knew eventually the Hokage would attempt to draw her in by such means being more than aware of her restless nature. She just didn't expect it to be so soon, especially after her undignified breakdown.

Sorano grimaced at the memory. Had her parents been alive she would have been thoroughly scolded for such unbecoming behavior. There were parts of her not meant to be seen, weaknesses never to be revealed before the eyes of strangers. But it had been building for so long and with no peace to be found for her, she had shattered under the pressure.

Upon waking the next morning she had been utterly mortified that she had fallen to pieces in the arms of the Anbu Captain. She wondered if he would start looking at her differently, disgusted, seeing only a weak, broken woman. If he did, she couldn't tell. In fact, it seemed to have encouraged his interest in her.

Within days of coming to Konoha, of promising Tsunade that she would attempt to make it her home, she had been pulled into a small circle of well meaning, if a bit odd at times, acquaintances who made it their business to keep her there by any means. She had never had anyone speak to her as they had done, eager to help when knowing so little of her. Even Sasuke did not begrudge her a few words of advice in his own malevolent way.

Sorano had made it a policy over the years to never let anyone get close. It was easy enough while she had purpose, never wanting an innocent to become entangled in the festering rot of her chosen path. But in the last four years of trying to forget, trying to ignore all that she was and all that she had done, so quickly she had lost all reason to breathe.

Life became a mere existence until a face from her distant past challenged her to be something more.

That was why she said yes to this mission, despite knowing the risks involved. She was not afraid of pain or death. She was afraid of losing the only chance she had left of being free from the past. There was simply nothing else left to hold sacred but this one hope.

Sorano was weary of running and Konoha seemed to be a good place to stop. Besides, if someone recognized her tonight, there really was nowhere left to go. For better or worse, there was no turning back.

Firm in this resolve, Sorano started dressing for the banquet. Sakura would come check on her soon, obviously more fashion-minded than herself. She was glad Tsunade had sent her apprentice along with them. The strong-willed kunoichi was welcome company and a likely reminder of what she could have been herself if her world had not fallen apart eleven years ago.

A brusque knock was her only warning before Sakura sauntered through the door already prepared for dinner in a lovely pink kimono embroidered with bright red flowers.

"Well this is exciting, isn't it," she announced happily as she immediately pushed Sorano into a chair and started rearranging her hair. "Neji told me Isamu-sama is going to escort you!"

"Did he seem upset with the arrangement?" Sorano asked as she watched Sakura's deft movements in the mirror. She still couldn't shake the feeling that something was bothering Neji. She wasn't as adept at reading people as he was, but something in his manner had changed towards the end of their meeting with the Daimyo. The only reason she noticed the chilling change was because she had unintentionally tuned into his chakra flow during the meeting to calm herself.

"No, but Neji is very good about hiding such things. Why?"

He of all people should understand why I had to accept the Daimyo's invitation, yet I can't shake the impression that he doesn't approve. "No reason. Will you be certain to keep an eye on Naruto? I don't want him attracting too much attention to himself. There's going to be a lot of foreign dignitaries there."

Sakura made a face. "He better be on his best behavior or I'll wallop him a good one. There, finished."

Just in time, as there was another knock on the door.

"Sorano-chan! Is Sakura-chan in there with you?"

Sorano smiled as Sakura rolled her eyes and went to open the door.

"What is it now, Naruto?" Sakura asked with experienced patience as she let the young man in.

"Can you help me with this?" He tugged at the formal clothing he was so obviously unused to.

"Stop pulling at it," she said, slapping his hands away as she straightened and tucked. The girl could have been a personal stylist if not a ninja, Sorano noted with amusement as she tucked the scroll left in her charge securely into her obi and stood up to join her companions.

Naruto glanced over at her and grinned. "Wow! You look great, Sorano-chan. We even match! Well, sort of."

She laughed softly as she concentrated on taking daintier steps. The formal dinner kimono was made of several overlapping layers in multiple shades of blue, the outer layer embroidered with silver doves and a multi-shaded obi threaded through with silver cinching the curve of her waist. The daring design barely hugged her shoulders, exposing an enticing amount of skin and accenting the gentle curves of her chest. Sorano was a woman after all and knew how to use her assets for distraction. The chosen shades of the kimono made her eyes glow like gemstones, memorizing even to her own sight. It was unlikely any man would be able to concentrate fully on her words tonight, thus eliminating at least half of the awkward conversations she anticipated. Of course, when she selected this kimono for the mission, she hadn't anticipated encountering a man as young and brazen as Isamu-sama either. The evening was bound to be interesting if nothing else.

"All done," Sakura said, stepping back to admire her work. Naruto didn't look half bad in pastel blue. It leant him an innocent air.

"Thanks, Sakura-chan. I'll never get the hang of these formal things."

"Some Hokage you'll be," she muttered. "Just make sure you remember your table manners. On second thought, maybe we shouldn't let you eat at all."

Naruto looked absolutely crestfallen at the prospect of no dinner. But before he could speak in his defense, there was another knock at the door.

"Popular, aren't I," Sorano muttered while Naruto, once more all business, opened the door. He must have been expecting someone else because he just blinked at the handsome man on the other side.

"Eh, who are you?" he asked, blue eyes narrowing suspiciously.

A brow arched imperiously over a green eye in reply.

"Good evening, Isamu-sama," Sorano said before Naruto could shift into over-protective mode.

An indulgent smile curled the Daimyo's lips. "Good evening, Sorano-san. Please, introduce me to your companions."

"With pleasure." Kami, she hated this formal crap. "This is Uzumaki Naruto and Haruno Sakura, both of the Hidden Leaf Village.

The two bowed respectfully to the man who glanced briefly at each before fixing his gaze on her again.

"I see. Well, then, if you are ready, Sorano-san." He held out a hand to her that she felt seriously tempted to ignore out of spite. Perhaps he had other things on his mind, but it irritated her how quickly he dismissed her comrades.

"We will wait for Neji," Sakura told her.

"Don't take too long," Sorano murmured as she stepped past them and placed her hand in the Daimyo's. His strong fingers curled around hers and pulled her gently into the hallway.

"Your companions are quite protective of you," he said as he tucked her hand through his arm, forcing her to walk close to his side.

"They take their duties seriously."

"If you were my charge," his gleaming eyes swept over her form, "so would I."

"Wow!" Sakura blinked at the now empty doorway. "That was Isamu-sama?"

Naruto scowled at her gaping fish impression. "I don't get it."

"The guy was gorgeous!" Sakura turned on him. "He has nothing on my Sasuke-kun, but still! Did you see the way he looked at her?"

That he didn't miss. Naruto shook his head. "No way, not Sorano-chan. I mean, sure, some girls might fall for the good-looking I've-got-my-own-country kind of guy, but not Sorano-chan. She wouldn't leave us for all of," he waved his arms at the luxurious room, "all of this!"

Sakura raised her brows at his rant and he hesitated.

"She wouldn't, would she?" he said with far less certainty.

"Sorano isn't quick to trust anyone, I know that much," she said.

Naruto let out a breath of relief.

"However," green eyes sparkled mischievously. "That's not to say this little development can't be useful."

"Eh?"

Sakura rolled her eyes. He could be so dense sometimes.

"Neji!" She said.

"Yes?"

The two turned to the doorway to see their stoic companion watching them with a raised brow.

"Uh, Sorano has gone ahead with Isamu-sama," she said with an overly cheerful smile. "So we should get going, yes?"

The second brow joined the first. "Right."

"Did you grow up in Konoha," Isamu asked as he refilled Sorano's cup. If he intended to loosen her tongue with wine, he would be sorely disappointed. Sorano could expel impurities with her chakra in a manner similar to her practice technique for chakra control. It made her tolerance practically unlimited, but she had precious little chakra under her control to waste so she would make this cup last all night.

"No," she said and with a mental sigh decided the man needed to be placated with more. Her evasive answers would only last so long and he was unduly interested in her, physical attraction aside. "I have only recently arrived."

This caught his attention and that of several others.

"How is it you have come to represent the Hidden Village if you are but a newcomer," a sharp-eyed man with a badly grown goatee asked.

"My family has long since had ties to the Land of Fire and the Village Hidden in the Leaves, and the Hokage has known me since birth," she said, all too aware of pearlescent eyes shifting in her direction. Neji had been placed a few seats away from her, just close enough to hear every word spoken but far enough to pretend ignorance for the benefit of Isamu's advisors and fellow dignitaries. It was comforting to have him so close at hand.

The man obviously belonged here more than she did. He possessed such natural elegance she almost envied him. Her heart was ricocheting against her ribcage and she feared it might show in her eyes or a subtle gesture. It wasn't the questions or the appreciative, and sometimes hungry, glances fixed on her that made her wish to bolt for the door. It was the gentle touches of the handsome lord beside her that stoked chills along the nervous fibers threaded through her body. The graze of his knuckles here, a caress there, subtle touches that seemed accidental to the unobservant eye, but the man was well aware of what he was doing to her. It was nearly impossible to withhold the rising heat in her face. Obviously he did not consider the conduct of "look but don't touch" applied to him.

Hoping to find a distraction to pull her mind back into focus, this is a mission after all, she glanced around until she sighted Naruto and Sakura. Naruto, the dear man, was paying almost painstaking attention to his manners, eating achingly slow, while Sakura efficiently charmed every man at the table. No social anxieties there, lucky woman.

Her gaze shifted again and stopped on the Hyuuga who was not quite as indifferent as she first thought. The slightest crease on his noble brow was a clear indication of irritation and his moon-bright eyes were fixed on her, well somewhere south in truth. Sorano followed the icy gaze to the hand currently resting on her wrist, a thumb brushing gently across her skin.

She barely managed to suppress the urge to snatch her hand away. The man's boldness was as unsettling as it was exasperating. But for the sake of her identity as a gentle-bred lady, such an aggressive reaction was unacceptable and damn if he didn't know it. One look into his green eyes sparkling with mischief was enough to tell her he was enjoyed her internal struggle. He knew well enough she wasn't everything she claimed to be.

"Dinner was delicious, Isamu-sama, but I am most interested in meeting the rest of your guests," she said as sweetly as possible.

Isamu smiled indulgently. "Of course, Sorano-san. We shall adjourn to the solar," he announced as he stood and offered her his hand. If she thought this would be her chance to put some distance between herself and the persistent Daimyo's attentions, she had seriously miscalculated.

Isamu tucked her arm securely through his as he led her out of the dining hall and into the solar, his dexterous fingers almost absently caressing her own. Sorano resorted to biting the inside of her cheek to draw her attention away from his fleeting touches and the shivers they caused.

It had been years since a man had dared to touch her with such familiarity. She had made certain to give no one the opportunity and that was easy enough given her self imposed isolation. Physical distance ensured emotional distance and both were necessary components to keeping her wall of defense intact. She could endure an attack on one element or the other, but heaven help her if anyone managed to break through both. Isamu clearly intended to do exactly that.

If she didn't get some distance soon, she was going to fly apart at the seams.

To my magnificent readers:

Lil'rockgirl- As for what is happening in Konoha at this time, I won't write it in because it isn't imperative to the plot. But if you are seriously curious… Sasuke is skulking around being broody and cool, Lee has opened up his own fashion clothing line called "Green Passion" and Hinata was buried in an avalanche in the library and is currently awaiting rescue by her golden shinobi.

Savvy0X- I found the name "Sorano" on a random site for Japanese names. I like to give my characters names with significance and this is especially important in the Naruto world. All of the characters in Naruto have a name that refers either to their family (Shikamaru Nara: Nara means deer and his family raise deer) or their techniques (Neji Hyuuga: Neji means spiral or helix because of his Kaiten) or even personality (Hinata means a sunny place). Sorano means "of the sky" and is significant to both her family and her technique, but you will have to wait and see why.

Ballagurl06- Anbu's interest in Sorano is the same as Neji's (though his changes in the story for obvious reasons). Sorano is favored by the Hokage, though Tsunade won't tell them why, and she demonstrates an aptitude for remarkable skill through her training with Lee, but her abilities still remain unknown. It's curiosity, plain and simple. Since Anbu is responsible for knowing all that is going on inside and outside of the village, you can see why Sorano would garner interest.

Where does inspiration come from? Good heavens! Couldn't you ask an easier question like how to calculate the rate of disintegration of matter as it approaches the sun at a velocity of 500,063 miles per hour? I might be able to work with something like that! Yeesh. Inspiration is different for everyone. It could be something you see on TV, something you experience in life, a sentence you read in a book, or even a person who catches your attention in reality. Anything that catches your interest and sets off a chain of fictional events in your mind can be considered inspiration. It is fickle and unpredictable. The best I can tell you is: when something moves you to start writing, let it and don't try to over control it. Sometimes I will take days to work out a scene in my head before writing it out, just to get through the harder, less inspired, sections. If one character doesn't fit in, try another one. When you do get inspired, don't fight it just because you think it's heading in a different direction then you want it to. Work with it and see where it takes you. That's about all I can tell you on that subject. I hope it helps.

Lady Sonnambula- Hm, I haven't really thought about how opposite in physical features Sorano and Neji are. Light and dark. Purely unintentional on my part actually. I've just been wanting to work with a character who had white hair. When I watch the anime in Japanese, I find using commonly known Japanese terms in my fiction much easier and it makes the story flow much better. I like the flavor of it, so to speak. But I only stick to common words because I personally hate having to scroll down in the middle of a story to look at the given glossary when people insist on using a ton of Japanese. Even with the jutsu's, I only use the easiest to recognize ones like Naruto's Rasengan and Sasuke's Chidori (writing "One Thousand Birds" just doesn't sound as cool, you know?) And of course, with Sorano's jutsus, I don't know enough Japanese to name them properly anyway. I'm glad you are enjoying my attempts in any case.

TeenAnimeLover- Ah, another one who reviewed every chapter. So cool. Thanks for adding me to your C2 too. Have a brownie. I think I mention the ages in the A/N of the first chapter, but anyway Neji, Lee, and Tenten are 20, everyone else is 19 including Sorano. I have a hard time writing with characters younger than that though in Japanese anime, anyone who is 16 acts like they're 20 most of the time. Plus I had to take into account Sorano's personal timeline.

It's impossible to completely avoid some MS tendencies because I am using an OC and everyone's perception of what qualifies as an MS is different. By some definitions, just putting an OC with a cannon character should make her an MS, but that is untrue because there are some really well written OC stories (few, but they are there) that stand heads and tails above the others in a class of their own. I think the Naruto world is even harder because most of the characters are guys and also the whole ninja factor, if not dealt with in a timely manner, could throw her over the top. If I put some of the things that happen in much later chapters into the beginning of my story instead, Sorano would definitely be an MS. Thus the need for many chapters and slow growth.

Thank you all for your wonderful reviews. So many! (swoons) Also thanks to all my chibi shy shadow readers that are still following my story.