Chapter 20:
-« Am I dreaming? It's really you, princess? » Shizune says coming at the princess.
-« It's been a long time. »
-« Who's with you ? »
-« He's my bodyguard. And, It's Shizune, she teaches my mother medicine. »
-« Nice to meet you. » Says Boruto.
-« Nice to meet you too. » answers Shizune with a smile. Then she turns to Sarada. « I heard for King Uchiwa. I wanted to says that I'm so sorry for your mother and you. »
-« Thank you Shizune. It's ok it was a while ago. »
-« How your mother? »
-« She's good. She still practices, but she has less time now. Is Tsunade here? »
-« In fact, a lot of things change since you and your mother visited. And Tsunade just doesn't really fit in that new environment. »
-« Oh ok. »
-« So, you need to access the library? »
-« Yeah, I need to do some research for my mother. And it might take some time, so it's you can accommodate us, that's would really help. »
-« Of course. We can prepare two rooms for you. »
-« If they can be near next to each other that would be great. »
-« Unfortunately, that won't be possible. I think we need a little talk outside... »
Curious both of our protagonist follows Shizune outside, where she explained that the clerics who once build the academy, come back after Kara's attack for protection. Since then, they took control and imposed drastic measures to align the academy with god's will.
-« So, once inside we won't be able to talk, like at all? »
-« Right, inside you have to be completely silent and unfortunately you won't be able to see each other because men and women are in different sections. »
-« That's crazy, how do you even coordinate? How are you supposed to teach? » asks the prince.
-« Only the high ranked clerics can talk because they are the voice of God. »
-« What about the library and the cafeteria? »
-« There's a schedule for women and for men, so even there you won't see each other... Sorry about that, if you knew you could have brought a female bodyguard. But, I assure you, we never been bothered by the Kara. You are in security here. »
-« Ok, I guess we will manage to work with those circumstances. We have no choices.» Says Sarada a bit shocked and worried.
-« Maybe, I can help you. What are you looking for? »
-« Yeah, maybe you can help, but I'm not sure what I'm looking for... »
...
So, here she is. It's the second day she's going through the piles of books Shizune brought her. Sarada started to wonder what the Uzumaki prince's doing during that time alone. Then, the bells ring signaling the library was closing in a few minutes. Not again! She gets the books back on the shelves and leaves with her notes.
Later, she wakes up after her nap, then she took a look at the windows. Perfect, everybody looks asleep. She took her notes with her and sneaks her way to the library. The door still locked, Boruto didn't arrive yet. She gets to the window on the hall and sneaks into the library from the outside. She lights a candle she gets her books back. Such a drag to manipulate those books for nothing. She wishes she could work the way she wants. Guess she's better at giving orders than following them.
She gets on the ladder to find the book she read earlier when something grabs her calves suddenly. She holds a cry and looks down at Boruto smiling, amused that he got her.
-« What's wrong with you? Imagine if I'd scream. »
-« You're not a screamer. »
-« I hope you don't mean what I think you mean. Idiot. »
-« Gosh, you're not in a good mood, tonight. Did you find your book? »
-« I put it back here, earlier... and there he is. »Sarada gets down and gets back to the other books she gets.
-« So, did you find anything? »
-« To tell you the truth, there could be so many possibilities. I'm maybe wasting my time here. I started to work methodically, I'm listing what has caused diseases to human, by categories: plants, bugs, animal, fungus...
-« Sara, we're not staying here for months. I'm already going crazy. » says Boruto already exasperated.
-« Maybe you can help me. It looks like huge work but Shizune helps me and I'm advancing quite quickly. »
-« I can give a try but when I open those books, I understand nothing. »
-« You can help me to list it's really not that difficult. I need an idea of how strong it was and what's the effect... Also, where you can find it? If it's impossible to find, you don't have to list them. »
Boruto sits, defeated, and grabs a book.
-« Ok let's do it. Just tell me where to start. I'm assuming you know what you're doing because I'm not kidding, we're not spending weeks here. »
-« If you help me, we will leave sooner. Ok, take that book, I'm gonna leave the bugs to you. »
Boruto started to do the work as Sarada told him to. He didn't know she was a bookworm, she looks cute with her nose in the books. After one or two hours, Boruto takes a break. Sarada takes a look at him, as he was relaxing on his chair.
-« Tired already? You know I've been doing that all day. » nagging him.
-« Reading makes me tired, what do you want? You really seems to enjoy it. »
-« Yeah, I don't dislike it. » Getting back to her reading.
-« You came here with her mom? »
-« Well, she studied medicine here, and comes back time to time for here research. I went with her, and I just spend my days the nose in the books even if I didn't really understand or I brought my own books. It's relaxing. »
-« So, I'm in good hands if I get sick. »
-« I know things theoretically but I'm not so good in practice, so don't get sick. » She jokes. « I should maybe put more effort on it. »
-« Don't be too hard on yourself, for what I understand it a shoot in the dark even for a specialist. »
-« True. Listing those things is the easy part, the real research is to find how we can enhance a bacteria or a virus. Maybe he concentrates it or mixes it with a developer, maybe he's feeding a bacteria... also, how he's gonna spread it... It's a bummer that Orochimaru didn't give us more. Are you sure Mitsuki did say something else? Is Adamo wants to kill people, make them sick? »
-« No, it rings no bell to me. They were pretty vague... Ok let's do one last hour then we're done for tonight. »
-« Do you want me to continue tomorrow during the day? »
-« Yeah, as you want. »
...
For a week, Sarada and Boruto meet during the night to continue the work. One of that night, Sarada comes to the library and meets Boruto with a book lighten by a single candle.
-« Hey morning! Sorry I overslept. »
-« No problem. you look tired. You can take a night off. »
-« I'm ok. I think I'm thinking about this too much. »
Boruto stands up and comes to her. He grabs her by the shoulders with a smile.
-« Gosh, you are barely standing on your feet. »
-« You exaggerate,» she answers while rolling her arms around him, and lays her head on his shoulder.
He had a little laugh before caressing the back of her hair.
-« We should think about leaving soon. I think we both had enough.»
-« Yeah, just give me a little more time and we're gonna have enough. »
-« Good for a day or 2. »
Boruto was kinda surprised the princess didn't let him go of her hug. Seems like she needed it.
-« Did you miss me, Princess Uchiwa? »
-« Maybe I did. » says Sarada with a teasing look.
The princess approaches and kisses him. Then, she grabs his shirt to bring him with her as she sits on the table. She confines him between her legs, pulling him against her. As her chest was pressing against him, she rolls her arms around his neck to kiss him passionately. She starts opening his shirt when he separates from her.
-« What is it? Are you scared to get cut? »
-« Thought you were tired, princess? »
-« Don't worry, I have the energy for you. »
She enters her hands inside his shirt to touch him, then she goes back for his mouth. She feels his hands sliding on her ass.
-« It's exciting, don't you think? We broke so many rules, mmm... » She finishes her sentence on his neck, where she drops rough kisses.
Sarada sense that he was restraining himself.
-« You're ok? I'd thought defying the authority was your thing. »
-« mmm... it's not that. I just.. I had time to think and maybe we need to have a talk. »
-« You're serious? What do you want to talk about? » a bit concerned.
-« I'm not sure it's the right time. Maybe we can talk about it when we will be out of here. »
-« I prefer you talk to me now or I'm only gonna think about it the whole time. So, what is it? »
He sits on a chair in front of her.
-« Well, I don't know how to start it... It's just... I understand that you just lost Kawaki and we're maybe going to quick or something but... well, ok I gonna start there... You keep saying that you want nothing serious like what we had 4 years ago. But, for me, 4 years ago I thought it was serious. Am I wrong it was just fun for you? »
-« But I thought I was clear... mmm. I don't know what to say. »
-« It's just, I realize I'm not that comfortable with that story. And you keep saying that we're not a good fit, but I don't understand where's that coming from. I mean, we're working well together, I think you don't dislike the sex, or else tell me... and to tell you the truth, for me, we're a good fit. »
-« I thought I was clear that it's just for fun, I want nothing more. I don't think we should get distracted either... Do you want us to stop? »
-« No... In fact, what I really want to know is what's wrong with me? What's makes you not want to be with me? »
-« ... »
She was not answering, just looking at the floor. He stands up and gets to her.
-« You don't know? »
-« ... »
-« Or you know, but you don't want to tell me. »
-« ... I didn't want to think there was a problem with you. It's political,It's not just about us. I don't want us to be together because you are who you are. »
-« It's not every girl's dream to be with a prince? »
-« Of course, always wanted a prince » Shaking her head with a smile. « Come here. » she holds her forearms. « One day, you will become king of the largest empire. You will do a great job. People already loved you and I understand why. You really loving, caring and you would do anything for them. But, I'm not gonna be by your side because I'm gonna care to take of the people my father passed to me... »
-« You know that I never was interested. I never ask for that job... »
-« But you own them to be a good ruler. Like I own mine. »
-« And maybe I need you to do that... I don't see the problem, you don't want our empires to fusion? »
-« Considering our past, I can't accept that happening... We were at war not so long ago. I did everything I can to avoid you from invading us, so I can't let take my empire through me. »
-« But, we're allies now. And as far as I'm concerned, you would be winning more than I would. Am I wrong? »
-« May seems like it for us but you are who you are, Uzumaki. People always take you in high esteem and I'm just the woman next to you. Everyone already assumes we're together and treat me like your shadow. I'm telling you what it will like if we end up together, I gonna like look the price for the hero who all save us from the Kara. So I'm not interested. »
-« That's ridiculous I never see you like lesser than me, or like a price. »
-« I don't you don't but it's what it would look like. »
-« You should not care what people think or want. The only thing that matters is what we want. Don't you think? »
-« Easy to say for you, it's not like you have something to lose. Anyway, I've made my choice... I didn't want to fall in love with you back then, and I don't want to fall right now. I don't want to be second, I prefer to have a smaller empire but keep my pride. That's why, I will be looking for someone with no title, so I'm gonna stay somebody. »
-« It's unfair for me. It's just because of my name.»
-« Look at you, the spoiled child whining because someone says no to him. I don't have any pity for you. It's not like you would have any difficulty finding someone else. »
-« But Sarada... »
Boruto takes her hands, pretty sad.
-« Sarada, I wasn't born to do that, but you are. You are born to rule and I honestly think, I was born to support you achieve that dream. » Even with the low light, Boruto could see that she blushes. « That's why I think we're a good fit. I need you. I think the best gift I could give to my people is you. »
-« Boruto, you're talking none sense. »
-« No I'm not. If you become my queen, I want you to be the ruler. I will support you in every way possible but I don't want to be in your way. »
-« Don't say that, why would you want that? »
-« Because, you're the most intelligent...
Sarada puts her hand on his mouth...
-« I think I heard something... »
Then a face appears by the shelf. It was Shizune.
-« My goodness, you really are the Uzumaki prince. »
-« Shizune... We are sorry to break into the library. »
-« You two should get back to your rooms, the clerics were getting suspicious about you two. I'm gonna take care of the books... You will have to leave tomorrow, please meet me outside in the morning. »
...
In the morning. Sarada gets her luggage and meets Shizune outside.
-« Good morning. »
-« Good morning, princess... Prince Uzumaki isn't arrived yet. Hope he slept well. »
-« He should join us soon. Please Shizuna, don't use titles. We don't want anybody to know his identity. Can you keep the secret for us? »
-« Of course, I'm sorry... I can't believe I didn't recognize him before, he looks just like his father. »
-« Yeah, he does. Thank you very much for your help, I hope we didn't bring you troubles. »
-« No, don't trouble yourself for me. You worth the risk. I heard what happened to some of Kara's members. I'm happy I could help. »
-« You helped a lot... and about the conversation you may, I heard last night... It's a misunderstanding, I and him are not together. I guess we were just tired and talked none sense. »
-« It's none of my business, I shouldn't have listen to your conversation. I'm really sorry. »
-« Ok, mmm... I think I'm gonna prepare the horses. Can you wait for him here? »
...
Later, while Boruto and Sarada were riding toward their next
-« Shizune seems trustworthy. »
-« Yeah, we don't have to worry that she will reveal your identity. »
-« That's what I thought... Do you have your notes, do you think you have enough? »
-« I guess we will have to do with what we have. I have an idea of the stuff I can get in case we get infected... »
-« Hopefully, we won't need it. I check the map, I think there's some inns near the lab, but will stop at Iwaga before to get what you need. »
-« So, you know where to go? »
-« Of course. »
They stay silent for a while before Sarada breaks it:
-« That was really sweet what you said last night. »
-« I noticed you liked it, never seen you blushing that much before. »
-« You're really nagging me. » She says holding a smile. « Why am I even trying to compliment you? »
-« That was a compliment? »
-« Well, I tried... I guess I'm not too good at them. So, we haven't really finished our talk. What do you want to do? »
-« There's no much to do. I understood what you said... »
-« Hey Bor. You're not mad? I told you since the beginning... »
-« I know, I know... »
-« Then, what is it? »
-« Calm down, I just telling you that I understood... »
-« I'm calm. »
-« ... Just pretend nothing happened. I don't want to fight over that...»
-« ... »