Chapter Eight: "The Love of Evil Vs A Single Woman"

"Sometimes a Lady Just Needs To Be Wild.
But Always, She Will Be a Queen."
—Whether She Faces Madness or Evil, She Reigns Over All With Firm Hands—

….

….

"Ah, here we go again." Sakura didn't bother to look up as she found herself in the castle lounge. "Good morning, boys."

"Hn. Morning, darling." Itachi stepped up to kiss her hand before he faced Sasuke. "Hello, little brother. I see the truth must have been revealed since you're not trying to kill me this time." He stated like it was a casual remark.

"Hello, Itachi." Sasuke replied back stiffly and glanced at Sakura before clenching his fists. He bowed down to his elder brother as his bangs covered his face. "I'm sorry for everything!" There was too much to apologize for, but he could only start with this.

Itachi slowly smiled then flicked the younger Uchiha's forehead before he grabbed his shoulder and pulled him into a fierce hug. "Foolish little brother. Don't take all the burden." He had never hated him. After all, he was the one who withheld the truth. Sasuke's reaction was within his expectations. The only surprise was the day Sakura popped into his life and now she reunited him with his brother. Each day, he learned something new with the angel. "Sasuke, I also apologize. I should have trusted you with the responsibility to handle the truth."

For the first time in a long time, Sasuke let himself be hugged and tears fell from his eyes. To anyone else, he wouldn't bat an eyelash. It was only one person who made him cry this way — his loyal and self-sacrificing brother who never said a word against him. After a few moments, he forced his tears to stop before he stepped back and clasped his brother's shoulders. As happy as he was to see his elder brother again, there was another important thing to address first. He couldn't move forward until he was honest with Itachi.

"I have something to tell you." Sasuke gulped nervously. He glanced at Sakura's clueless face. He couldn't blame her — they'd only just arrived. But he wanted a clean slate with Itachi and that meant telling the whole truth. "I am pursuing Lady Sakura!"

The once cold-hearted Uchiha bit his lip as his cheeks burned. It was despicable to yearn for his woman after all his elder brother had been through, but even if he owed his brother his life, he couldn't pretend about his heart. His genius brother would figure it out sooner or later and lying to himself and holding his feelings in was what caused a rift between the two brothers in the first place. If he were honest with his doubts and questioned Itachi's role in the massacre since the start, he would have found out Itachi's situation with the Elders earlier. From now on, he wanted to hide nothing. He didn't want any more secrets between them!

Sasuke once more clenched his fists as he expected ridicule or accusations, but the next words shocked him.

Itachi merely kept smiling without a single bit of surprise. "I know."

"What. You know?" Sakura squeaked out with a flushed face. Sure, she was going to tell him anyway, but was he psychic or something?! "But we just got here! In fact, you didn't even look shocked to see your beloved brother just now!" She walked up to the tall dark-clad Uchiha and narrowed her eyes. "Did you know Sasuke was going to be in the next dream this whole time? You better not be messing with me." She puffed her cheeks out.

Itachi chuckled before pinching Sakura's cheeks lightly. "Silly woman. I wouldn't dare trick you with this. It seems that before you arrive, we get a quick vision of whose coming to the castle. Just a brief vision and I saw the way he looked at you. I'm not surprised you've managed to steal his heart as you did mine, my lady."

"Y-You! You're making me sound very scandalous!" Sakura blushed. She swore there was a novel titled 'Caught Between Two Brothers: Endless Pleasure' hidden in the libray's secret nooks back home. She never imagined she'd be playing the part! Gah! She stamped her foot while she tried to hide her face behind her long hair.

Kisame laughed out loud, "Aw, come on, kitten! You're embarrassed by this? With the way you licked my —"

"Oh my god! Shut up, Kisame!" Sakura squeaked out before running over to cover his mouth with both of her hands. She had to tip toe really high just to do that much. So much for looking threatening. "Or — Or I will never talk to you again!"

"Mmph!" Kisame's eyes crinkled happily as he grabbed her waist then licked her palms. With another high squeak, Sakura took back her hands and Kisame purred, "We can't have that, now can we, dear?"

"Ahem!" Deidara frowned from the side as he tossed his blonde hair to the side. "Play fair! We haven't had breakfast with the angel yet. No cheating and getting ahead until after, remember?"

Sasori cracked his knuckles as he glared at the tall blue menace. "Some of us aren't getting enough time with Sakura. You're new so you haven't had to be as patient as us." He frowned — his rivals were getting taller and bulkier. He'd have to plan his attacks — erm, strategies better to gain the lady's favor.

Gaara rolled his eyes as he pulled off the bow tie that the castle made him wear every morning. Why were they always in black suits? "We've only been here for a few days. What patience did you have?"

"Shut it, sand puppet. No, that's an insult to puppets. You snake." Sasori glared at Gaara while Sakura eyed them. It seemed while she was gone, the two had some problems? She sent a worried glance over, but then Kakashi winked at her.

"Don't worry, Princess. They're just having a friendly competition. It seems Sasori is peeved that Gaara pulled one over him and got time with you yesterday. Don't worry, it's all games."

"Oh, thank heavens." This whole dream world did feel like a game at times. As long as she ignored her growing attachments, that is. No. Let's change the topic! Then her stomach rumbled and she laughed. "It seems now that I've had a taste of breakfast, my body can't wait! Haha!"

She only meant it as a joke, but then suddenly all of the men immediately settled down and walked her over to the dining room as if she were royalty. And just like that, she was being pampared while being served tea. "Um, guys? I'm really not so delicate that I can't handle a little hunger."

Long fingers tucked her hair behind her ear as Kakashi scanned her face. "Nonsense. It's better to have a full stomach. Now eat up or I'll force you to eat vegetables." He said sternly. "What kind of men are we if we can't care about your health?"

"Oh." At those small, caring words, a warm feeling flooded her chest. Unlike with the maids and nobles at her home castle, they weren't caring for her out of duty or agenda. They were truly sincere. It almost felt too good to be real. She shook her head and smiled at each of the men and said, "Thank you, everyone. Let's eat!"

And so began another peaceful morning in this enchanted dream realm.

….

….

After eating breakfast, the group chatted about the different rooms in the castle to the peculiar magic that held up this world. Sakura was amazed to find that this place not only had libraries and gardens now, but also a throne room. Of course it should have a throne room since it was a castle, but that warranted the question of who ruled here.

So she asked, "Did you find any clues about this place's origins? Surely the library holds a history of royal lineage here."

Sasori shook his head. "Unfortunately, no. It is mostly fairy tales and legends surprisingly. Common tales like red riding hood to peculiar ones like dragons who used to be princes. And the curious thing is that all of these tales revolve around Godmother Ella. Maybe this castle was her home."

"Maybe…" Sakura placed a finger on her lip as she mused. "But I've been to her home. It's a cute mansion, but nothing as grand as this place. Her home was more intimate and cozy. Unless she has two homes?"

"Who knows? I'm sure we'll find out at the end of these dreams." Sasori then leaned forward while the others stopped eating. "Speaking of which, there are only 5 more to go. How about we —"

"Hey now! No cutting!" Deidara interefered before shoving Sasori's face away from Sakura. "We aren't allies anymore, so I won't let you get ahead of me!" Soon the two artists started bickering like it was their sacred duty to be at ends with each other.

"Stupid immortal freak who thinks dead art is the best! Your nostalgia is what degrades your art. Everything is a bang!" The blonde artist yelled as he stuffed a pancake in the mouths of his palms. Sakura swore the two mouths looked happy as they chewed. One even wiggled a tongue at her! She couldn't determine if she should find it creepy or cute.

Sasori slammed a hand on the table before he snuck a bite of a muffin in before retorting, "This is why you're an airhead! Always living in the present and ignoring the eternal themes of life! Your art is simply a fiasco, a fleeting distraction compared to my homage to the universe's secrets!"

Soon the two had a heated argument over who art told the universe's secrets better and Sakura could only shake her head. This fight would never end.

Sakura stifled a laugh and found a warm palm on her shoulder. She looked up into playful eyes.

Kisame leaned in closer while the artists bickered and whispered in her ear like a seductive devil of a merman, "I'd like to show you something amazing, if you come with me? It's a surprise."

Sakura shivered as his hot breath blew against her ear and she could feel the heat off the blue warrior. She glanced around to find that Sasuke and Itachi were busy catching up, Gaara was glaring but holding back and Kakashi simply chilled before he gave her a small wink. Once more, her face turned red before she swiftly got up and snuck out of the dining room before the artists could give chase. How could she resist Kisame's amazing surprise?

As they ran down the halls with stifled laughs, Sakura realized she hadn't had much alone time with the loyal warrior and she smiled. "So what is this secret surprise?"

"Impatient, are we? We're almost there." Kisame chuckled deeply before they turned a corner and he threw open the door to…

Sakura's eyes widened as she took in the beautiful sight. In front of her was a wide pool surrounded by ornate tiles of blue and gold. The walls were made of pearl and jewels as a fog lightly covered the glittering stones in a haze that made it seem mysterious and exotic.

In the middle of this giant bath was single pink bud that floated on top the surface of the warm waters. Kisame whispered as he closed the door behind them. "Watch this."

With a few waves of his fingers, streams of water floated in the air in a cyclone pattern that surrounded the bud and then he sang. Sakura had never heard such a melody before, it was deep and haunting like the ocean she only saw glimpses of. Kisame's voice echoed in the blues and golds of the bath and Sakura could feel herself fall into a trance at the haunting melody.

Little by little, the small pink bud unfurled it's petals and slowly started to shimmer with blue light as ribbons of water swirled around it in a beautiful dance. On and on, the mesmerizing show played on until Kisame's voice started to get softer and softer and the buds completely unfurled. At the last whisper of the song, a single bead of water floated above the center of the tiny pink flower and the water fell back into the bath.

For a long while, Sakura couldn't take her eyes away as the flower floated down into the center of the bath and the enchanting lights hidden in the fog reflected off her like she was the jewel in the bath. Sakura could only whisper, "Beautiful."

Kisame looked down at the pink-haired princess and stroke her cheek glowing with the reflection of blue and gold lights. Her pale skin seemed to absorb the colors until it was like she were one of the glimmering fish of the sea herself. "Yes, very beautiful."

Sakura's cheeks burned while she suddenly felt shy being the focus of the honest warrior before her and she asked, "What is that flower called?"

"Poseidon's Love. It is a flower only found in the deepest parts of the sea. A rare flower that I never imagined would be lying in the castle gardens. I found only one in a small pond, but I had to bring it here and show you. I saw this bath and it gave me an idea. This bath is just like the royal ones under the sea. These are strange coincidences, hmm?"

"Very." Sakura was getting used to strange coincidences by now. How much of these events were planned by the fairy godmother or was there something more at stake? If she truly planned this much detail, then she was a fearsome mage indeed. Then again, it could be the magic of the spell affecting all of them. Magic was detailed in the strangest of ways when it came to making dreams come true if the fairy tales she read were any lesson.

Kisame walked toward the bath and stripped off his clothes in quick motions and he stepped in, gently carried the flower within his large palms. When he stood in the center of the pool, the water merely came to his waist. "Come, this is for you. You have to be in the water."

Sakura arched a brow and pulled her lip back. "Cunning."

Kisame shrugged. "I like to say to the point." He grinned at her. "Unless you're getting shy now? Surprising. Coming from the lady who took control back at the village."

This time Sakura rolled her eyes. "Obvious ploy, but I'll take your bait, Kisame. You better be careful what you wish for." Without hesitation, she slowly stripped off the slim dress that once again barely covered her at all. Slipping her legs out of the dress as she lowered her arms, she teased the powerful warrior as she paused here and there.

Kisame groaned. "You're killing me, woman."

"I told you." With a laugh, she dropped her clothes and slowly got into the warm pool as shivers went up her spine. "Ahh…It's been so long since I had a good bath." The warmth trickled up her skin as she immersed herself in the relaxing waters. Until now, she'd mostly been woken up perfectly clean due to the magic of the castle, but nothing beat a good old bath ritual. "Nnn…." Sakura moaned lightly as she let the water take her in. The water reached her shoulders, but it was crystal clear and the large swordsman didn't hide his leer.

"I stand corrected. Now you're definitely killing me." Kisame swam closer until his chest loomed over her and he licked his lips. "But first…Here." Taking the small bead of water in the air, it didn't even break. Perfectly round and unbroken, it hovered in front of Sakura's lips. "Drink it and you will be able to gain an element of the sea, my motherland. It is a sacred ritual that I can only give to those who I deem loyal and true so they may gain access to my homeland — be it comrade…or life partner."

Sakura gulped as she saw his serious gaze and soon guilt trickled in. She still had lingering doubts over the spell's influence over them. "Kisame. I have to confess. I appreciate your offer and your trust, but what if it's the spell's magic talking? I can't accept such a grand —"

Before she could finish her words, he already slipped the bead past her lips and instantly a refeshing feeling came over her as she blinked up in surprise. Nothing much changed, but she felt a certaind draw to the water that surrounded them. Subtle and quiet, the element lingered in her body as the water before the sky. "Kisame!" she gasped. "You should have let me finish."

"Nonsense. I know you'll overthink this and I know my heart, Sakura." Kisame held her gaze. "But if you worry, do not fear. I would never hold this against you. It is too late now. This bead of water will give you a certain added advantage in the sea — you can breathe underwater for long periods of time — say two hours — and the currents won't be so merciless to an extent. At the very least, you will be granted passage to my homeland if needed. Even if the dream ends and takes our feelings away, which I doubt, then it wouldn't change the fact that for this moment you have changed my world. You have shown me what is possible and I will never forget that. Just please…do not speak of doubts and let us meet our fate the way we can — Freely and as best we can now." He leaned down until his forehead touched hers and he begged, "Please. Do not give up before we even find out. I have become one with you in body, I seek to become one in heart and soul if you'll have me."

Sakura didn't know what to say. She'd seen his playful side, his violent and bloodlust side, his happy and lustful side — but never has she seen him as vulnerable as now, swearing an oath of great weight. The oath of a man as loyal and honest as him was the greatest gift he had and a treasure she wasn't sure she was worth. But still, her heart swayed. So she promised, "Until we find out at the dream's end…I promise to face you with what is in my heart now. And if it truly fades with the spell, at least in this moment, you have changed me as well, Kisame. I promise you this much. May you accept it?"

"I accept." Then Kisame couldn't stop laughing as he held her tight against his chest. She could feel his chest vibrate against her whole flesh and she heated up in a way different from the warmth she felt from the bath. "I'm so happy, Sakura! I almost thought you would still reject me to be honest. I'm not that smart so it took me a long time to put together how to confess."

Sakura looked up into those clear eyes that faced her head on and she couldn't help but join in his laughter. "Well, you got me." A wicked urge passed by her mind as she traced a finger along his shoulder. She purred, "Say…"

Kisame jolted at the sudden change in tone before his eyes darkened with lust. "Yes, kitten?"

"I want to test this power." Sakura licked her lips as she felt the water's energy flow through her body and she pushed the merman back into the water and followed suit.

Splash!

Once underneath the water, Sakura tested her lungs and the most peculiar sensation came over her. It took her a minute to get used to it, but sure enough, she was converting water into air inside her mouth! With wide eyes, she tried to tell Kisame, but instead of words, a series of waves pulsed out of her, but she understood them! This…Wasn't this magic too powerful?!

Kisame noticed her surprise and smiled. He spoke through sound waves back toward her and she understood his words by instinct —

"This is the tongue of the sea. You're one of us now, kitten. Or should I say catfish? Huh. Kitten sounds better." Kisame chuckled to himself and it sounded like a soft beating of drums in the water.

Sakura traced her hands down her throat and didn't feel any gills. This was purely because of magic — not even the best mage in her kingdom could do this! What kind of ritual did Kisame perform to give her such power. The greater the power, the greater the risks! "Kisame, what did you have to sacrifice to give me this power? It couldn't be a normal lover's oath or comrade's creed." She had heard of oaths that could lend powers, like the gods of light bestowing strength unto heroes, but nothing like this for such a simple woman such as her.

"It's nothing big. As long as you don't betray the sea kingdom or try to kill me, then we won't die. I know you're a goody girl, princess, so don't fear for me. You're a part of my family now." Kisame confessed nonchalantly.

Sakura shook his shoulders as she scolded, "That is not a small thing! What if I make a mistake or you get killed because of me? If humans knew that this magic existed —"

"I trust you." Kisame stopped her. "So you should trust yourself, too. Or do you not trust my judgement?"

"…!" She froze as she floated above him, her long pink tresses curling and dancing in the water. A warm feeling entered her heart at those words and she could only mutter, "I trust you."

It wasn't fair. He couldn't say that to her. For a lady who was only raised to be decoration and silent, no one has said they trusted her until she entered this fantastical world of dreams. Slowly and surely, one by one, these men were entering the cracks in her heart and she didn't know how to handle it. She didn't know what she would do if this all turned out to be simply a sweet dream. Then she remembered why she came here in the first place — to be granted a wish to make a dream come true.

When the dreams end, she could wish for anything. A fairy godmother's role was to help dreams come true. A dream come true…If she could wish for anything, then…

With lowered eyes, she hugged Kisame's neck and whispered in his ear after she floated down to his side. Like a true mermaid, she felt a part of the sea in her heart and of his heart, so she could feel his words were true. "Kisame…Make love to me."

"Sakura?" He noticed the serious look in her eyes and stopped playing around. "If you need time —"

She held his face between her palms and said, "Kisame. I want to just be here in the moment. With you. So please, let's just enjoy each other's company?"

Kisame returned her look with a solemn face and nodded, "Always, my love."

And so, they embraced each other with heavy hearts and yearning touches. Sakura could only pray that her wish would be granted in the end. For now, she simply wanted to stay in this moment where her dreams are true now.

With that, Kisame ran his large warm palms down her thighs and flipped them over so her back hit the tiled floor. She saw the light filtered through the water and reflected off his smooth blue skin like warm marble. His sharp edges and wide shoulders cradled her effortlessly and she felt like she was the world within his palms.

Without another word, he placed his lips on hers as he rand his long rough fingers down her spine before entering her folds. Spreading her legs wide, warm water gushed inside her as he thrust his fingers in smoothly.

"Nn!" Sakura threw her head back, but Kisame pushed his tongue in and kissed her deeper. His other hand ran up and down her body as he let her 'breathe' and admired the pink goddess below him.

"My Sakura of the sea." He mumbled as he kissed down her neck and clasped her ass with both hands and spread her legs wider.

Sakura felt his tip enter her and then the rest of his rod fully filled her. She gasped as Kisame lightly bit her shoulder as he cradled her soft body between his arms.

"Sakura!" The hardened swordsman waited before he moved and thrust inside her over and over until she was a weepy mess below him.

Ever since Sakura was given the tea by Godmother Ella, she had enormous energy and stamina, but since she also drank the bead of water from the Poseidon's Love flower, the moment the swordsman held her underneath the water, her skin grew extremely sensitive and her body molded to his instinctively like it craved his touch and it made her feel weak. The two conflicting forces collided until she found a breathless euphoria being held by Kisame underwater.

And of course, she had a silly thought: If mermaids all felt like this during sex underwater, no wonder they didn't want to come to land.

On and on, he drove into her and when two hours passed as she climaxed over and over, he lifted her head above water and she could feel real air rushing in. Gasp! Instantly, she felt her magic lose the water bead's effect and her full power returned her to high stamina. She made a note in her mind: If completely underwater, she can breathe and be quick as a fish, but her normal magic will lose a certain strength until she comes up to the surface. Made sense to her. She wasn't a goddess so having a limitation was actually a relief.

With a satisfied sigh, she looked at Kisame's heated face and pecked him on the lips. "Shall we go —" Suddenly, Kisame held her waist and with a look of lust, he entered again. "Ahhh!"

But it didn't stop. She straddled him as she rode on top of the massive swordsman and she screamed his name, "Kisame!"

Kisame simply nuzzled his face between her ample breasts and sucked and licked while she lost herself to her senses.

It was only when the water started to cool and she had completely lost all feeling in her legs for the moment, that Kisame finally came for the last time. If they werent' sure this was a dream world, she'd think he was trying to get her pregnant with how much longer he came into her. And for a flash second, she almost imagined what their child might look like.

She shook her head. The bath was getting to her head.

"Sorry…" Kisame bit his lip before peeking at her tired face. "I was too much this time. You can't go to the next dream yet."

"No, remember? I'm a healer. Just give me a moment." Sakura focused her power and a golden light glowed off her body as she felt her tiredness slip away. "See?"

"Tch." Kisame grimaced childishly, revealing off his daggered teeth in an adorable way. "It wasn't enough."

"Ki-sa-me?" Sakura arched her brow at the naughty fishman. "Don't tell me you were colluding with the others to get me to stay."

"N-No…" Then he switched topics, "Say, I wish we could leave this castle to explore a bit. But then it wouldn't be allowed, huh." Kisame bowed his head like a petulant child. Now that they were bonded in a way, he really dropped his guard. "I don't know what will happen after this dream ends, but I wanted to show you something."

"What is it?" Sakura leaned against his wide shoulder and gazed up at him.

Kisame blushed once more like he never saw her naked before and suddenly declared like a boy confessing his fantasies, "One day, I will take you to the sea! Then we can explore the treasures underneath together. You'll love it. I can find powerful mages who can help you breathe underwater longer so no worries on that end. I want to show you everything, Sakura."

She giggled, "I'm looking forward to it."

After the two rested in each other's arms for a long while, they finally stood to get dressed and the two prepared to enter the next dream.

Kisame whined, "Can't we just keep making love here? There's no deadline!"

"I don't want to get too comfortable or we'd never leave the castle, silly." Sakura poked his cheek as she rolled her eyes.

"That doesn't sound like a bad idea?"

"Then how will you show me the sea?"

"Fuck. Damn, woman. Always winning an argument." Kisame grumbled and Sakura lightly punched his arm with a soft fist. Kisame simply caught it and kissed her fingers in response.

"So you better listen." She smiled as she opened the door with her other hand and they walked out with hands held together. "Come, let's make a run for the next dream before the artists brigade carry me away. Then I'd really be stuck in the castle for a week."

"Still not a bad idea."

"Ocean, Kisame."

"Damn! Fine!"

Deep down inside, Sakura also had another reason to not postpone for long. If the past dreams were examples, then each dream is a cry for help. Even if time stood still, she didn't want to keep putting off her mission for long and the dreams seemed to become more difficult to handle whether it be cause of the growing battles or with the soul's heart itself. She only hoped she was enough.

Why did she have a vague feeling that she wasn't sent her to merely be tested to grant her wish? She was more powerful than the highest mage in her home country now. What was Godmother Ella planning? There was only one way to find out. She had to finish the twelve dreams or always wonder. Failure wasn't an option.

…

AUTHOR NOTE:

Due to not letting me upload the full document, I had to copy and paste in two halves. The rest of chapter is in next one (obvi) but just fyi why Hidan's dream isn't in the same chapter. Tech siiiigh. The whole chap posted on archive of our own tho.