Thank you again to everyone who took the time to leave feedback for the last chapter.
Chapter XC
In the fields of paradise, she glimpses a sight,
A vision within the gardens of delight,
Giving bloom to contentment within her chest,
To know the fate of a loved one - put to rest.
~x~
The beautiful, haunting notes of the piano drifted toward his ears, causing little Hades to halt abruptly in place. He knew, without question, who was playing the musical composition with such proficiency and grace. Grasping the plump tomatoes in his hand, he bounded toward the source of the melody, seeking refuge from his displeased pursuer.
Sneaking in through the back door, he crawled unseen beneath the lavish furniture dotted about the royal reception room until he reached the ebony instrument. Settling under it, he munched contentedly on his hard-earned prize, certain that he would avoid detection in his excellent choice of hiding place.
The sound of doors being thrown open seconds later was followed by a feminine voice that called out, anger ringing clearly in its sweet notes.
Hades froze. She was here. He ate the fruit faster, desperate to devour it before he was detected.
"Dearest one! Where is your brother? Have you seen him?"
The individual playing the piano did not pause in their melody. Hades turned wide eyes upwards, and felt his heart leap into his throat when he immediately encountered a long-lashed gaze, pinned directly onto him. Thanatos, seated upon the cushioned piano bench, regarded him coolly down the barrel of his straight nose.
"He has stolen the chef's finest tomatoes from the kitchens again!" Nyx exclaimed, her voice echoing across the room. "That child! You were always so impeccably behaved, Itachi," she complained. "From where has your brother acquired such a penchant for mischief? Sasuke!"
Thanatos raised an eyebrow at the little face peering imploringly up at him from its hiding place at his feet. Hades's mouth was smeared with tomato juice. A most incriminating sign.
A faint smile of amusement curved his lips, before he turned his eyes back to the piano keys, and answered, "Forgive me, mother. I know not where he is."
Then his gaze flicked back down.
Hades met his brother's ebony irises, and gave him a cheeky grin.
~x~
His fingers glided over the final set of notes, before the room once again plunged into silence.
"That was beautiful."
The gentle hand on his shoulder and the soft voice that spoke beside his right ear drew Sasuke from the haze of his memories. Every single time he played the instrument, he found himself immersed in sentimental recollections of his past. He opened his eyes and turned his head, to find Sakura, who had arrived at some point after he had started the piece, and was now sitting at the piano bench next to him.
"Who composed it?"
He removed his hands from the keyboard. "My mother."
Sakura angled a wry smile at him. "I guess all those music lessons paid off, after all."
His eyes lowered. He had despised the instruction back then - but what he would not give to return to those times, to have his family with him once more.
"Can you teach me?" Sakura tilted her head. "Maybe by the time my six months are up, I'll know how to play something."
She listened attentively as he explained what the sheet music meant, and which keys on the piano each of the symbols corresponded to. Sasuke then lifted his hand, and indicated the first note. She followed his guidance and slowly attempted to learn the first line of the tune.
After several stumbling attempts, she laughed bashfully. "I'm not very good at this."
"You only need practice." He rested his fingers on two keys. He had an artist's hands, Sakura thought distractedly to herself.
"Play these."
"Together?" she glanced at him.
"Alternate. The left first."
"Okay," she nodded.
He returned his hands to the chords and to her delight, they began to play a duet of sorts. When the song came to an end, she grinned at him.
"If we play this way, anyone listening might believe I'm an expert."
He snorted at that, and rose to his feet. "Getting carried away, Sakura?"
"Maybe," she smiled, scooting off the bench. "Speaking of getting carried away... do you have time to take me somewhere? Or do you need to see to your duties?"
He eyed her, curious. "I have time," he answered. Even if there were duties that demanded his attention - for they were endless - he told himself they could wait. He had no intention of leaving her side so soon, especially when she had specifically requested him to stay.
"Great!" She clasped her hands together excitedly. "There's something I'd like us to do together."
His eyes met hers, and he raised a silent, questioning eyebrow at her.
Sakura giggled. "Trust me," she said. "It'll be fun. But we need to make a stop at the kitchens first though, okay?" She beckoned to him. "Come on."
A bemused, intrigued Sasuke followed her.
~x~
A breathtaking landscape and spectacular array of colours met Sakura's awed eyes as she stepped once again into the Elysian Fields. The moment she entered paradise, it became apparent that her memory had misled her, for its grand plains were even more stunning to behold than she recalled. And yet, how could her mind possibly have captured and retained such brilliance? It was a place beyond compare, more delightful than anything she had ever seen on the surface. Only Elysium itself surpassed it.
She twirled casually through the swaying blades of grass, losing herself to the magnificence and peaceful tranquility of her surroundings. She took in the verdant, rolling hills, the cascading waterfalls that pooled into crystal clear, shimmering lakes, the glorious fruit trees and abundance of all manner of species and shades of flowers that littered the grass. The fields were lush and brimming with life, and as she turned her face upwards, Sakura felt the warmth of the phantom sun that glimmered up in the jewel blue sky.
Behind her, Sasuke, clad in a dark grey tunic, affixed to which was a trailing, darker grey cloak, followed her, watching her intently. In this ethereal landscape that seemed to enhance her beauty, Sakura glowed. He was captivated by her smiles, by the carefree way she bundled the flowing skirts of her white gown and frolicked happily through the fields.
He held onto Alastor's reins and Eos followed obediently behind. The horses had accompanied them, carrying straw woven baskets filled with snacks such as olives, cheese, pastries, figs and an assortment of other fruits. Sakura had somehow managed to convince a bewildered Sasuke to have a picnic with her. It was something he could not recall doing since his infancy, when his mother would arrange such excursions in fantastic locations within the realm, accompanied by her ladies in waiting, closest kin and confidantes.
To his incredulous astonishment, after they had finished their piano lesson, Sakura had led the way straight to the kitchens to prepare the basket herself. The servants had been stunned to find their lord and master standing by the doorway, for he never visited their working quarters. Sasuke had watched her interactions with them with great interest, how she called them by name and took the time to ask them how they were. Such behaviour was a novelty to him. He had seen the way they beamed with pride in her company and scrambled around her, eager to please and attend to her. It was no surprise to Sasuke. Sakura thrived amongst people, and he knew that everyone she met was charmed and touched by her warm, caring nature. It was little wonder that the servants could not help but gravitate toward her.
Had he not fallen under her spell, also?
They came to a stop beneath the pleasant shade of a large, fragrant flowering tree that resembled a magnolia. After offloading the baskets from their steeds and laying out a blanket to sit on, they settled down between the flowers. Sasuke watched in silence as Sakura took out the contents of the picnic baskets, organising them in an attractive fashion on the plainly woven brown blanket.
"Have you ever had a picnic before?" she asked.
"In childhood," he supplied.
"Well, you're never too old for one." She paused as she poured him a glass of ambrosia. "Wait, that's right! I've never asked. How old are you? When were you born?"
Sasuke's eyebrows furrowed together as he accepted the goblet. It wasn't exactly custom to keep track as an immortal. When one lived eternally, age and time had different meanings and dimensions. But his family had always honoured his and Itachi's birthdays - and so he was aware of at least the season, more so perhaps than most others of his kind cared to recall.
"Hekatombaion, in high summer."
"What's that?" Sakura peered curiously at him.
Sasuke considered the surface calendar. "The seventh month."
"July? Is that what it was called in the ancient language?"
He nodded.
"Do you remember which day?"
The day had not been recorded, because time in the Underworld ran differently to that on the surface, but Sasuke knew the one his parents, cousin and brother had always chosen to give him gifts on - and later, Naruto and Kakashi, too.
"Three and twenty."
"The twenty-third of July? Really?" Sakura popped a green olive into her mouth. "I always thought that maybe you'd be winter born. So then how old are you?"
He shook his head slightly. He was sure he had lived for at least three millennia, but in truth, did not know his true age. He knew only how much older his brother had been - the surface equivalent to five hundred and twenty years - and Shisui, the surface equivalent to eight hundred and thirty six.
"Maybe we can figure it out," Sakura broke off a piece of bread and placed a slice of cheese on it, topped with a dollop of damson jam and a dried fig which she offered to Sasuke. He declined, reaching instead for a twist of savoury pastry flavoured with dried tomatoes and oregano. "If you knew me and Naruto over two millennia ago before the war, and we were the human equivalent age of- what was it? Around seventeen? Eighteen or nineteen? Then you have to be at least three or four thousand years old."
"I know not," he answered, plucking a plump cherry tomato from a small bowl. What did it matter what his age was?
"So who's older? You or Naruto?"
Sasuke cast her a dubious, mildly affronted look. Wasn't that obvious? Considering what an absolute, bumbling idiot Dead-Last was?
"I am."
"I figured. Do you think I was older or younger than you guys?" She wondered. "Probably around the same age, I think."
Sasuke silently agreed and popped another tomato in his mouth.
"You like tomatoes," she noted in amusement. "They're your favourite food, right?"
"Hn," he drew a long leg up and rested an elbow casually on his knee.
Taking a bite out of her cheese-topped bread, Sakura released a contented sigh. It was surreal, to be sitting beside the King of the Dead in such a relaxed manner. How different in mood it was to the last time they had been here together. It was refreshing. Invigorating.
"What other foods do you like?" she questioned conversationally.
"I do not care for food."
"Oh, come on," Sakura protested. "I know you only really need ambrosia, but you must like some dishes?"
He continued to look ahead, as if he were giving the question some serious thought in his mind. Finally he relented, "Savoury."
"Just savoury food? Hmm. What about fruits in general? Besides those." She indicated the tomatoes he had sampled.
"Passable."
"Desserts?" Sakura swallowed down the last bite of bread.
"No."
She gaped at him in disbelief. "You don't like dessert? Really, Sasuke?" Shaking her head, she pressed, "Not even cakes? Cookies? Ice-cream?"
Sasuke's eyebrows drew together and he shook his head. Cookies? Ice-cream? He had never sampled those mortal dishes. Ice-cream sounded ominous. He didn't like cold things, either.
"So you're telling me there's nothing sweet you like?"
He blinked. Perhaps there were a select few exceptions. One, was the pomegranate fruit, its sticky sweetness otherwordly and satisfying. The other...
Slowly, he angled his face to the left, until his sooty eyes met emerald green. The other was sitting right beside him, for the taste of her lips was more saccharine than ambrosia itself. He stared at her in silence, and as she waited for him to respond, allowed a barely perceptible smirk to curve his lips as he raised a dark eyebrow marginally at her.
Sakura felt her heart skip a beat at the wordless response his heavy-lashed gaze conveyed. The intensity of his stare was enthralling. Feeling her face grow warmer, she looked away, suddenly embarrassed. Somehow he had answered the question, without answering it at all.
She busied herself by eating another handful of olives, hoping he wouldn't notice how flustered she was, but it was no use. She could still feel his eyes lingering on her.
"So," she cleared her throat and attempted to divert, taking a sip of cool water from the glass bottle she'd packed. "What was your original role? Before you inherited everyone else's?"
"Shadows," he answered.
"Right, of course," Sakura nodded. "And are you all just born with your roles active?"
"They're innate."
"So you've been able to control them since you were a kid?"
He shook his head. "My abilities did not manifest in childhood."
Sakura was intrigued. "Why not?"
Sasuke contemplated this. His father had once explained to him that a deity's powers were only triggered once the immortal who wielded them was physically and mentally ready to take on their role. That time came sooner for some than others.
"An immortal's abilities grow with them," he explained.
"So was there a shadow user before you?" she asked. "How does it work?"
"Functions are transferred down through lineages when a deity passes on," he informed her. Speaking on a subject that he was familiar and comfortable with discussing, his words flowed like liquid velvet and Sakura found herself mesmerised, hanging onto every word. "A deity's life-force and gifts can also be willingly transferred to another with a nature compatible - or sealed away by choice."
Sakura's eyebrows knotted together. "But then what happens if they give their powers away?"
"They perish."
Sakura reached for some grapes, disturbed by the concept. "So there was another deity who commanded shadows before you?" she sought to clarify.
"My mother and father were night and darkness. They were able to summon shadows, and my brother, also. But it was not their assigned function and so that ability was less potent wielded by them."
"So the originals - the assigned deities - command the strongest mastery over their roles, you mean?"
He nodded his agreement, taking another sip of ambrosia.
"I didn't know abilities could be shared. I thought functions belonged to just one deity at a time," Sakura said. "Like death, for you?"
"I inherited that," Sasuke explained patiently. "But even death was once divided into peaceful and violent incarnates. As both belonged to members within my clan, I was the receiver of both gifts."
Sakura mulled over this, munching on a mouthful of crunchy, juicy grapes. "But then, before your mother and father were around, there had to be other deities responsible for night and darkness?"
"They are functions that existed from the days of Gaia. Those assigned them would have perished, through defying their roles, or through poison, or the willing transfer or sealing of their powers. The lost functions are then born anew in an infant deity. One with a compatible nature."
"That makes sense. But wait," she frowned. "If that's how powers are transferred, then how come Naruto doesn't have his father's abilities? Why can't he summon bolts of lightning from the sky?"
"Each of us has a natural elemental affinity," Sasuke stated. "Zeus's were lightning, fire and wind. Hera's nature was wind and water. Naruto is a wind and fire elemental."
"Then where did Zeus's lightning abilities go?"
Sasuke shook his head. He didn't know the answer to that. A thoughtful silence settled between them, as they considered the possibilities.
"Wait," Sakura piped up. "Kakashi-sensei can use lightning chakra, too. Do you think maybe he might've inherited them?"
"I have not seen him wield the bolts." Sasuke glanced at her. "Naruto commands not only the sun, but the skies. He can influence the weather through his control of the sun. He has inherited Zeus's powers there, in part."
"Just not the lightning," Sakura mused, finding the topic fascinating. Who knew the rules of power inheritance were so complex? "So that means you couldn't ever be a sun elemental, for example?"
"No," Sasuke agreed. "My chakra nature is not compatible."
"But you also control fire chakra. Doesn't that make you compatible to some extent? In theory?"
"I belong to the shadows. I cannot command a sphere of light."
"What about when we were on our quest? You called lightning from the sky."
"Kirin is only achievable under the right conditions."
"What are those?"
"When the sky is heated and charged with static. I channel that natural energy from the atmosphere and draw it toward myself. Zeus would require no such conditions, and his lightning bolts were much more potent."
"So you're a lightning type, too?"
"I was taught it. It was not my nature. Shadow dwellers can learn other elements."
Sakura nodded in understanding. "That must be why Lady Chiyo said my mother and I inherited some of Rhea's gifts, because our natures were compatible. But that must mean powers are passed down and renewed all the time. You said deities can transfer their life-forces and gifts willingly. When does that happen?"
Sasuke watched a cluster of happy mortal children playing in the distance. "It rarely does," he responded."
"But if it were to happen?"
"In sacrifice." Sasuke stated. "To save a life, or another noble cause; they may imbue their receiver with their immortal essence."
"And they die right away if that happens?"
"No. All endings are slow and painful." The death deity answered. "They would become as mortals, unable to perform their abilities, and grow weaker until they eventually succumb to their sickness."
It sounded horrific. "That's... terrible. You really have no freedom at all to do what you like, do you? You're all strictly bound to your roles, and it's a lottery. If you don't like your function, you're stuck with it, whether you like it or not."
"Many have rejected their roles for that reason. In torment, unable to shoulder the burden."
She leant back on her hands. "So are the Olympians, Suigetsu and you the only deities left besides Cronus, Chiyo and Koharu?"
"No," Sasuke said. "There are others with their own functions that supervise order upon the surface. But they are lesser in power and status."
"Really?" She tilted her head. "Then how come we haven't met any of them?"
"Following the war," Sasuke informed her, "they decided to remain neutral. Olympus was lost, and so they swore fealty to no side. They fear Cronus's retribution, should he escape the summit; that if they make themselves known as allies to the Olympians, he will seek vengeance upon them."
"That's stupid." Sakura scoffed at that. "He's planning to kill everyone, anyway."
"They think a small chance of mercy is better than none." Sasuke gulped down the last mouthful of ambrosia from his goblet.
"Then they clearly don't know Cronus very well." She shook her head. "I had no idea you were bound by so many rules. Humans have a lot more freedom to be whatever they want."
"They do," Sasuke agreed.
They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes, enjoying the view. Popping a small bite of pastry into her mouth, Sakura then rose to her feet. "I want to look at those flowers over there," she pointed.
Sasuke nodded and remained seated in place, observing as she strolled away, the long, sheer, gossamer silk cape sleeves of her white gown trailing in the pleasant breeze behind her. The gold ring clasps that held the sleeves of the dress together glinted in the sun, matching the ringed belt wound around her slender midriff. Her hair, worn loose in tumbling waves, was decorated with pinned white flowers.
The Underworld fashion suited her, he thought. She looked at home in her surroundings, perfectly at ease. As she began to pick some flowers and weave them together into a garland, Sasuke was overcome with another smothering wave of remorse. How simple things were now between them. How they were able to sit and speak openly, without animosity or suspicion. It cast into sharp relief the glaring errors of his ways once again, his foolishness in choosing to steal her away against her will, as if he could compel her to accept the plans he had so arrogantly made for her. The mere thought of his past actions sickened him. And yet, despite everything he had done, she treated him with patience, with kindness, with warmth and honesty.
He knew he did not deserve it, and yet, found himself gluttonously accepting her affection, her attention. The moment she had told him her choice, the moment she had made it, he had been unable to deny himself any longer. To him, she was the sun, representing the light of hope and a warmth of which he had been too long deprived. When she was close to him, he almost dared to believe that peace and comfort were things attainable - even to him.
If she could forgive him, it made him skirt around the idea that perhaps, someday, when he had spent a very long time atoning for his mistakes with her - he would be able to find rest, and find it within himself to let go of the self-loathing that plagued him, the deep-rooted guilt of his transgressions against her.
He blinked, so lost in the depth of his contemplations that he suddenly realised that he had lost sight of her entirely. Before he could move, he heard a breathy, feminine giggle, and then the feel of a light weight resting atop his head.
He turned his face, tensing when he found a smiling Sakura leaning over his shoulder. She had already made a crown of flowers for herself.
"It suits you," she complimented teasingly.
He scowled, reaching up and pulling the wreath of red and orange carnations off his head. He tossed it at her, eliciting a laugh.
"What if I made it match your outfit? Would you wear it then?"
"No," he replied sourly.
"But why?" she asked, moving to stand before him. "Don't you like flowers?" Shyly, she lowered her eyes, biting her lower lip in a coy fashion that stole the breath from his lungs. He stared at her, spellbound. "You... like me, don't you?" She peeked bashfully at him, shifting on her feet, her hands clasped behind her back.
His lips parted, but his treacherous tongue could find no words. It was dangerous, the effect she had on him. The way she was able to command his attention, so absolutely.
Sakura giggled again. Then, boldly, she deposited both wreaths atop his head - before bolting away.
Sasuke pulled them off, his eyes tracking her movements. She threw a playful smile back over her shoulder at him, and he found the breath hitching in his throat once more. Was there a sight lovelier in the world than this? Than her, smiling at him? Warmth flooded through the ice in his veins, bringing him to thaw. His bewitched eyes swore that they had known no equal.
He knew what she wanted, and was in no rush to hunt her down and give chase. He allowed her a significant lead - before blurring into existence just behind her, just as she had reached a rolling, gentle slope.
She squealed at his abrupt appearance and his eyes widened as she pivoted around and tugged him forward, causing them both to tumble down the grassy mound. He made sure to take the brunt of the fall, and they landed in a bed of flowers, a breathless Sakura laughing above him. He sat up, entranced, unable to tear his gaze away from her. Her cheeks were flushed a charming pink from exertion and her eyes were twinkling with happiness.
Could he dare to believe that she was truly content in his world? With him? It seemed an impossibility. Too good to be true. Surely, at any moment, her smiles would turn to sadness and she would speak to him of how greatly she missed the surface and the life she had on it?
But no such words passed her lips. Slowly, he lifted the wreath of white and yellow flowers that had survived the fall and deposited it back onto her head. She bit back another giggle, her eyes lowering self-consciously as he brushed a lock of tousled, blush-hued hair away from her face.
The sounds of joyful laughter and chatter from the inhabitants of the fields and sweet, melodic birdsong that lilted through the air fell away to silence as their gazes locked, the world blurring out of focus around them. The sun was starting to begin its descent, the sky overhead touched with pastel pink and orange hues. The hand that had pushed the hair away from Sakura's eyes lingered, fingertips tracing lightly over the soft curve of her cheek-bone. Just as before, Sakura leaned into his touch, her eyelashes fluttering shut when the pad of his thumb brushed over her cheek in a featherlight caress.
Her heart raced, moved by the simplicity of the chaste gesture. The same stillness befell her that preceded the sensation of plummeting from a great height whenever Sasuke chose to bridge the gap between them and kiss her. But he did not. Instead, she felt him take her hand, and pull her up. Her eyes opened in surprise, turning up toward him in question.
Before she could ask him what was happening, he had effortlessly swept them elsewhere, warping them to the edge of one of the shimmering pools of water, surrounded by colourful flowers and delighted mortals who were enjoying the beginnings of the beautiful sunset. Within the centre of the lake was a pristine white tree with shimmering golden leaves.
"Sasuke?" Sakura asked uncertainly.
He stood beside her, still holding her hand, and nodded toward the distance, indicating something ahead of them. A curious Sakura followed the line of his gaze, initially confused about what she was meant to be looking at. There was nothing to be seen, except humans clothed in white garb, sitting by the edge of the water, chatting and laughing and sharing fruits and drinks together in absolute contentment. Her eyes fell onto a brown-haired young woman, her long tresses worn loosely around her pretty face, who was showing her female friend how to skip stones across the lake.
"Watch me! You have to aim like this!"
With a start, Sakura straightened, sucking in a sharp breath, recognition striking her with all the force of one of Zeus's lightning bolts. She knew that face. She knew the crystal-clear laugh that drifted across the pool to her ears. She knew that mischievous smile. Her eyes immediately blurred with tears, and she felt like the ground was shifting beneath her feet.
"Oh!" She lifted a hand to her mouth to keep the sob from escaping her lips.
It was Tenten, dressed in a sleeveless, knee-length white tunic. Tenten, whom she had lost almost a year prior; safe and happy and in bliss, restored to life within the paradise fields.
Unthinkingly, Sakura took a step forward, the instinct to run to her friend, to throw her arms around her, to apologise and cry into her shoulder and tell her how terribly she missed her, a nearly overpowering, suffocating urge. But a hand tugged her back, and she lifted tearful eyes to the King of the Dead, who shook his head slightly at her in warning.
"You must not disturb her rest," he said quietly, the tone of his voice almost gentle, as if he were sympathetic to the pain she was feeling.
Sakura released a shaky breath, and gripped onto his hand tightly, swallowing down the thick lump in her throat as she was forced to come to terms with and accept that she was forbidden from interacting with her friend. Despite the grief and pain of that fact, she was filled with warmth and gratitude, recognising that Sasuke had looked after Tenten for her. He had ensured that she had passed over safely.
"Thank you," she choked out emotionally, sincerely, overcome by a smothering wave of sadness and relief, a mixture of conflicting emotions as she watched her dear friend laugh at her copper-haired companion's clumsy attempts at throwing stones correctly. Her heart ached with the grief of loss, but seeing Tenten so at peace filled Sakura with a reassurance she had never expected she would feel. Finally, she could accept that Tenten was in a better place, and come to terms with her death at long last.
She rested her head against Sasuke's chest, drawing silent comfort from him, and he patiently allowed her all the time she wished to watch her friend undisturbed.
~x~
Night fell, and they sat beneath a tree upon a raised hill, watching the stars glimmering in the clear midnight sky together. Sakura nestled against his left side, and their hands were entwined. They pointed out constellations, exchanged views on all manner of subjects, from ancient lore to opinions on worldly affairs such as war and conflict, and general topics like Sakura's future ambitions to learn more about brewing medicines, listening and learning more about one another, until she finally released a tired yawn and rested her head against Sasuke's shoulder.
When she fell quiet and did not stir for a few minutes, he glanced down at her head and called out to her.
"Sakura."
"Hmm," she hummed sleepily, linking her arm through his as she snuggled more comfortably against him. "Mmmnis is nice," she mumbled semi-coherently.
"..." His eyes fell to their interlaced fingers. When he heard nothing else save for the steady sound of her breathing, he knew she had dozed off and fallen asleep against him.
A part of him envied her, for he could not recall the last time he had fallen asleep so soundly, without worries or troubles plaguing him. He could not remember the last time he had felt safe and drawn comfort from being cocooned against the body of another. Not since the days of his childhood, when his mother had held him, or his brother.
Subconsciously, his fingers tightened around her hand, and he turned his eyes back up to the stars, thinking of his parents, of the one time as a child he had glimpsed them sitting beneath a tree in Elysium, just as he was at that moment with Sakura. He recalled the way his mother had rested her head on her husband's broad shoulder, and the quiet tranquility Sasuke had felt witnessing that moment. And for the first time in a long time, he allowed himself to believe that perhaps, he too, could learn to remember what peace felt like.
~x~
"Always win with a grin, 'cause I got the funky flow! Take you down to the ground, with a punishing blow! Oh yeahh!" Killer B juggled his samurai swords expertly in his hands.
"You didn't need to hit me so hard, what the hell?!" Naruto rubbed the back of his head, disgruntled.
"Better keep your head screwed on right, if you don't want your ass beat in a fight!"
"Yeah, yeah, I know, 'ttebayo," he muttered, rising to his feet, the golden light around his body flickering away as the Kyuubi once again wrestled chakra out of his control. "But Kurama's being so difficult!"
"Well," Kakashi released a light sigh. He sat on the steps next to Gaara and Hinata, watching Naruto and Killer B's sparring session in the High Council ground's spacious stone courtyard, enclosed on all sides by impenetrable, chakra protected high walls. "He's known to be the most stubborn of the tailed beasts."
"Think of his chakra not as separate to your own, but an extension of yourself," Jiraiya, who sat on the steps behind them, suggested.
"I almost have it!" Naruto gestured animatedly. "I've nearly got the hang of fusing Kurama's chakra completely with Sage Mode, but sometimes he just won't cooperate, 'ttebayo! He blocks his chakra off, and I can't get it out! It's a struggle to get him to do what I want."
"The tailed beasts do not enjoy being made to feel like power reservoirs to their hosts," Gaara advised calmly, arms folded across his chest.
Naruto glanced at him. "Huh? I don't think that about him! I tell him we're a team, but he's not interested."
"Yo, our tailed beasts won't move it, 'till you gotta give them some trust and prove it!" B crowed.
"I don't know what else to do," Naruto complained.
"Talk to him," Gaara suggested.
"I do!"
"Keep talking, fool!" Killer B censured.
"I keep trying! I just want him to understand my dad sealed him in me for a purpose, and not just so I have his power. But to keep him safe from that asshole, Cronus!"
"Is he doubtful of that fact?" Jiraiya sipped on his drink.
"He wants to be free," Naruto grumbled. "I get it, and if there was a way to free him safely, I'd do it! But that bastard is rounding all the hosts up, and there's no way I can let him go!"
"Give it time," Gaara said.
"He'll have to come around eventually, if he has any sense." Jiraiya folded his arms. "After all, if he doesn't lend you his power when you need it, and you were captured by the enemy - it'd be the end of you both."
"You can do it, Naruto-kun," Hinata encouraged softly.
"If anyone can make friends with the Nine-tails, it's you," Kakashi agreed.
"Yo, patience is a key component! You gotta build yourself into an unbeatable opponent!" Killer B gestured with his hands.
Naruto clenched his teeth. "Right. You're right. I can do it. Believe it!"
"Maybe try again later," Jiraiya nodded. "After you've attempted to communicate with him again. He's a temperamental fellow. If he's not listening right now, don't waste your energy, Naruto."
"Let's try something else," Kakashi suggested, slotting his book away into the pocket of his grey gilet jacket as he rose to his feet. Slipping a kunai out the supply pouch clipped to the belt around his waist, he said, "Your father taught me the workings of the Hiraishin seal a long time ago. I copied them with my Sharingan. Before he passed, he told me he'd entrusted a fragment of his power to you - and to me. Let's put it to the test."
Naruto blinked at him in surprise. "Wait a minute. You think I can learn to use Hiraishin too, Kakashi-sensei?"
"Well, we won't know unless we try." His masked elder replied.
"Kakashi and I have discussed this matter a great deal," Jiraiya said. "We could never be quite certain before, with our abilities restricted as they were - but it makes sense that a fraction of your good father's powers ought to have been passed down to you, to some extent."
"It's not an easy technique to master," Kakashi warned. "Your chakra control has to be precise, your focus has to be absolute, and you'll need to harness the lightning element to strike at the speed of light."
"Your chakra nature isn't lightning based," Jiraiya continued. "But we believe, through Sage Mode, you should be able to channel it and draw it in from the air around you. Being Minato's flesh and blood, that should give you the compatibility required to utilise your father's technique."
"Wait, wait!" Naruto turned excited blue eyes toward his elders. "You mean I can call lightning bolts, too?"
Jiraiya and Kakashi exchanged looks.
"I do not believe that anyone can wield them with the proficiency Minato did," Jiraiya mused. "But Kakashi's chakra is lightning-natured, and Minato left a fragment of his abilities to him, also. So to some extent, perhaps he can draw bolts from the air."
"Whoa," Naruto looked between the two in awe. "You really think there's a way we could use my old man's powers?"
"We won't know until we test our theory out," Kakashi answered, rolling up the sleeves of his grey top.
Jiraiya met the sun deity's gaze. "What do you say, Naruto? Ready to give it a go?"
"You got it, sensei!" Naruto punched his fists together in determination. "Alright! Let's do this!"
~x~
Karin pulled her cloak more tightly around herself as she trudged miserably through the forest. Her first taste of surface air in centuries had been nothing short of overwhelming. It was crisp and clean, nothing like the cold damp and mist of the Underworld. As it permeated through her nose and lungs, she was struck by how much it almost seemed to taste of life itself.
She wasn't sure how long she had been walking for, for the forest was dense and seemed to stretch out for miles ahead of her. Dead leaves crunched underfoot, and the boughs of the trees were bare. They stood like stationary, towering wooden marionettes with their arms raised crookedly to a dull, murky grey sky.
It had crossed her mind multiple times since she'd exited the Underworld, whether or not she was making a dreadful mistake. Whether she was wrong to act on impulse. More than once, terror had gripped her heart in an icy hold, and she had almost buckled and lost her resolve, and turned to march straight back to the comfort and stillness of the shadow world.
But then Karin had reminded herself once more of all the reasons why she needed to leave. She repeated the words fiercely like a mantra in her mind whenever uncertainties whispered through her, pleading with her to reconsider and return to her old life. It didn't matter if Sasuke didn't see her, surely? She had survived countless centuries unseen already, had she not? It didn't matter that he was so clearly enamoured with another. Perhaps she could find a way to ignore the way it hurt like an unstitched, bleeding wound and to be content-
No, she shot down the voices, her temper flaring. She had left to find her purpose. She had left to find freedom. To remove herself from the shackles of the Underworld and its darkly seductive king. It was too late to turn back. The exit was far behind her now, and there was no other option than to continue onward, no matter how much trepidation she felt stepping toward the unknown.
Cerberus had not so much as blinked as she'd nervously passed by the enormous hell hound, seemingly as oblivious to Karin's existence as his master was. She supposed the canine had sensed she was a nymph and so allowed her passage without hindrance, or else Sasuke had already informed the ferocious guardian of the Underworld's gates of her departure in advance, so as to ensure she was not accosted or blocked on her exit. Perhaps a final kindness on his part. Or perhaps he was just as eager to see the back of her as Karin had brought herself to believe.
At long last, she thought she spied a clearing in the trees ahead, and as she hastened toward it, found herself on the outskirts of the forest. There was a long, wide, dark grey path of sorts, and it had strange white markings down its centre-
She yelped and leapt back on instinct, causing the hood of her cloak to slip off her head. Heart pounding, she hid behind a tree, when something large suddenly whooshed by her at great speed. She stared after it, to see the back of something with lights affixed to it. What manner of sorcery was it? Another of the strange objects sped before her, and she realised the moving things were coming from both directions along the path.
The fact that she had missed centuries' worth of development of human civilisation hit her with the force of a sledgehammer blow to the gut. She stared, feeling winded, wide-eyed and open-mouthed as an even larger wheeled object passed her by. She gulped, questioning not for the first time, the wisdom of her choice to venture out into a world so changed and foreign all alone, without friend or guidance. Karin wondered where the nearest village was, and what kinds of strange things she was undoubtedly sure to find once she reached it. What were mortals like nowadays? How did they dress? How could she ever hope to fit in? Would the gold coins Jugo had given her even be accepted for the procurement of supplies and lodgings?
She waited for the moving objects to vanish. When no more appeared for several minutes, she stepped carefully, gingerly out onto the road and followed the edge of the forest - only to nearly jump out of her skin when a loud horn blared behind her. She whirled around, only to be blinded by lights, and shielded her eyes, overcome with terror.
"Hey!" A voice called out. "Lady! Get out the middle of the road!"
She lowered her arms, blinking in astonishment as she found a brown-haired, middle-aged mortal man with glasses peering out the window of the contraption he was seated inside, a scowl fixed firmly onto his face. Next to him was a little girl with blond ringlets of hair who was staring curiously at her.
"I think maybe she's lost, daddy." Karin heard the child say.
"Y-yes!" Karin exclaimed, spotting an opportunity and leaping to seize it. "I am lost! I need assistance! If you could kindly take me to the nearest village, I would be most indebted to you!"
The man stared at her. "Where are you from, huh?" he questioned mistrustfully.
"I..." Karin stammered. Telling the truth was not an option. "I am not from these parts."
"Well, how'd you wind up here? Did your car break down or something?"
"My... car...?" Karin echoed cluelessly. Was that the name of the machine he was seated inside? She glanced up as wet patters of rain began to fall from the sky.
"Daddy!" His daughter exclaimed compassionately. "It's raining! She looks cold. Let's give her a lift?"
The man eyed Karin for several more seconds, before releasing a heavy sigh. "Alright. Just to town," he said. "Get in, lady."
~x~
Sakura stroked Eos's mane gently, feeding her a handful of apples. She had gone searching for Sasuke, only to be informed that he had departed the palace to see to his duties. Disappointed that she had not found him in time to request that he take her with him, she had chosen to pass some time in the library while awaiting his return, before deciding to venture to the stables to visit her loyal steed.
Ume and Chizu were also occupied with chores and in assisting the other servants with cleaning the countless rooms contained within the palace, and so it was a rare occasion that Sakura found herself left to her own devices without any companionship.
She found herself contemplating her budding relationship with Sasuke, prompting a small smile to grace her lips at the mere thought of her handsome host. Everything had changed since their encounter in The Groves. He was open to her, no longer avoiding her as he had when she had first returned to the Underworld. Instead they were spending increasing amounts of time together, either on long walks, or out on horse-rides about the realm, conversing over dinner or fighting side by side and taking on monsters in adrenaline-fuelled combat sessions in the battle arena.
The lingering looks and touches between them were gradually increasing, and yet not once had Sasuke overstepped or taken anything more than a kiss from her lips. He allowed her to dictate the pace, and accepted only as much as she was willing to give, giving her all the time she needed to adjust and feel comfortable in his presence. It made her feel safe. In control of her decisions. Just as her mother had wanted her to be.
And Sakura did feel comfortable. She was certain that many surface weeks had passed since their first kiss, and since then, she felt that they were gradually growing ever closer. It felt natural, to be at his side, to have him with her. It felt right, and brought her contentment.
She had gotten to know him as a person much better, and through that, felt that she understood him better, too. She was able to read the tell-tale signs in his behaviour; she knew when he was brooding and didn't want to discuss a particular topic, or when he didn't feel like talking at all. She anticipated whenever he was uncomfortable, watching his body language carefully in the absence of verbal cues. She was becoming more adept at recognising when he was happy to simply sit beside her and listen to her chatter on. She knew which topics to pick which would coerce him into speaking freely and fluently: the history of creation, about his kingdom, the origin of the gods and other subjects relating to chakra, weaponry, battle strategy and monster lore. He shared little details about his past when she questioned him, but she never pushed beyond what he was willing to speak about when he was unforthcoming on the subject, respecting his need for privacy.
She was growing bolder, too. Slipping her hand into his whenever she was certain they were alone. Seeking him out and asking him to spend time with her, to train her, or simply to walk with her around the palace. When their eyes met, she would feel the breath catch in her lungs. And when he touched her, she felt the dizzying sparks of their blistering chemistry, buzzing like an unstoppable force of nature in the air between them.
She could only hope that he felt as at ease with her, as she had grown to be with him.
They discussed the politics of the royal court and she spoke to him about the servants in his household. She told him how happy they were whenever she visited them. Would he not consider visiting them, also? He had told her it was not something a king had ever done. She had gently told him that sometimes old customs weren't necessarily the best way, and he had listened to her intently, silently, thoughtfully.
"What would you have me do?" He had asked for her opinion.
Sakura had told him that his household respected him greatly - but that they also feared him, and that there was no harm in showing them kindnesses or bounties every now and then, such as affording them holidays and an opportunity to venture out of the palace, if they wished. She wondered if he would take her suggestions on board, or whether he discarded them the moment he left her. After all, what did she know about running a kingdom? But Sakura liked to believe that she knew a thing or two about connecting with people. What remained to be seen was whether Sasuke would listen to her ideas.
A billowing snort and the stomping of hooves snapped her out of her thoughts and she turned her head to find glowing eyes glaring at her. She rolled her own, patted Eos's neck, and then moved over to the dread steed that was kicking up a fuss in the pen opposite her horse's.
"Alastor," she greeted. "Would you like some apples, too? I have plenty more, here," she held up the basket she'd fetched from the kitchens loaded with green and yellow fruits.
The stallion neighed loudly at her, tossing his majestic head in disapproval. Sakura shrugged, and moved onto the other two midnight black horses who were significantly tamer in disposition to the proud Alastor. Sasuke had taken one of them out for riding, and she wasn't sure who had been left behind - besides the temperamental obvious.
"I don't know which of you is which," Sakura said apologetically, and held up an apple to the first horse.
"That is Aethon, M'lady," the red-haired stable boy, Sora, who was clearing the mound of hay from the back of the building informed her. "And beside him is Orphnaeus. Nyctaeus has been taken out for riding by His Lordship."
"Thank you," Sakura smiled. "Here, Aethon. Would you like an apple?"
The horse stared at her, turning its head away, as if in doubt.
"Oh, come on," Sakura cooed. "They're really good! Very crispy!"
Hesitantly, the horse extended its neck and plucked the apple from her hand. Sakura laughed in delight, and gingerly reached out to stroke Aethon's mane.
"You're a handsome boy, aren't you?" she whispered, admiring his silky coat.
Orphnaeus, encouraged by his brother's behaviour, nudged her shoulder gently, wanting to sample the fruit for himself. Grinning, Sakura handed him an apple, and then petted him in turn.
Alastor snorted angrily, clearly disapproving of their actions and the speed with which they were extending their trust to Sakura. She ignored him, feeding Aethon and Orphnaeus several more, before she finally turned her attention onto the stomping stallion.
"Are you sure you don't want one?" She lifted a green apple to her lips and took a bite, drawing closer to him. "Mmm. It's really crunchy. Your loss, you know-"
He abruptly exhaled smoke in her face, causing her to splutter and cough. Sakura stepped back and glowered at him in irritation.
He released a high-pitched whinny that sounded suspiciously to her ears like the equine equivalent of amusement. Sakura gaped at him.
"What's your problem?" she demanded.
Sora spoke up again, clearly struggling to stifle his own laughter.
"Alastor is not of a friendly disposition, M'lady," he said apologetically.
"Does he not like apples?" she glanced dubiously at him.
"Quite the opposite, Mistress. He loves them."
"So he's just refusing them because I'm offering them to him." Sakura concluded. "I wonder what his master would say to that? He wouldn't be pleased with him." She stepped closer to the horse, meeting his fiery gaze directly. "Maybe he'll ground Alastor for a whole month and not take him out riding anymore, because he offended me."
Alastor neighed, tossing his head even more angrily.
"Eat the apple," Sakura held out her hand. "And I won't tell Sasuke you blew smoke into my face and almost made me suffocate to death."
The stallion circled in his pen, clearly outraged.
"M'lady," Sora began nervously. "Forgive me but it might be for the best if you-"
"No, I know what I'm doing," Sakura assured him. "He's just being a jealous big baby and hasn't figured out that I'm here for six whole months every year yet, so it's really not in his best interests to hate me." She held the apple up higher. "One last chance to stop me telling your master how rude you've been. He'll take all your brothers out for a ride every single day and you'll be moping here all alone, wishing that you'd just taken the-"
Alastor snatched the apple, downing it in one gulp, and exhaled a plume of smoke, his eyes burning into hers defiantly.
Sakura beamed, elated with triumph. "See?" she teased. "That wasn't so hard, now, was it?"
"Well, look who's getting all cosy with the household pets," a liquid-cool voice mocked.
A surprised gasp tumbled from Sakura's lips, and she whirled around, to find an unexpected figure leaning casually against the stable doorway. Suigetsu winked playfully at her. He was dressed in a grey tunic, atop which was a delicate layer of shimmering, silver chainmail. A long, darker grey cape was affixed to his shoulders and his forearms were adorned with silver braces engraved with decorative swirls. His shock of white hair reflected the blue flame glowing from the torches fixed to the stable walls, and a silver crown set with aquamarine stones and what appeared to be sharp curves of ivory bone rested upon his brow.
He looked like a king, decked in wealth and finery. The clothing was far more formal than she was used to seeing on him. Suigetsu seemed to guess her line of thinking, for he gestured toward his garb, amusement dancing across his features.
"You like? I was just in a meeting with denizens from my own royal council. Gotta look the part, right?"
Sakura dropped the apple basket.
The ocean deity chuckled. "It's good to see you too, Sakura."
"What are you doing here?" Sakura demanded, placing her hands on her hips. It was never good news when he popped up.
"My Lady?" Sora called to her, glancing between the two uncertainly. "Is this man troubling you?"
"My Lady?" Suigetsu mimicked. "Wow. You have a title? Things have escalated down here faster than I thought-"
"Shut up," Sakura hissed at him. To Sora, she replied, "Would you excuse us for a minute, please?"
"You heard your lady," Suigetsu snickered. "Beat it before I turn you into a shrimp," he smirked at the alarmed boy, who hastily took his leave.
"Why are you here?" Sakura repeated.
"Checking on my favourite human, obviously," Suigetsu flashed her a toothy smile. "Nice dress," he nodded at the gold lined, cape-sleeved, deep emerald velvet gown she wore, its neckline and waist decorated with delicate golden leaves, matching the adornments in her hair and earrings. "I bet that asshole really gets off with you wearing all his-"
"Aren't you meant to be helping my mother and the others on the surface?" she interrupted.
Suigetsu pouted. "Aww, c'mon, Pinky. You still mad at me? Move on with the times! We're all friends and on the same side, now."
"We're not friends," Sakura folded her arms across her chest. "You never help anyone out unless you're gaining from it." She noted the large, bandaged sword strapped to his back. Evidently he had cunningly bartered Samehada in exchange for his assistance.
"I mean, you're not wrong. Gotta look out for number one."
"You really don't care about anyone else but yourself, do you?" Sakura shook her head, appalled.
"Fake news." Suigetsu feigned a yawn. "I get such bad press, it really sucks."
"I wonder why," Sakura countered.
He flashed her a razor-sharp grin. "Look at you. So feisty now. The apple really doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?"
"What...?" Sakura frowned.
"Remember when we first met? You were such a polite, sweet little thing." His tone rose in pitch, as he attempted to impersonate her. "Oh please help me escape! I'll do anything! I'm so scared! Save me from the scary God of Death, please-"
He abruptly broke off as a loud clap filled the air, the result of his cheek coming into contact with the palm of Sakura's hand. He blinked in astonishment, and lifted a hand to his face. The flash of anger in his eyes was quickly followed by a look of incredulous disbelief.
"You bitch," he gaped. "Did you really just slap me?"
Sakura tried not to let him catch onto how badly her palm was stinging from the blow.
"I'll do it again if you keep mocking me."
His eyes glittered dangerously, regarding her with intense interest. "You've changed. You've got guts. Heh. Maybe I'm kinda seeing why Sasuke caused such a shit-storm to get his hands on you," he smirked. "You're lucky I like you, Pinky, and that we're friends."
"We're not," she repeated, scowling at him.
"Really? You might wanna reconsider that."
She lifted her chin, defiant and unrepentant. He was an unsufferable jerk and had fully deserved it.
"You wanna know what I do to people who aren't my friends, and who're dumb enough to try laying a hand on me...?" He took a step toward her. "I cut 'em up, into nice, tiny, itty bitty little pieces. Then I place them on bone skewers and feed them to my pet sharks. Or Kraken. Whoever the fuck is hungrier on the day-"
He didn't manage another step. Sakura felt the rapid drop of air temperature and a familiar, menacing aura prickling at her skin, a split-second before something dark blurred into existence before her, materialising right beside Suigetsu. A ring-adorned hand pressed against the centre of the sea king's chest, halting him in place, preventing him from advancing any closer to Sakura.
Suigetsu huffed. "You and your shitty timing. I was just starting to have some fun."
Sasuke's onyx eyes narrowed, and in one fluid motion, he firmly pushed Suigetsu back.
"Why are you here?" he questioned curtly.
"I wanted to see how Sakura's doing. I missed her so much."
"That's not why you're here," Sakura shook her head, unimpressed by his shameless flirting.
"You need to put her on a leash. She just slapped me," he complained to Sasuke.
"You deserved it!" Sakura argued.
Suigetsu ignored that. "Has she ever slapped you?" He asked Sasuke, then paused, before continuing, "Heh. Even if she did, you'd probably really enjoy it, right?" He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Sakura shifted uncomfortably on her feet, feeling her face flush scarlet. Suigetsu had a filthy mouth, and the longer he remained, the more embarrassed he would make her feel. She knew from experience that he delighted in weaving such mischief. Her hands closed into fists, and the urge to hit him again was overwhelming.
"Suigetsu." There was a clear warning in Sasuke's stone-cold voice now, a clipped, hard-edge that told Poseidon not to try his luck any further.
"Okay, okay." He rolled his eyes. "Where's that ugly bitch Karin at? I'm looking for that Oro-creepa-maru's monster making factory - y'know, since we're all friends and shit, now," he shot Sakura another mocking look. "Her tracking skills would kinda come in handy."
"Karin," Sasuke replied shortly, "is no longer in my service."
Suigetsu's eyebrows flew up. "Huh?" he exclaimed, not certain whether he had heard correctly.
"She has returned to the surface."
The ocean king's jaw slackened. "You're shitting me," he gawked. "Damn. She really did it. When'd she leave?" When Sasuke and Sakura simply stared back at him, he said, "Fuck it, who cares. No time to waste. Later, losers. I'm outta here."
With that, he abruptly vanished.
"Jerk," Sakura muttered beneath her breath.
Sasuke blinked, and turned toward her. She hurried forward to join him.
"Did he touch you?" he asked, ghosting his fingers briefly over her left cheek.
"No," Sakura replied. "He only showed up just before you did."
Sasuke nodded, satisfied.
"How was your trip? Where did you go?"
"To Chiyo's hut," he said, as Sora returned, holding Nyctaeus's reins in his hand. He bowed his head respectfully as he passed them.
"Any news from the surface?"
"Some spontaneous monster sightings in various villages, but they have been handled," Sasuke assured her.
"And everyone is okay?"
He nodded.
"That's good." She glanced down at her hands. "Though, maybe not. I feel like the longer the enemy is quiet for, the worse it bodes for us."
"You are safe here, Sakura," he reminded her.
"I know." She smiled up at him, believing his words with every fibre of her being. "I uh..." she glanced back toward Alastor's pen. The horse was exhaling smoke again, eager to catch his master's attention. "I may have blackmailed Alastor into accepting an apple from me."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow marginally at her confession. He stepped around her, and approached the steed. Sakura watched as he lifted a hand, and like a tamed beast, Alastor pressed his head against the death deity's waiting palm.
"Was he your first horse?"
"Yes," he stroked the stallion's dark mane with a tenderness that melted Sakura's heart. She watched as Alastor nuzzled Sasuke's face, his previous anger and tantrums all but evaporated. With Sasuke, he appeared to be a different horse entirely.
"How did you get him?"
Sasuke paused, before supplying, "He was gifted to me."
"By who?"
"My father."
"And the others?" Sakura eyed the sable-black horses curiously.
"Nyctaeus was Itachi's." Sasuke said quietly. "Orphnaeus Shisui's. And Aethon, my father's. They left them behind, and took other steeds to war."
Sakura drew up beside him, resting a hand on his back in silent comfort. "They're beautiful creatures," she said softly. "Even grumpy Alastor."
The horse snorted indignantly. Sasuke patted the side of his neck, before turning toward Sakura.
"Come," he said, extending his palm, and she willingly gave him her hand.
~x~
He led her to one of the sprawling, lavishly furnished parlours, where she found a pile of thick, leather-bound books resting atop a circular, gilded wooden table beside the black-marble fireplace. Settling down onto the comfortable, crimson rug in front of the hearth, she watched as Sasuke lifted the books and placed them before her, before taking a seat beside her.
"What are these?" she asked.
"Something I found in the archives."
Sakura opened the first book. The cover and parchment paper were terribly fragile and worn, yet somehow still contained legible text, penned in an elegant hand.
"I can't read this."
"Look at me."
She turned her face, meeting piercing crimson eyes that immediately captured hers, spinning hypnotically, reflecting the glow of firelight. Sakura could feel herself gravitating toward them, powerless to look away - until they abruptly swirled back into bottomless pools of darkness.
"Now try," he instructed.
Sakura looked down, and watched in wonder as the jumbled words on the paper suddenly seemed to shift, growing recognisable.
"How do you do that?" she questioned.
"Genjutsu," he replied.
She turned to the first page, and read aloud, "Here are penned records of the Underworld's creation, by Rhea, the first of her name, Queen and consort of the realm." She gasped aloud. "This is Rhea's diary?" She turned the pages carefully, marvelling at the tidy sketches she found inside, detailing different types of structures, the names of stones and precious ores and all manner of trees and flowers. Everything was fastidiously labelled.
"This is wonderful," she exhaled, before returning to the beginning. "Day one." She crossed her legs, arranging the skirt of her dress tidily around herself as she settled more comfortably in place on the fur rug. Sasuke poured them both a drink; ambrosia for himself, and fruit nectar for Sakura, and leaned his elbow leisurely against the pile of silk brocade cushions between them, sipping on his wine and listening to her as she began to read the entries.
"The land is in ruin. I confess when I first entered into it, I felt despair. For it is lightless and drab, and everywhere the shadows lurk. I do not know that I am truly capable of blessing its abandoned plains with life. There is nothing but death and stillness here. The realm seems to weep from its emptiness, but this is the land my love has chosen. He believes me to be capable of this task, and so I must not disappoint him."
Sakura shook her head, feeling a chill run through her. It was already evident to her, from the single paragraph she had read, that Rhea had loved Cronus deeply. Her fingers followed the sketch of what appeared to be an empty cavern. "What's this?" She tilted the book so Sasuke could see.
"Likely the Underworld in its original state," he remarked.
Sakura turned her attention to the next page.
"It is difficult to summon life here. The roots of the earth are high above us, and I have nothing to grasp at to anchor my powers. I may have to venture to the surface to recharge my gifts. Perhaps, if I bring with me a flower here, and root it into this land, I can begin to birth creation? My love agrees it is an excellent theory. He has begun work on the palace, now. It is already a most remarkable sight, built of onyx and gold, and he is tireless in his determination to see it completed. Such passion resides within him, that my heart is full simply looking upon him.
"He tells me that we will build a kingdom, an empire together, the likes of which none other can compare. That together, he and I are a force unstoppable. I support his vision and share in his belief. He is a god most noble, most proud and just, eager to prove himself worthy of the Olympian throne. I know already that my Madara is a king without rival. I can seen it.
"I did not know love, until he took my hand. I have found a new purpose by his side. I confess, in my deepest of hearts, that I hope someday, the palace shall house more life than just him and I alone."
Sakura turned the page. "This is so sad," she frowned, taking a sip from the goblet Sasuke handed to her. "She loved him so much, and really thought it'd be the start of a new life for them, but he destroyed her."
She read several more pages detailing the progress Rhea made, and studied the maps the first queen had drawn with great interest. "This journal is huge. Thank you for giving me this. I can't believe I get to find out how your world was created from one of its founders. I can't believe he didn't burn these."
Sasuke opened another book, to reveal a much more extensive map. He straightened up and crossed his legs. Sakura leaned over his shoulder and peered at it. "Is this the second diary?"
"Looks like she had three in total." He set the second book aside and pulled another one, flipping through its pages. The writing stopped far before the end of the journal, with many blank pages, and he turned back, trying to locate the last entry. When he found it, he automatically began to read it out loud.
"Madara has become possessed." Sakura scooted closer, looking down at the page with wide eyes. "He will not cease. He does not hear me, nor see me. He speaks only of vengeance, of what was stolen from him. I am in despair."
"He spends hours locked away in studies I am forbidden to access," Sakura continued. "He shuts me out, and will not listen to reason. I am afraid he dabbles too deeply into the dark arts. Lesser gods have been known to lose their minds to it, and I fear it is already too late. The god I gifted my heart to, the man I love, is wilting before me and there is nothing I can do to stop it. I cannot do this alone. I cannot carry this burden alone. May my soul be damned to Tartarus, for I am a traitor to my love. I have no choice but to betray him. It is the only way to save him, yet my heart breaks. It breaks and I cannot bear the anguish. He will not look at his own beautiful sons. Where is the love in his heart for his kin? What shadows are there, that now possess him like demons? We have built an empire of kings, just as we intended. A kingdom magnificent and just. Life within the shadows. Why is it not enough? I did everything asked of me. Why am I not enough?"
The entry abruptly ended there, and the page was smudged with what appeared to be splashes of water. Not water, Sakura realised suddenly - but tears. Sasuke closed the book, and a disturbed silence fell over them.
"Do you think..." Sakura began quietly, "he even remembers her?"
Sasuke set the book aside. He didn't know the answer to that question. If Madara did recall the wife he had killed with his own hands, then he was certain that the patriarch surely hadn't given her any thought since the day he had buried her.
"He knows only hatred. That is Indra's curse," he said darkly. "A curse that lives in the hearts of all the Uchiha."
"Not in you," Sakura rejected. "You aren't like that."
He was silent for a long moment. "I was," he supplied at length, staring intently into the fire. "For millennia, I was consumed by hatred. By anger. I froze out all other emotion."
"But you didn't turn into a monster."
"Didn't I, Sakura?" he questioned, without looking at her. He hadn't known compassion. Only a monster would kidnap a mortal maiden against her will, the way he had.
"You had every right to wall off your feelings. After everything you went through, it was the only way for you to grow and survive." Sakura reached out, placing a hand gently on his right arm. "And if you're talking about my kidnapping... maybe that never would've even happened, if Shisui hadn't left that fragment of memory in you. All of this was meant to be, Sasuke."
His eyes lowered. Sakura shook her head, and reached out to cup his cheek, turning his face toward her. Stroking it tenderly with her thumb, she said, "You lost everything, but your heart still has kindness in it. It still knows how to love. It's not the same. You're not the same. Don't ever think that, please."
She leaned in, and brushed her lips against his. Heard his sharp intake of breath, a split-second of hesitance - and then he was kissing her back. An explosion of butterflies took flight in Sakura's belly, and she reached out to him, ghosting her fingers above the fabric of his tunic, over the biceps of his arms, and shifted to continue the kiss at a more comfortable angle.
Her heart fluttered when she felt his arms wrap around her, and the next thing she knew, he had pulled her onto his lap without breaking the kiss. Blushing, she wound her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him, abandoning herself to the head-spinning sensation of his lips moving against hers.
She had never known bliss like this. Everywhere Sasuke touched her, she felt lightning and fire, and yet shivered in his arms, as if his fingertips were injecting shards of ice straight into her blood-stream. She felt his hand rest on the small of her back, and slowly trail upwards, sending heat flooding through her body. More. She wanted to feel more. To know what it was like to throw herself into the inferno of him, to be consumed by it.
"Sakura..." His low voice was thick and heavy with restraint as he briefly broke the kiss, his chest heaving from the intensity of his emotions, the storm of feeling she summoned within him.
She opened her eyes and met his, to find them smoky with desire. A need that mirrored her own, and felt a foreign stab of heat radiate somewhere in her lower belly. Emboldened and enthralled, and suddenly aware of the effect she had on him, she exhaled against his lips, and cupped his face, kissing him again, deeper, harder. His arms crushed her close, and then she felt his fingers tangle in her hair as he took control of the kiss, driving Sakura near delirious with want.
When he broke the kiss a second time, and she felt his lips brush against her jaw, she gulped, her heart hammering against her ribcage. Tingles were surfacing all over her body, the sweetest shocks of electricity everywhere he touched. When he began to trail slow, torturous kisses along her jawline, Sakura tilted her head back, granting him access to her neck, and released a breathy sound she had never imagined could ever fall from her lips.
Her husky moan strew him alight. Sasuke had never heard a sound so erotic, so beautiful, so seductive. He wanted to hear it again. He wanted her to say his name like that. He pressed his lips to the side of her throat, ravenous to taste more of her. Even as his mind told him that they were surely moving too fast, his hands refused to stop. He wanted to feel her. All of her. He wanted to engrave each delicious dip and curve of her body to memory.
She gasped at the feel of his demanding lips raining kisses along the column of her neck, her entire body buzzing with desire, and closed her eyes, overcome with sensation, with the awakening of molten lust. The heat was unbearable. It crawled beneath her skin, inextinguishable, a blazing furnace. Her fingers raked through his silky hair, moving on instinct, holding his face to her throat.
His lips kissed upwards, brushing over her cheek before capturing her lips again hungrily, passionately. Sakura's arms tightened around his neck, and she kissed him back deeply, feeling as though she had taken leave of her senses entirely. His lips were dangerous. Capable of stealing away all coherent thoughts and inhibitions. She could not seem to stop. She did not want to. They took and received in equal measure, drunk on the taste of one another.
Then, with great reluctance, Sasuke pulled back, resting his forehead against hers, and Sakura opened her eyes, to find that his own were closed, and he seemed to be fighting to restore his composure and steady his breathing.
She cupped his face again, stroking his cheek tenderly with the pads of her thumbs. A foreign feeling was blooming into being within her chest. She was falling for him, she realised. Hopelessly. Deeply. Madly. It had already begun, and there was nothing she could do to break her plummet into the drowning ocean of love.
"Sasuke," she whispered. The room was spinning, and the butterflies in her stomach seemed to have migrated through her entire bloodstream. "I've never felt like this before. I feel... light. Like I'm..."
His dark eyes, heavy-lidded with passion, opened, onyx smouldering into emerald.
"Like I'm..." Sakura continued breathlessly. "Floating."
She smiled shyly at him, her cheeks flushed a deep pink, happiness swelling within her heart.
Sasuke felt something tug at his lips. The beginnings of a small, genuine smile - but he was robbed of it seconds later, when Sakura's eyebrows drew together, as if in confusion - as if she were suddenly pained. Her lips parted, and she seemed unable to speak, suddenly incapable of drawing a breath.
His thundering heart lodged itself in his throat and he looked on in horror when a second later, her eyes clouded over, losing their spark and she collapsed lifelessly against him.
~x~
Author's note
Reviews would be epic. See you next update.