Underworld arc officially begins. Hope you enjoy it!
Chapter LXXXVII
Spring awakens in the Land of Shade,
Where the souls of mortals ne'er fade,
A realm of night that never sleeps,
Hidden away in the lightless deep,
With eyes wide open she seeks to stand,
And build new bridges - holding Death's hand.
~x~
Sakura pushed the canopy drapes aside, overcome with an overpowering sense of déjà vu. The bed chamber was just as magnificent and lavish as she remembered it to be, and yet, how different was her present awakening in the realm compared to the very first time she had opened her eyes and discovered herself in it?
She recalled her last few moments on the surface; the pain in her abdomen and the draining exhaustion that had afflicted her. How heavy her eyes and limbs had been. The moment she had felt herself wavering and toppling backward, only to be caught by reassuring hands.
Sasuke. He had found her, just as he had promised.
Her stomach fluttered at the thought of him. So it began. Six months of living in the King of the Dead's realm. Six months in which they would keep company with one another, hidden away in his kingdom, deep beneath the surface. They had so much to talk about. So many issues to work through. A bond of trust to rebuild. Sakura bit her lower lip, overrun with nervousness. How did she even begin to address any of that? Would he be open to her? Hesitant? Reserved?
An inexplicable sense of urgency, coupled with the restless anxiety to see Sasuke, had Sakura slipping off the bed, eager to find him. As her sandal-clad feet touched down on the black marble floor, she took in the full splendour of the room, with its gold, bronze and contrasting black hues, the warmth of the fireplace, the richness of the fur rugs and the lustrous sheen of the furniture.
The discomfort that had plagued her body courtesy of the mechanism of the seeds had completely vanished. She supposed that returning to the Underworld had remedied that instantly. Sasuke had told her the seeds would stabilise in his realm. She felt at ease and comforted by the fact that she wouldn't have to worry about any further unpleasant episodes occurring over the duration of her stay.
She hurried towards the double-doors, halting briefly at the full-length, gold-framed mirror that she passed along the way to examine her reflection. She smoothed down the flyaway locks of hair that had escaped from the flowered braid Ino had styled for her, before turning back to the doors.
They parted before she reached them, revealing two familiar faces.
"Mistress!" Ume squealed in excitement, and forgetting all formal protocol, launched herself forward to embrace Sakura.
"Goodness gracious!" Chizu admonished, but despite her shock, amusement danced across her pale blue eyes.
Sakura hugged Ume tightly, beaming. "Ume!"
The petite maid pulled back, staring up at Sakura with large, hazel eyes. She snatched her hands back, seeming to remember her manners, and curtsied low.
"Please, forgive me, Mistress!" she apologised profusely. "I didn't mean to overstep - only, I am so very happy to see you! It has been so long!"
"It's good to see you too," Sakura smiled warmly. "There's no need to curtsy, please don't."
Then she turned to Chizu, and surprised the older maid by hugging her, too.
"W-well," Chizu patted her back awkwardly, before accepting the embrace gladly. "We are pleased by your return, Mistress."
"We were so excited when the Master informed us that you were coming back. He says you are to stay with us six months a year?" Ume gushed excitedly.
"That's right," Sakura nodded.
"Then..." Chizu hesitated. "Please forgive me if I pry. Only, the set amount of time has us believing..."
"I ate six seeds," Sakura confirmed. "From the fruit."
Her attendants exchanged silent, concerned glances.
"Are you..." Ume's eyes flicked uncertainly to her elder supervisor, before returning to Sakura, "upset that you have to return because of that? Is that why you departed us so suddenly? We did not know what to think, Mistress."
"I was at first," Sakura confessed. "But now, your Master and I have put things behind us, and I know I'll be safe here." She gave them both a regretful look. "I'm sorry about the way I left, and how it happened. I'm sorry if I worried you. But things are much better now. I'm glad to see you both again." She reached out and took their hands, squeezing them affectionately, before venturing, "How have you both been?"
"We are most well," Chizu assured her. "It is kind of you to ask. And you, your ladyship? How have you been keeping? You were away a long time."
"We did not think you would return," Ume said.
"I spent a whole year on the surface. A lot has changed since the last time I was here."
"Your hair is longer," Ume marvelled. "And your complexion, so bronze!"
"It's the sun," Sakura smiled.
Ume sighed, almost wistfully. "That must have been lovely."
Sakura paused, her eyes darting between the two women. "You're never allowed up there?"
"Goodness, no." Chizu shook her head. "Our place is here, Mistress. Our service is to our Lord and King. Is it not, Ume?"
"Yes," Ume nodded fervently. "Oh, yes. This is our home. We have no business in the land of the living."
Sakura regarded them thoughtfully, storing an idea in her mind for later. "Where is Sasuke?" she asked them.
"I believe his Lordship departed the palace on business," Chizu replied. "We have been instructed to attend you, and to prepare you to take supper. He will soon return to join your ladyship."
Ume had already walked over to the wardrobe. "We have new dresses for you, Mistress," her eyes sparkled, her delight almost infectious. "We hope the preparations we made for your stay will please you."
Sakura smiled softly. She supposed her return was a significant event for them; they had someone to wait on, to dress, to feed, to keep company. Something that broke the monotonous routine of their daily chores. She knew she could trust them both. They were loyal to Sasuke, and now that she and Sasuke were on the same side, no longer at war with one another, she knew they would be loyal to her, also.
"I'm sure they will," Sakura reassured her.
"Perhaps, if it pleases your ladyship," Ume went on eagerly. "You can tell us stories of your surface adventures while we assist you in dressing for supper?"
"Ume," Chizu censured sternly. "It is most discourteous to pry. If her ladyship does not wish to discuss it, then leave her be. Go prepare her bath at once."
Sakura grinned as she approached the wardrobe. She'd forgotten how large it was, lining one side of the wall entirely in its impressive expanse. The most wonderful gowns in every hue imaginable stared back at her. She thought briefly of Ino, and how excited her best friend would be to see the collection, but was quick to push the thought away. She couldn't dwell on missing her friend already. Not when she had just arrived, and six long months stretched before her.
"It's fine," she said. "I've definitely got some stories to tell."
Both of her attendants beamed back at her.
~x~
Ume and Chizu listened in open fascination and astonishment as Sakura recounted her stay on the surface. She spoke to them about the relic retrieval quest, the fearsome monsters they'd faced, meeting King Zeus, her part in helping to unlock the surface gods' powers, her plans to study Medicine and how she'd had to place those on hold. About the callous God of Chaos who was determined to lay waste to the world and about her friends and mother, who were all deities in their own right.
"Then Mistress," Ume said in awe. "You, also, are a goddess?"
Sakura nodded, and explained about her past life, about the cycle of rebirth. She left out details that were too personal to Sasuke, such as their past romance and anything relating to his family and their sacrifice; private matters that she determined he might not wish his servants to know about.
She sat at the vanity table, watching her reflection in the mirror as Ume used tongs that had been heated in the fireplace to style her hair into soft ringlets. The front locks were secured away from her face by gold pins. The gown Sakura had selected to wear was soft, flowing, and dusky blush in hue, with short flutter sleeves that draped elegantly over her shoulders. It had a V-shaped neckline and its skirt was luxurious, layered chiffon. A gold, pleated belt had been wound around her slender waist, matching the gold bangles on her forearms, the earrings in her ears and her gold sandals.
As Chizu finished the look by adorning her hair with a hairband fashioned into delicate golden leaves, Sakura was struck by how different she looked - and felt - in Underworld clothing.
Memories of her previous stay weighed heavily on her mind as her attendants dutifully escorted her to the banqueting hall. Sakura felt the breath leave her lungs as she walked through the sprawling, grand hallways of the Uchiha palace once again, illuminated by candles burning in ornate, gilded sconces affixed to the walls. She admired the beauty of the high, vaulted ceilings, the tall, geometric gothic windows, the towering, gilded black-marble columns and their intricately carved plinths. The rich hanging tapestries, the plush velvet, gold-trimmed, midnight-blue carpet strips that lined the centre of each corridor. As they descended the majestic stone staircase, Sakura was enchanted anew by its beautiful, swirling iron-balustrades and golden railings, by the colossal pillars bearing winged seraph statues that decorated the entrance hall, by the enormous chandeliers that glinted high above her head. She was stunned, once again, by the dazzling display of riches and wealth that lined every inch of the residence.
It was a culture shock compared to her simple surface life and Sakura realised her memory had lied. She had forgotten just how stunningly regal the palace's interior was.
They reached the bottom of the staircase and approached the intersecting, ebony marble archways that flanked either side of the spacious entrance hall, their openings leading to different doors set in the walls. With every step closer she took toward the banqueting hall, Sakura felt her inner anticipation escalate. Her body was buzzing with it. Things had truly come full circle, she thought, for this was the very room that she had stumbled into and encountered Sasuke in again when she'd first awoken in the Underworld.
She entered into the grand, brightly-lit banqueting chamber, her eyes instantly coming to rest on a long, sprawling table, covered with bronze-silk cloth, with enough chairs to seat fourteen people. They were onyx, their tall backs intricately carved in a style that reminded Sakura of the old, gothic revival chairs she'd seen in museums on the surface.
The table was lined with the most delectable looking dishes. Silver platters glinted invitingly at her, laden with fresh fruits, including figs, ripe plums and grapes, mouth-watering, marinated meat, a generous selection of breads and pastries, cheeses, steaming soup, vegetables, dumplings and other syrupy desserts. Sakura spotted rice and a bed of stuffed vine-leaves, salads, skewered prawns, and an array of other delicacies she couldn't even begin to recognise. Littered around the dishes also were bronze goblets and crystal decanters of golden liquid. Ambrosia, she discerned, as well as jugs of ice-cold water.
She felt her stomach growl in protest. She wasn't sure how long she had been asleep for, but she was starving. So long as she didn't consume any further pomegranate seeds - a fruit that she noted was absent from the table entirely - then she was free to eat whatever else she desired and looked forward to doing so.
Sakura poured herself a small amount of ambrosia, aware that she couldn't drink it freely, but she desperately needed something to calm her nerves. Gulping the liquid down, she released a slow, steady breath, feeling it work its magic almost immediately. It helped take the edge off the tension and anxiety that was thrumming through her body.
Chizu and Ume took their leave, assuring her that Sasuke would surely return shortly. Hugging herself, Sakura drew toward the fireplace, enjoying its warmth as she awaited his arrival. She busied herself with thinking about arbitrary things while her eyes took in the huge tapestries and paintings around her, and long, deep midnight draperies adorning the impressive walls. Her eyes lifted to the illuminated gold and crystal chandeliers hanging high above her head, at the stunning mural depicting a night sky painted on the ceiling, and she exhaled in wonder.
Where were the kitchens? Who were the chefs? Perhaps she could find that out this time. She thought of how many areas she had yet to visit in the humongous palace, how many undiscovered hallways and additional levels there had to be. She looked forward to exploring more, now that she was at the leisure of doing so, without feeling on edge or having to worry about any betrayal plans and escape attempts like she had during her last stay.
And what about beyond the palace? Surely there had to be some more places Sasuke had yet to show her? They had six long months ahead of them. She wanted to see everything, to familiarise herself fully with the Kingdom and how it worked, so that she could best adjust to living in it.
But first, she knew, she had to work on her priority; bridging and mending her relationship with Sasuke.
~x~
The palace's grand entrance doors parted and Sasuke entered briskly through them, returning from his visit to the Plains of Judgement. He found Chizu and Ume standing by the staircase, and both maids immediately curtsied low at the sight of him.
"Majesty." They greeted reverently.
"The Mistress awaits you in the banqueting chamber, as your Lordship instructed," Chizu informed him.
He nodded briefly at them, and they rose and bustled away toward the kitchens. Once they had disappeared out of sight, Sasuke's gaze shifted, moving to the door of the room that Sakura was in.
He had collected her from the surface at the final minute, granting her the longest time he possibly could. Had he delayed any longer, the seeds would have begun paralysing her body entirely. He had sensed her relief as she'd sagged back against him, her body language making apparent that she trusted him to keep her safe, before she had lost consciousness in his arms.
He had returned them to his realm and carried her to her room. This time there had been no horses, no tears, no abduction. Only understanding between them. And yet, a part of Sasuke felt no less wretched about it than he did over the first time he'd taken her to his Kingdom.
As he had laid her gently down upon her bed, a deep, wrenching pain had twisted within his chest. The crushing, heavy unpleasantness of the guilt that lingered, that Sasuke knew would always linger, knowing that Sakura was compelled to remain in his world because of his selfish actions. It had not been her decision. None of it had been her choice. He had made it for her, and that reality would forever haunt him, would forever be ingrained in his mind.
But he was adamant, as he walked slowly toward the door, that everything that followed from that point onwards would be Sakura's choice. What she wished to do, the places she wished to see; she had every and all the freedoms. He owed that to her, for the time he had stolen, for the time he would take from her life each year. This would become her home for six months. He wanted her to feel not restricted, as she had been in the past, but at liberty to venture where she wished, to know and understand the layout of his kingdom. To learn more about it, if that was what she wished. Whatever made her stay more agreeable, more bearable, he was ready to grant it.
He came to a stop before the door, hesitating despite himself. Hesitancy, insecurity, uncertainty - these were all emotions so foreign to him. And yet, he didn't know where he and Sakura went from here. How things would unfold between them. The memory of holding her in his arms, of the passionate kiss they had shared upon their escape from Madara, burned in his mind, taunting him, whispering to him of what might be, of what could be, if they only gave into each other and chose to ignite the kindling with the sparks that flew between them. He swallowed thickly, his hand hovering over the door-knob. Was it too soon to cross that bridge? Was that even what she wanted? Both their emotions had been highly strung back then. Even if they had shared that moment, it did not mean he had any right to pursue her freely without a clear sign from her. Without her consent.
This time would be nothing like the last, he told himself fiercely. This time, he would respect her wishes and take care not to infringe upon her feelings. She was his guest. For six months, he would have her company. He would do everything in his power to ensure her stay was comfortable. That was what was most important; her safety, her physical, mental and emotional welfare. And he was responsible for ensuring all three, while she dwelled within his Kingdom.
With that thought in mind, he took a deep breath and twisted the doorknob.
~x~
The sound of a door opening and footsteps entering the hall echoed against the walls. Sakura's heart fluttered and slowly she turned away from the fireplace, her eyes locking with searing, piercing obsidian. With no clocks in sight, it was difficult for her to discern just how long she had been waiting for, but all thoughts scattered from her mind the moment Sasuke stepped into the room.
His heavy gaze immediately pinned her in place, and she felt her heart leap at the sight of him. He was devastatingly handsome, dressed in a midnight blue tunic, the sleeves and hem of which were decorated with silver stitching. Beneath the tunic he wore a black undershirt and breeches, tucked into spartan black sandals. A long black cloak with a silver-stitched high collar was secured over his tunic by an elaborate silver brooch, encrusted with a glinting sapphire gem. It matched the sapphire droplet adorning his left ear.
He prowled slowly, wordlessly toward her, his eyes travelling unhurriedly down her form, drinking in the sight of her in the fashion of his realm, the colour that perfectly complemented her eyes and hair. With every measured step he took, Sakura swore the agitated butterflies within her belly multiplied. The near-stifling recognition and awareness that they were alone together - truly alone - hit her full force. There was nobody else with them. And the last time they had been truly alone, his lips had been on hers, and her hands had been in his hair-
She felt heat pool into her cheeks at the inconvenient, ill-timed memory her mind chose to recollect. This wasn't at all how she wanted to start things, with embarrassment, but it was impossible not to think of the passionate moment they had shared, with the intense way he was regarding her. She was glad that she had taken that gulp of ambrosia before he had arrived. Surely her nerves would be clanging even more riotously had she not.
He drew to a stop an arm's length away, and for a long moment, they simply stared at one another, the silence between them punctuated only by the crackling of the flames in the hearth.
"Hi," Sakura finally said awkwardly, pulse racing as she tried to guess his thoughts, his feelings. But his expression was unreadable, betraying nothing of them.
He blinked, and after a brief pause, returned, "Sakura."
Sakura's heart felt like it had lodged itself in her throat. The air between them seemed to crackle, scintillating, charged with tension. It was intoxicating. It was disconcerting. His proximity was positively electrifying.
Get a grip, she admonished herself. The only way to make things less awkward between them, to smooth things over and start fresh, was to engage him in conversation. To act like everything was normal between them. And it was, she insisted. Even if it felt anything but.
She glanced around at their surroundings. "It's strange," she confided, fidgeting nervously with her fingers under the weight of that probing stare. "Being back here again after so long. This is where I first met you the last time, too. Do you remember?"
Something flickered transiently across his fathomless ebony irises. A fleeting look that Sakura suspected might have been the glimmer of regret.
He did not respond, but averted his gaze from hers instead, as if he did not wish to recall that incident. As if discussing it made him feel uncomfortable.
"But..." she went on hurriedly, swift to realise her error and not wishing to dwell on the past. "Everything's so different now, isn't it?" She gave him a tentative smile. "It's good to see this place again-"
"Sakura," he interrupted bluntly. "There is no need to pretend it pleases you to be here."
"Wha-?" Her eyebrows drew together as she found herself caught off guard and somewhat affronted by his opinion. Did he still believe that she resented the fact that she was back? Even after she had told him she had forgiven him? Even after she had told him that she firmly believed that they were meant to meet each other again? When he knew that fact, too?
"That's all in the past," she reminded him. "I told you, I've made peace with it."
"Hn," he scoffed shortly. "Acceptance is not approval."
She stared at him in open-mouthed surprise. It seemed apparent that Sasuke was still feeling guilt about the six months she was required to spend in his Kingdom. She supposed that was to be expected, given she had only just returned to it. She would have to be patient and reassure him that she genuinely wanted to spend time with him, in his world - until he came to believe it.
Folding her arms across her chest, she answered, "I am glad to see this place again," she said. "Really. I do mean it."
He gave her a long, searching, skeptical look.
"With everything that's been happening, it's probably not a bad idea for me to stay hidden down here for a while, anyway," she added.
At his unconvinced expression, she insisted, "Six months don't bother me." A light sigh left her lips. "I'm not upset, Sasuke. I'm-" She caught herself, a blush creeping through her cheeks, as she hesitated, the words loaded on the tip of her tongue. Deciding to push ahead and utter them, she shyly dropped her eyes. "I'm looking forward to spending time with you, and exploring more of your world."
Sasuke blinked, surprised by the openness of her statement, but was quick to mask the emotion. Her eyes flicked back up to his, peeking up at him almost bashfully, and for a terrible moment, he found himself transfixed by the brightness of her verdant irises and incapable of looking away. His heart thudded against his chest. The spell was broken by the arrival of two servants, dressed in white, who entered the room and pulled the chairs at the ends of the tables back, ready for Sasuke and Sakura to occupy.
The death deity turned away from her, and wordlessly took a seat at one end of the table, allowing the servant to push the chair under him.
Sakura watched him, then moved to her own, feeling awkward. She wasn't used to being waited upon in such a way, but Sasuke had always been royalty and clearly thought nothing of it. She supposed she would just have to grow accustomed to it, reminding herself that the servants he kept were treated well and seemed happy enough in their roles. She observed them as they proceeded to serve the food, her eyes then falling onto the cutlery resting on either side of her plate. She blinked. Even the forks, knives and spoons were jewel-encrusted.
Sitting in a chair on the opposite end of the table felt much too far in distance from Sasuke. Much too formal, with a long row of platters between them. She wondered, whether once all the awkwardness had passed, if she could relocate her seat. Move closer to where he was. Or whether it was dining etiquette and proper custom to remain where she was.
"I want to make the most of the time I have here. I'm sure there are lots of places that I haven't seen." She paused, before venturing, "There are some things I wanted to ask you about, though."
He looked at her in silence. Even from the distance at which she sat, Sakura discerned that there seemed to be something guarded in his expression. The fact that he still had his guard up at all frustrated her. But she knew enough about Sasuke and his manner by then to understand when to push, and when to hold back and patiently wait. Her stay would be a sharp adjustment for him as much as it would be for her. He wasn't used to having a constant companion. The only other people he could interact with in his realm were Chiyo or his servants.
When he nodded at her in invitation to speak, she questioned, "What would've happened if I'd stayed on the surface after midnight?"
He regarded her for a moment. "The seeds would have continued to poison you," he answered, as a servant poured ambrosia into his goblet. "To the point of paralysis."
It was a frightening thought, knowing how potent and unstable they became when the allocated timer on them expired.
"And now that I'm back here? You said something about them becoming stabilised."
"They become dormant here," he confirmed.
"Then," Sakura hesitated, "does that mean I can return to the surface for short periods?"
Sasuke was silent for a long minute. Finally he responded, "No."
Her eyebrows drew together in confusion. "Why not?"
His lips pressed together to form a thin line. She claimed to be glad to see the Underworld again, but was already asking about whether it would be possible to go back to the upper world? He should have expected it, but it made the burning disappointment in his throat no easier to swallow.
"I'm not asking because I want to go back before the six months are up," she clarified, correctly guessing the nature of his thoughts as one of the servant boys poured a glass of water for her, and ambrosia into another goblet. "I just want to understand how the seeds work better. Thank you," she smiled at the light-brown haired boy who bowed his head politely to her.
When the servants had finished placing food on their plates and stood back, taking their place stationed neatly on either side of the fireplace to allow them to eat, it occurred to Sakura that she had never really dined with Sasuke in this room much in the past. Usually she had eaten alone, or in Chizu and Ume's company. She knew deities didn't need to eat the way humans did, but the fact that Sasuke was making a conscious effort to be hospitable, to put her at ease, was surreal.
It was almost endearing.
He lifted the goblet of ambrosia to his lips. "You cannot return," he stated. "Until six months have elapsed."
Sakura tried the soup first, served in an elegant, small bronze bowl. It was thick, creamy and delighted her taste-buds. She wasn't sure what was in it, but found herself sipping spoonfuls eagerly. "You're immune to the seeds, right? You can eat as many as you want? Is that because you're an Uchiha?"
Sasuke eyed her over the rim of his goblet. Sakura swallowed down the mouthful of food, gulping at the intensity of his gaze.
At length, he answered, "Because I am king. All Uchiha are tied to this realm. The seeds do not change that."
Sakura swallowed another mouthful of soup. "What about the forest outside the entrance to your realm? Is that part of your world?"
"It is a boundary between my realm and the surface, that keeps it hidden. But you cannot venture beyond the entrance."
Sakura nodded. For a few minutes, they ate in silence, in which she finished the soup. One of the servants stepped forward to collect the bowl, before placing the main course plate before her. Once more, she thanked him.
"What about visitors?" She turned her attention back to the death deity.
He stared blankly at her. He never had any external visitors, other than the irritating Suigetsu on occasion, but that would surely soon change if Karin chose to leave his realm.
"I mean," she shifted in her seat under the weight of his scrutiny. "I don't know how much you know about what's been happening on the surface. We've found some ANBU bases, but they've mostly been traps full of Orochimaru's monsters. The guardians of Olympus are working with us to help find his main hideout. We found two more of the tailed-beast hosts and they've been staying with us in the High Council grounds."
His eyes narrowed at that. "The grounds Ares infiltrated."
She blinked, surprised. "You know about that?"
"Chiyo," he answered simply.
Of course, Sakura thought to herself, nodding in understanding. "He was expelled, and we don't know if Homura will ever recover. I still want to know what's going on up there, while I'm down here. So I was wondering..." she picked at the napkin in her lap. "Are visits okay? If my mother, or Naruto or Kakashi-sensei, or even Ino wanted to come down and fill me in about what's happening? Can they?"
Sasuke considered this. He doubted Tsunade would ever willingly venture to the Underworld, given how much she despised the place - and him - but lifted a shoulder slightly in a nonchalant half-shrug. So long as they remained beyond the gates, he saw no issue with allowing them to visit - within reason - if it meant that Sakura was appeased. He agreed that they needed to be kept informed about happenings upon the surface, and the enemy's next moves.
"At the entrance, by Cerberus," he conceded at last. "If you wish it."
She beamed happily at him, the nervousness she'd harboured at making the request evaporating instantly, replaced by gladness and relief.
"Thank you, Sasuke. That really means a lot to me."
His eyes widened marginally at the sight of her dazzling smile. He wasn't used to it being directed at him without reservation, and was quick to look away, feeling a strange, unfamiliar fluttering within his chest that made him feel uncomfortable.
"Hn," he uttered curtly. "Eat."
Still smiling, Sakura eyed her plate hungrily, and lifted a silver knife and fork, cutting off a piece of pastry before taking a careful, self-conscious bite. It was filled with spinach, cheese and what tasted like pine-nuts mixed with minced meat. She then tried a rice-stuffed vine-leaf, before eating a slice of succulent chicken.
"This food is delicious," she complimented appreciatively. Everything tasted richer, somehow, compared to the food she consumed on the surface. The marinades and spices used were completely different to what she was accustomed to, but pleased her palate nonetheless. "I've never seen the chefs here."
"They remain in the kitchens and the servant quarters," he told her.
"But this is enough to feed twenty people at least," she exclaimed. "What happens to the food that isn't eaten?"
"Sustenance does not spoil here as it does on the surface," said Sasuke.
"Is that because time flows differently?"
He nodded, popping a bite of cheese-topped bread into his mouth, followed by a small cherry tomato.
"So this all just stays here? It's never changed?"
He took another sip of his wine. "What is not consumed here is distributed amongst the servants, and replaced with other courses."
That sounded practical and fair. Sakura spotted charming glass pots containing nuts, dried fruits, clotted cream, jams, marmalades and savory condiments dotted about the table. She supposed there wasn't a breakfast, lunch and dinner table. Since there was no morning, afternoon or night in the Underworld, one was free to eat what they wanted, whenever they wanted.
Several more minutes passed in silence. Sakura hastened to finish her plate, already stuffed, but the dessert looked too good to skip. The servant asked her what she desired, and she selected a slice of syrup-coated pie with a dolloping of cream, as well as a few slices of peach.
"I'm glad you have the training arena. I'll need it to burn off all this rich food," Sakura remarked, trying to lighten the smothering tension in the air. "Otherwise nobody will recognise me when it's time to go back."
She could tell from the nonplussed look on Sasuke's face that the joke was lost on him entirely. A part of her wasn't surprised. He was a deity, and didn't have to worry about what he ate.
"Nevermind," she muttered under her breath, feeling self-conscious and embarrassed. Maybe the small amount of ambrosia she had consumed was wearing off already. She took another small sip, not missing the way Sasuke's eyes carefully monitored her as she did.
When she had scraped the last piece of pie from the bowl, she felt satisfyingly full, and sat back in her chair, a hand pressed contentedly over her belly.
The servants, who had exited the room with their empty plates, returned, placing bowls of warm water and small towels before them. It took Sakura a moment to understand what she was expected to do. She watched as Sasuke dipped his hands into the bowl, before drying them with the hand-towel provided. Then his eyes lifted, coming to rest on her.
He raised a questioning, dark eyebrow, catching her staring openly at him.
She dragged her eyes away, feeling sheepish and flustered, hastily mimicking his actions and cleansing her hands in the warm, lemon-scented water.
Sasuke then rose from his chair, and immediately the servant pulled it away, allowing him to step freely around the table. Sakura stood up in turn, clasping her hands behind her back as she walked up to him.
"Thanks for having dinner with me," she said earnestly. "I know you don't need to eat like this, but... I enjoyed it." She offered him a small smile. "I mean, dinner. But not just the food. Your company, too." She bit her tongue, mortified that she was stuttering over her words. What in the world was the matter with her?
His bottomless black eyes searched hers for a long moment. For what, Sakura could not fathom. She felt no less restless under the scrutiny of his piercing gaze than she had before dinner.
"Sakura," he said at last. "You are free to roam wherever you wish. Only Tartarus is off-limits."
"Really?" she raised her eyebrows. "Anywhere I want? What about the monsters in your realm?"
"They will not trouble you," he assured her. He had seen to it that every inhabitant in his Kingdom was aware of Sakura's stay, and of the consequences if they foolishly chose to disturb her peace or safety. He would have no repetition of past mistakes. Not a single one.
"That's a relief," she enthused. "But you know... this is a huge palace, and I don't really remember where everything is. I know even less of where anything is outside."
"..." Sasuke regarded her thoughtfully for a long moment. Then he blinked, and tilted his head, wordlessly motioning for her to follow him.
Sakura thanked the servants in turn for their hospitality, before hurrying after the King of the Underworld.
~x~
He led her through a dizzying maze of hallways and interconnecting passages until they reached winding steps of stone that climbed up a circular tower and its adjoining turret. Upon reaching the top of the stair landing, Sasuke pushed open an arched wooden door and entered into a spacious circular room. Sakura followed and was hit with recognition. She remembered the stone floor and walls, the bookshelves loaded with thick leather-bound volumes, the burning, black-iron fireplace, the plush blue rug and the oak writing table.
This was the place where Sasuke had first shown her the texts about surface gods and their identities.
Sasuke snapped his fingers and the candles in their iron sconces affixed to the walls immediately blazed to life at his command. He then approached a large, heavy bronze chest and opened it, rummaging for something inside. Sakura turned her attention to the bookshelves, running her fingers lightly along the spines of the texts. There had to be so much more for her to read and learn. So much more to understand about Sasuke's realm and how it operated. She was eager to begin.
"What're you looking for?" she asked, perplexed, peering over his shoulder to find all manner of rolled scrolls and items contained within the chest, not limited to magnifying glasses, black glass spheres, yet more books, and other academic-related objects.
Sasuke seemed to find what he was looking for, pulling out a pile of old, folded paper. He then moved to the desk and placed the parchments onto it.
Sakura joined him, gazing curiously down at the pieces. Sasuke unfolded the top one, revealing a large map.
"The palace," he informed her, pointing to it with a long, ringed index finger. Sakura found herself momentarily distracted by the clarity of the deep crimson gem that rested in the silver band adorning the digit, before shifting her focus back to the large map.
"This is an outline of the layout," he tapped the markings on the parchment. "And these," he pushed the map aside, and opened the next sheet, revealing a much more detailed chart. "Are transliterated maps for each of the four levels."
"Wow! Four?" Sakura breathed, lifting the first map he had opened, inspecting it with wide eyes. To think that each floor needed its own detailed chart? Just how huge was the palace? Sasuke opened the remaining three folded pieces of paper.
"Wait a minute," Sakura looked at him. "Then which floors have I seen?"
"Parts of the ground level," he answered. "The gardens, stables and armory. Some sections of the first floor, where your quarters are."
She shook her head in astonishment. "I'll need a month to explore just each of these levels alone!" She picked up another of the charts. "What's this level?"
Sasuke glanced down at it. After a pause, he supplied, "The Archives."
"What's down there? More books?"
"..." His dark eyes lingered on the map in her hands. "Old manuscripts and the possessions of my kin, stored away following the war."
"Oh," Sakura said softly. Then she folded the map, and held it out to him. "I'll only go there if you want me to." She said. "And I'd rather visit with you."
He hesitated, before accepting the parchment, returning it to the table. Then he pulled out the largest scroll that he'd tucked under his left arm, and untied the string that kept it rolled. Opening it, he blew dust away from the old sheet, and said, "The Underworld."
Sakura stared at the map in amazement. Her eyes scanned over familiar landmarks, such as the Elysian Fields, the Asphodel Meadows, Plains of Judgement, Tartarus and the Underworld's entrance gates. But there were many other areas she was certain she had never seen in depth, names she did not recognise.
"This is wonderful," she exhaled, touched by how transparent he was being. It was a stark contrast to her last stay in his world, and a welcome one. "Thank you so much, Sasuke."
He nodded, handing Sakura the entire pile. Exploring the palace and Kingdom would serve to keep her occupied, he reasoned, whenever responsibility demanded him to see to his duties.
"And it's fine for me to go out of the palace alone?" she glanced at him.
"Take your attendants."
Sakura thought of Ume and Chizu. They probably didn't ever get a chance to venture beyond the palace grounds. It would be an adventure for them, too, to visit different landmarks.
"Right," she looked down at the maps in her hands, before her eyes darted back to him. "But..." she began shyly, awkwardly. "I was hoping- I mean, that maybe I could tour some places with you, too? If you have the time, and that's alright with you?"
He regarded her intently. Her stomach fluttered when he stepped toward her and another heavy silence stretched between them.
"Is that what you want?" he murmured at last, his eyes searching hers once more. "Sakura?"
She couldn't tear her eyes away from his. Firelight glinted off obsidian irises, turning the smouldering depths to burning, mesmerising embers, and Sakura felt that her heart was tinder, strewn alight from the magnetism and heat of that attentive stare.
"Yes," she replied breathlessly, and could barely suppress the shudder that zig-zagged down her spine when he reached out slowly, his fingers closing around her right wrist, reeling her closer to him.
Shadows seeped from his form, enveloping them in a howling typhoon of wind. Sakura reached out unthinkingly, clutching onto the front of his tunic as she felt the floor give way beneath her feet. When the world stopped spinning and she felt solid ground under her once more, she blinked, astonished to find that Sasuke had whisked them effortlessly to the stables.
Sasuke took the maps from her, and handed them to one of the servant boys standing by the building, instructing him to deliver them to Sakura's quarters as Sakura dashed forward, entering inside the stables, gasping in delight when she caught sight of a familiar, beautiful white horse.
"Eos!" she cried, throwing her arms around the mare's neck. Eos whinnied and stomped her hooves enthusiastically, sharing in her Mistress's delight at being reunited. "You kept her!" Sakura exclaimed, glancing across at Sasuke, who leaned against the entrance to the stables, his arms folded across his chest as he watched her.
"Hn," he closed his eyes dismissively, as if that fact was obvious and to be expected.
"Oh, Eos! I missed you!" Sakura smiled. "Have you been a good girl?" She stroked the horse's mane affectionately as Eos nudged her head gently against Sakura's cheek. "Of course you have."
The billowing snort of another steed drew her eyes to the black stallion Sasuke was leading outside. Alastor, she guessed, from the haughty way the majestic horse tossed his head. Lifting the latch that kept Eos in her pen, she tugged on her horse's reins, walking her outside the stables.
"Do you remember?" Sasuke asked, as he gracefully mounted his saddle. "How to ride her?"
"I hope so," Sakura answered. Accepting a boost from one of the stable-boys, she climbed into the saddle, and slowly they began to make the turn around the palace's vast perimeter. Sakura gripped tightly onto the reins, feeling precarious in her seat. It had been a long time since she'd been on a horse, but as they exited through the palace's colossal, imposing front gates, she found herself gradually relaxing and easing into the motions.
"Sasuke," she called to him, "where are we going?"
"You'll see," he replied cryptically.
~x~
Their steeds carried them swiftly through the realm, and their surroundings rushed by in a blur. The exhilaration and adrenaline rush of riding on horseback filled Sakura with giddy delight. For the first time in a long time, she felt unburdened by the worry that an enemy was lurking in wait and watching them, ready to spring out and cause carnage at any moment. In this world, everything followed Sasuke's law. Everything submitted to the iron-will of his rule. There were no other eyes watching her or judging her. Sakura felt safe. Free. Like she was on the verge of the greatest, most magical of adventures.
The beauty of Sasuke's Kingdom had never left her mind, and yet she knew her recollections had failed in doing it justice. They passed through shadowy caverns illuminated by crackling blue-flame torches, through meadows littered with luminous, otherworldly flowers and continued onwards until they reached a river composed of murky white water. A thin veil of dewy mist hung around it and on the other side of its banks was a line of stunning, milky trees, with barks that glistened like diamonds. Sakura recalled seeing similar ones in the realm before.
"What is this river?" Sakura asked, as Sasuke fashioned a bridge of shadows to allow passage over the still body of water.
"A potent section of Lethe," he replied. "Stay close."
Sakura gently spurred Eos forward, keeping pace just behind Alastor. As they alighted on the other side of the bridge, she glanced back to find it had immediately vanished behind them. When she turned her attention to what was in front of them again, Sakura felt the air still in her lungs. The grass here was an ashen grey, and white narcissus blooms dotted the forest. She turned her eyes upwards, amazed to find a glorious canopy of overlapping branches bearing translucent, lavender-tinged silver leaves swaying in a breeze Sakura could not feel against her skin.
"What is this place?" she asked in awe. It was eerily quiet, with trees spreading out in all directions everywhere she looked.
"The outer boundaries of the Demos Oneroi," Sasuke answered. "The Land of Dreams."
He led the way through the ethereal forest, which eventually parted into a sprawling, open valley, bearing the same blooms that grew in the woodland behind them. Rolling hills and colourless grass covered every inch of land her eyes could see. Sakura turned her face up to the pitch-black sky, glimpsing the illusion of endless constellations of twinkling stars high above them. It wasn't real, she knew, and yet the illusion was strikingly life-like nonetheless.
As they ventured onward, Sakura spotted a colossal, arched, glowing gate in the distance to her right, resting atop a sloping hill. Its frame appeared transparent, and its door was a gaping opening of glowing white light. Her eyes then caught onto a similar gate, resting on an identical hill to her far left. Its frame was ivory stone, but the door was a black, shadowy abyss.
Sasuke steered Alastor to a smooth stop, and turned to look at her.
"The Gates of Horn and Ivory," he indicated. "The Demos Oneroi is where mortals and demigods enter in sleep, and where all dreams are created." He nodded toward the white-framed gate. "That is the Gate of Ivory, through which false dreams pass."
"False dreams?" Sakura echoed. "You mean, dreams that aren't real?"
"Dreams that bring no fulfilment, that are not grounded in reality. Dreams that deceive mortals," Sasuke clarified.
"But that's most dreams, isn't it?" Sakura questioned.
Sasuke inclined his head in a nod.
"And that one?" she pointed toward the other gate through which shone white light.
"The Gate of Horn. Dreams that deliver truths pass through there."
"Everything is so still here," Sakura spoke in a hushed whisper. The landscape was as haunting as it was ethereally beautiful. She could see more trees in distance which she supposed formed the outermost perimeters of this section of the Underworld. "But how are the dreams made? Isn't that also your role?"
Sasuke considered the question. In reality, this part of the Kingdom had been supervised by Shisui before the war. His cousin had been responsible for the weaving of dreams within the gates of the Demos Oneroi, and was the one who both pulled mortals into slumber and sent all dreamers back to the land of wakefulness. Those souls who died in sleep would be claimed by Itachi. The potency and proficiency of his abilities in the domain of sleep had far exceeded Sasuke's - as had Itachi's in his control of death. They had not shared their functions, as Sasuke did, which had given them absolute mastery over their respective elements.
"It is the gates that create them, now," he responded after a pause, his gaze fixed on the Gate of Ivory. "The realms of sleep are contained within them. I patrol here only to ensure all runs as intended."
Sakura found herself contemplating how many responsibilities Sasuke had. Judging souls, listening to petitions, patrolling the banks of the rivers, checking on Elysium, Tartarus, and all the countless other areas; overlooking the running of not only his palace and the welfare of his subjects, but of an entire Kingdom, comprised of so many sections. And he did it all on his own.
"Isn't it difficult?" she asked softly.
The death deity blinked, and turned his eyes back toward her.
"Running the Underworld on your own," she expanded. "Isn't it hard?"
He looked away. "It is my Kingdom," he answered simply, and said no more, turning Alastor around to continue onward.
Sakura followed after him, absorbing the eerily hushed landscape in speechless wonder. Their horses carried them between the hills, until eventually they arrived at a pale grey lake. Luminous white butterflies with transparent, clear wings flitted through the reeds lining its perimeter. There was a stone bridge flanked by tall, intersecting arches of black marble that joined together to form a barrel vault ceiling. It led to another circular structure of towering, connected, three-point archways forged of the same crystalline, onyx rock, resting on a central, grassy island floating atop the vast pool of water.
Sasuke dismounted, and Sakura moved to do the same. But her feet were out of practice, clumsy, and caught onto the long hem of her gown. She stumbled, losing her footing on the stirrup. Sasuke was by her side in a heartbeat. She felt his hands slide to her hips, as he effortlessly lifted her down. Sakura dared not meet his eyes. The way his fingers lingered briefly caused warmth to envelop her body, and he was already drawing away at her murmured words of thanks.
Leaving their horses behind, they crossed over the bridge. A soft gasp escaped Sakura's lips as she walked beneath the archway. The underside of its vaulted ceiling was adorned with embedded diamonds that glittered like bright stars. Reaching its end, they stepped into the large circle of arched columns, and Sakura's eyes widened when they fell upon a lone tree resting on a glistening, circular black platform. Three short steps climbed up to it, and there were two ornately carved wooden benches on either side of the tree, offering places for visitors to sit.
Unlike the silvery-white birches that formed the forest lining the valley, this tree was larger, with a thicker trunk. Its bark was a medium shade of charcoal in hue, and it resembled an elm in its size and shape. The boughs of the branches glowed with delicate, slender veins of white which fed into the veins of the semi-transparent, grey leaves. They gleamed, as if the tree's roots beneath the marble were feeding directly from the spectral pool of water around them.
Enchanted, Sakura reached out to touch it, but Sasuke's hand caught her wrist, pulling her arm gently back.
"Do not touch it, Sakura," he cautioned her.
She nodded, and then moved to one of the benches, lowering herself into a seated position as she gazed up at the tree in amazement. It was a most magical, serene and wondrous sight. If only her mother and friends could see it, Sakura thought to herself wistfully. They would then surely come to understand that the Underworld was not a dreadful place of horrors, but a captivating realm of great beauty.
Sasuke joined her on the bench, sitting a careful distance from her as he regarded the tree pensively. Sakura noted the gap between them in dismay, and bit her lower lip. Would he mind if she moved closer? But if he had wanted to sit right beside her, he would have already.
Her insecurities ran rampant. They had kissed. Why did he seem not to recall that happening at all? He had been hesitant to touch her. She scoured her mind for reasons why. Was he as nervous as she was? Afraid? Unsure? Still drowning in remorse? Had he changed his mind and decided to take a step back again?
They were neither friends nor lovers. The in-between limbo in which they found themselves dancing around each other was torture. Where was the sense in second-guessing anything further, when they both had come to terms with their feelings and accepted their past involvement? Sakura wanted them to grow closer. Not further apart. Perhaps he was reading her cues, the awkward silences, and assuming that she was uncomfortable? Maybe she wasn't being open and relaxed enough in his presence?
But she couldn't help it. She was nervous, hyper-aware of him in a way she had never been before. For entirely different reasons as she had been in the past. Nervous about growing closer. Nervous about the deep yearning to get him to open up to her fully, to trust her, to not hold back on his own feelings.
Her heart thudded dully in her chest. She pushed away the troubling thoughts, reasoning that the more she worried and thought about them, the more tense she would likely become. She needed to relax and let everything fall into place naturally. There was no hurry. They had six months to know each other better, six months to rebuild and strengthen their bond.
She rested her hands on the edge of the bench seat. Silence hung oppressively once more between them, until Sakura could no longer stand it. Sasuke wasn't a natural talker, she knew. It was up to her to coax him into conversation. She racked her brain for things to discuss, and began with the most obvious.
"So what's the story behind this tree?"
"It is nurtured by false dreams, and also creates them." Sasuke answered. His voice settled around her ears like liquid silk, and Sakura turned her face toward him, listening intently to every word. "They cling to its leaves."
Sakura stared up at it. "Who built this place?" she asked, admiring the imposing arched columns surrounding them.
Sasuke was quiet. Then he supplied, "The first Queen of the Underworld."
Sakura's cypress eyes shifted back to him curiously. "Who was she?"
"Rhea," Sasuke said. "Consort of Cronus." He had not found out the truth about Rhea and her tragic, untimely demise until long after the war and his ascension to the Underworld's throne. Another dark piece of tainted history that had been kept from his knowledge.
"Consort?" Sakura echoed, stunned. "You mean, he was married?"
She couldn't imagine Cronus having a wife. She couldn't imagine him holding any manner of tender feelings or affection for anyone. The revelation was shocking. Surely he had not loved her at all, Sakura told herself. Surely he had only tricked and used her, the way he did everyone else.
Sasuke nodded. "He sired sons. All Uchiha descended from his line."
"But what happened to them?" Sakura's eyebrows furrowed. "Did they die in the war, too?"
"Long before that." Obsidian eyes met hers. "He killed them."
Sakura lifted a hand to her mouth in horror. "He murdered his own wife and sons?"
Sasuke's gaze returned to the tree. His silence confirmed the terrible truth.
"But that's insane! Why...?" she got out. "Why would he do that...?"
"He was consumed," Sasuke replied. "By paranoia and his lust for power."
A sudden chill ran through Sakura's blood, and she rubbed at her arms. How horrible it must have been, for Cronus's family, to be subjected to such a cruel end at the hands of the one who was meant to protect them.
"He really is a monster," she whispered, shaking her head in disgust, anger burning within her chest. "He always has been, hasn't he?"
Sasuke said nothing to that. He harboured no doubts in his mind that Madara's heart had been depleted of emotions long before Sasuke had even been born into existence. As the God of Chaos himself, it was to be expected that corruption flowed through his veins.
"What was Rhea's function?"
"A fertility goddess."
"So she made all the fields and the valleys and trees." Sakura admired the canopy of glowing leaves above them. It explained how a world so lightless was brimming with flora. Then a sudden thought occurred to her. "What about the pomegranates? Did she make the trees that they grow on as well?"
"Yes," Sasuke affirmed.
Sakura found herself wondering where the trees were. She had never seen them - but she supposed that Sasuke would have deliberately ensured that in the past. She made a mental note to ask him about it some other time. Their absence from the dinner table was a sure indication that he didn't want her going anywhere near the fruit for now.
"Sasuke?" she began hesitantly. There was something she wanted to ask him, a question that his explanation about the seeds and the way the Uchiha chose to exchange them, had birthed in her mind. "You told me that your people traded the seeds as a pledge of loyalty, so that they'd never be far apart." Gripping the chiffon fabric of her skirt, she continued softly, "Is that why you gave them to me...?"
From the corner of her eye, she saw him tense. When she turned her face toward him, she glimpsed the tightness of his clenched jaw muscles. She was skirting around a sensitive subject, she knew. But her frustrations were impossible to ignore. She wanted Sasuke to feel comfortable talking about it. She wanted him to be comfortable talking to her about anything. She didn't want him to run away from the subject.
Afraid that he was on the verge of rising and cutting their visit short, Sakura scooted over to him. She reached out, and placed a hand lightly on his right arm, feeling the muscles beneath the fabric of his tunic sleeve tauten at her touch. Hadn't she gotten through to him by touching him before? Would it work again, where words failed? She dared to hope.
"It's alright," she reassured him.
He continued to stare ahead, refusing to meet her gaze. The shameful truth was that his actions at the time had had nothing to do with any pledge of loyalty, and everything to do with his selfish desire to keep her close. Why was she still trying to find good in him, when there had been no sincere intentions on his part back then?
"I did not know your nature." His words were clipped.
"But you wanted me to stay with you," Sakura pressed gently. "Even then, you wanted us to be together, didn't you?"
His hands, resting upon his knees, curled into fists. He had been a fool. After spending millennia alone and isolated, he had not understood that feelings could not be compelled back then. He had not understood that emotions followed no orders. He had arrogantly told himself that Sakura would come around in time, would eventually come to accept him and his world, wilfully blind to the fact that every action he had taken had only been damaging the chances of any hopes of friendship or anything more blossoming between them. Remorse washed over him, smothering in its intensity. So lost was he in his musings, that he did not notice the way Sakura was watching him closely, the way she had read the regret that flashed transiently across his features, betrayed by the tight line and slight, downcast depression of the corners of his lips.
The feel of warm, soft skin slipping over his tightly clenched fist snapped him out of his gloomy, guilt-wallowing thoughts. Sakura's hands had closed around his, one resting under his, the other on top.
"If you hadn't given them to me, I'd be dead," she reminded him. "Think of how many times they've helped me. How they let us communicate no matter the distance, no matter the sky we're under."
He listened in silent astonishment. How? How could she look at it with such optimism, when he had essentially cursed her, trapped her, forced her to live six months out of the sun, for every year of her life? Or whatever was left of it?
She had forgiven him. But he would never forgive himself.
'It is as it must be.' Words drifted through his memory. 'The fruit is no curse within our realm.'
His breath stilled, as something suddenly fell into place in Sasuke's mind with an audible click. He hadn't paid attention to his brother's words before in his dream-like state, too distracted by the shadows that had signalled the fading of Itachi's chakra. But now, as he recalled them, understanding dawned upon him.
The seeds were not a curse in their realm. Not to those who belonged to it. His mind raced. Belonging to the shades granted immunity against the seeds' effects. No Uchiha suffered from pain, or poisoning as a result of ingesting the fruit. They were free to wander on the surface, to come and go as they pleased.
The fruit was forbidden only to mortals and non-Uchiha. Because they did not belong within the realm.
'The fruit is no curse within our realm.'
If Sakura became one with the realm - if she belonged to it - then was it possible that the six months would become not an enforced sentence, but a choice for her? How would that work? He released a silent breath. Was that what his brother had implied with his cryptic choice of words?
There were only two ways an individual truly became one with the Underworld. One, was to be born into its shadows, to grow sustained by its lands. The other - was to ascend its throne. To rule over it.
Sasuke had entertained the thought in the past, selfishly. Of tying Sakura down permanently to his realm, of giving her a crown, but he had thought only of his own wishes back then. Of removing the seal on her, restoring her goddess-hood, and binding her to him eternally. He had not thought of her desires and happiness, and had failed to understand the gravity of what crowning Sakura entailed.
Now, he thought only of her own welfare, of the possibility of freeing her of the curse of the fruit. Of giving her the freedom to choose where to be, and when. Six months in total, as a non-native Uchiha, she would still be required to give to honour the bond the seeds forged between them, but she could venture out of the Underworld and walk on the surface whenever she wished, without risking the dangerous side-effects of the unstable seeds.
Although the crown bestowed that freedom, it came with its own burdens and responsibilities. His hope dwindled. Surely Sakura would not want them. He could not entangle her any further, any deeper, into his Kingdom. That was not fair, or right.
But hadn't he made decisions for her before, without consulting her? Hadn't they arrived at this mess due to his inability and stubborn refusal to communicate anything to her? What if he told her about it? What did he have to lose? Not now, when she had only just returned, but after some time had passed, where was the harm in it? Would she be open to it? Would she spurn the idea entirely? He needed to consider it and its full implications more carefully when he was alone.
The sweetness of her voice was like a balm to his senses, drawing him out of the rushing turbulence of his thoughts.
"You gave me those seeds because you wanted to keep me close. I'm here now." Gently, the hand beneath his pushed at his fingers, prying them open. Sasuke allowed her touch, his skin tingling from the contact when her palm slid under his, and her slender fingers slowly, hesitantly, entwined between his own.
"I'm with you," she went on. "We have these six months together. So please, Sasuke. Let me in. Don't shut me out."
He swallowed, his eyes remaining fixed on the ethereal tree before them.
Sakura's heart pounded as she tensely awaited his response. When he said nothing, when he did not even look at her, she gulped back the bitter disappointment that had lodged itself in her throat - when the sudden sensation of movement drew her eyes back down to their hands.
She watched, feeling breathless and elated, as Sasuke slowly closed his fingers around her own.
~x~
Author's note
I haven't written a whole SS chapter in years. I hope you liked this first instalment which really is just a transition/adjustment chapter. You'll definitely like the next :) Reviews are appreciated, see you next update!