Things are getting juicy! Somebody left a review saying the plot was thickening. . . Well, that's not the only thing getting thick around here. Enjoy!

"You are a man of your word, Uzumaki-san," the Emperor sat at the table beside him. They were in the council room once more, but this time Hatake Kakashi stood off to the side, listening in, watching with the one eye he kept uncovered, "You have no idea how greatly I value that," the Emperor clasped a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, "I am eternally grateful to you for my daughter's life."

"Sir, it wasn - ,"

"It may have been nothing to you," Kizashi cut him off softly, "But she is everything to me."

"Your gratitude is appreciated," Sasuke bowed his head briefly, tightening his hold on the books in his lap. Kizashi took his hand back, folding both of them on the table.

"Tell me what you know of them."

"They were Akatsuki. They had tattoos, one I got a clear look at, but I would bet that the other one had the same symbol."

"What symbol?" Kakashi pushed off from the wall and stepped up to the table, "The red cloud?"

Sasuke nodded.

"Perhaps we have others within our ranks that have that emblem," Kizashi regarded Kakashi for a moment, "I believe an inspection is required. Anyone with that symbol - if it is a tattoo, clothing - if it is on anything, we take them in for questioning. Let them know that if they fail to produce information they will be executed. I will not tolerate treason but I may be persuaded to leniency if they prove useful."

"Yes, sir," Kakashi nodded and they both turned their gaze back to Sasuke.

"One of them was from Konoha, he was once a farmer."

"Konoha?" Kizashi thumbed his sideburns, following their trail and Sasuke was struck for a moment by how much the action reminded him of how Sakura would plait her hair as she contemplated, "Did he know your family?"

"No," Sasuke shook his head, his throat becoming tight, "Not personally."

"Right," Kizashi fell silent once more, eyes staring into the wood of the table as though it held the answers he sought.

"He said he lost his sister to the Akatsuki and - ,"

"And yet he joined them," Kakashi marveled at the notion as he completed Sasuke's statement.

"The explosion was a diversion, right?" Sasuke asked. Kakashi nodded.

"A diversion, or a complete misfire. They set it off in a field about a quarter mile from the lake, but there's nothing there, except for trees. There was no trace of anyone having been there by the time we arrived."

"He had her to himself," Sasuke spoke under his breath before his eyes met Kizashi's, "They could have killed her the second they got into her rooms."

"They need her," Kakashi mused, "For ransom?"

"They have the resources, what more could they possibly want?" Kizashi stood abruptly, throwing his hands in the air.

"Your throne," Sasuke answered and the room fell silent.

"They could take it," Kizashi shook his head, tired eyes falling to the floor, "They have the power to take it in a second and yet they play with us like a predator with its prey."

"You have the support of your people, sir," Kakashi offered, "If the throne is given instead of taken, it would make them appear more favorable."

"They have razed villages in the name of absolute authority," Sasuke said, incredulous to the thought that the people would forgive and forget that fact merely if the Emperor were to allow them ascension of the throne.

"I am not agreeing with them, Uzumaki-san," Kakashi said gingerly, "But we need to consider possibilities."

"It may very well be their plan," Kizashi meandered around the sparse room, passing the maps hung on the walls, the exotic books lining the shelves, "But it is not a possibility. I will not let them have that much power."

"I do remember the farmer saying the other man would take her if he fell behind," Sasuke's throat felt dry, the image of Sakura against a blade pervading his stream of thoughts. He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to quell the sickening fear that rose within him.

"I do not suppose he said where?" Kakashi asked, but Sasuke shook his head, "And was there anything else?"

"No."

Kizashi nodded and bowed to Sasuke. He returned the gesture and held out the books he'd been holding on to.

"I am sure she will not be staying in her rooms for a while, so I thought Haruno-sama might want these," Sasuke said politely. Kizashi took the books, turning them over in his hands with an amused smile.

"She will be happy to have these, I know," Kizashi nodded his head, "I am moving her to the south building, until I am certain I can trust the rest of my soldiers. It has not been used in some time, but I would like to offer you one of the rooms there."

"Sir, I - ,"

"Truthfully, I do not want you far from her, at least until Kakashi-san has had the opportunity to eliminate any other internal threats. I don't suspect they will be making any moves for an attack until they realize their soldiers have failed; I suggest you catch up on some rest," Kizashi smiled warmly at him, but there was a slight agitation in his eyes, "Please take some time to gather your things from the barracks. I do ask that you use discretion. Do not tell anyone where you are going, nor where Sakura will be."

"Of course," Sasuke nodded, but he could not contain the twitch in his fingers. He fisted his hands, bowed to them, and took his leave.

By the time he exited the barracks, the sky was lightening, glowing with pink and orange hues. At this hour, on a normal day, the palace would only just be coming alive, but it seemed everyone was still stirring from the restless night. Sasuke slung his pack over his shoulder and paved a new path down to the south side of the palace grounds. The lone building that resided there was home to guests during the summer. It was a modest size with five separate rooms that had been lavishly decorated the last time Sasuke had been stationed there.

But now, it seemed to fall short of his memory as an advisor to Kizashi pushed open the door and led Sasuke into the dismal, empty hallway. He handed Sasuke a key, explaining that it could be used for any room in the property.

"This is where you will stay," the advisor motioned to his left, then gestured to his right, "Haruno-sama will be in here. You will be the primary guard, but we will have someone stationed outside of the building, once the investigation has been finished. Until then, it is only you."

"Uzumaki-san," Sakura rounded the corner of one of the other rooms. She gave the advisor a courteous nod and settled her eyes on Sasuke. She had a sweet smile on her face, but it did not reach her piercing gaze. She was still dressed in her bloodied kimono, "My father told me you would be looking after me now, thank you."

The gratitude she offered was empty, the words failing to provide any depth to her tone. But the advisor only smiled and bowed before exiting the premises. The sound of the door shutting resounded in the hallway and emphasized the capacity of the space around them.

"It was upon his insistence, not mine," Sasuke reasoned.

"I knew as much," her voice lilted, "And now you are confined to my company indefinitely."

"There are worse things," he spoke softly, cursing the thoughts of her laying lifeless as one of the bodies in her rooms when it appeared in his mind. She saw the haunted veil in his eyes and understood what he meant. She felt an ache in her very bones, a demand to quell his discomfort and assure him that she was all right, that she was there, alive, and sharing that moment with him.

"Thank you for my books."

"If you would like me to get you the rest - ,"

"No, Sasuke-kun," she shook her head and bit her lip to contain her smile, "The thought was enough."

"Enough for what?"

"You can cease your attempts to outdo your own selfless acts," she cocked her head to the side playfully, but there was something that disturbed her gaze, affecting the brightness in her eyes, "You have already saved my life; you will not be able to win my gratitude so greatly with anything else."

"You know that is not why I did it," he meant his voice to sound firm, but the words came out almost as if they were a question, "I do not seek your favor. I will not pine for you the way Lee-san and those other men do. I will not sit idly by and write poetry and hope that some day you might notice me," he kept his voice level, but found his nerves racked with unease, "I do not do these things because I am trying to manipulate your attention. I want you safe and happy," he clenched his fists so that he would not reach for her, "It sickens me when I think that you have been anything otherwise."

"Sasuke-kun, I - ," her gaze calmed.

"I was terrified, Sakura. I thought he would kill you. I didn't - I could not - ," he let out a frustrated growl, but softened when he saw the tears in her eyes and the ones that wet her cheeks.

She ducked her head and moved into her room. He followed her adeptly, entering on her heel. They had dressed her bed, filled her tub with steaming water and supplied her with firewood, but the space was about half the size of the sitting room they'd once occupied on many an afternoon. The curtains over her window were drawn, thick cloth refusing the daylight. She threw a look over her shoulder that caused Sasuke to stop in his steps. Did she not want him here?

Sakura walked up to him, eyes glinting with an ocean of sorrow, and turned once they were a foot apart, back facing him. She gathered the loose tendrils of her hair in her hands and pulled them over her shoulder, "Will you help me?"

For a long moment, Sasuke was truly perplexed by her question. But then it dawned on him, and he felt a surge of heat rushing to his face.

"Sakura, I - I ca - ,"

She turned her head slightly and he saw fear in her widened gaze. She furrowed her brows at him and released her hair with a distorted huff, fingers flying to the tie of the obi. She fumbled with the large knot as tears of frustration streamed down her cheeks. She began to yank at the thick cloth but it would not budge. Her knuckles were whited with the effort she put forth, but in her haste she failed to unravel the intricate tie.

"I do not care if you must cut me out of this damned thing, but I can not have this blood on me any longer - ,"

He felt a piece of his heart crumble for her then, seeing the damage she was trying to hide rear its head. He did not want to see her so pained, so traumatized as when she had been forced to her knees in a pool of blood that did not belong to her.

He pried her trembling hands away and began to pull at the edges until it came free. He let the obi fall to the ground and moved his fingers around to the front of her waist. She took a step back as he began to pull the buttons of her outer dress free, tired frame trusting in the expanse of his chest. He tugged it down her arms and it joined the obi on the floor. Next, he went to unlacing the back of her corset, feeling as though he were unwrapping a present with incredible rapidity.

Sasuke's fingers moved of their own accord, or at least that's what he told himself, but deep down he knew it was that baser need, that instinct he had around her that guided him to action. He yanked the laces out and her corset fell from her body. He undid the ribbons at her front that held the last piece of her clothing together, one by one, until Sakura helped him, tearing at them so frantically she ripped them from the cloth. He pulled the fabric off of her shoulders and she was left only in her undergarment: a small piece of lace concealing her nether regions.

For a moment, only their stuttered breaths filled the space around them, then his fingers settled on the soft skin of her shoulders. His touch glanced her flesh and then tightened around her.

"I was so scared," he dropped his head to her neck, whispering into her ear. She choked on a sob and raised her hands to tangle in his hair, scraping against his scalp, "I can not stop seeing you like that," his voice became hoarse, wrung with distress, "I was afraid I would lose you forever."

"You can not lose me," she whispered, leaning closer to his structure. Her lip trembled, "You do not have me."

Sasuke swallowed thickly and hid his face at the juncture of her neck. She was pressed against him, her body aligned with his and he could feel himself harden at the thoughts that assaulted his mind because of it.

"I want to," his voice was muffled and weak, strained by the burden of his need for her.

"Wanting me at convenience will not suffice, Sasuke-kun," she murmured.

"There has never been a moment where I have not wanted you," his fingers ran down her arms to clasp her hands, "There have only ever been moments where I have had to deny myself you."

"You still deny me, Sasuke-kun," she stepped out of his grasp and moved to her bath. She unraveled the satin bows holding up her panties and they fell like a feather at her feet. She heard him choke on his breath, but her voice did not waver as she spoke "If you truly want me, all you must do is join me. If you do not want to, you are free to return to your room and you will hear no more of this from me."

He wanted to hear more, he wanted to hear everything from her lips. Sakura turned, holding her bruised arm over her breasts and cupping her sex in modesty. His eyes widened and his mouth fell open as he took in the entirety of her flushed, bare flesh. Almost every swell and curve of her body was open to his gluttonous gaze. She waited with bated breath to hear his answer.

But he never spoke it. Instead, Sasuke knelt down, eyes leaving hers simply to pull at the laces of his boots. When he had slipped them off, he stood and unzipped his vest. Sakura reached her hands out, revealing every inch of her skin, and shoved his vest down. It joined the mass of her clothing. She unbuttoned his shirt and rolled the sleeves down his arms. She had seen him shirtless before, but to be up close, to be able to touch the planes of his chest, the hard cut of his muscles - her fingers danced over his skin, coming upon the trail of dark hair at his abdomen that disappeared beneath the waistband of his pants. He caught her wrist as she began to play with the leather of his belt. He was throbbing against the placket of his pants.

"You have a duty to your title and to your future husband."

"Tonight, my only duty is to you," she leaned up to kiss him and his heart swelled at her words. His lips moved over hers with a measure of desperation and leisurely enjoyment while her fingers made quick work of his buckle. A thought flashed at the forefront of his mind, flickering like a candle:

This was wrong.

He couldn't do this.

She couldn't do this.

They were too different, too far apart and striving too much to be so close together.

But the beat of his heart and the blood rushing south soon snuffed out that candle.

Her hands undid the button of his waistband and pulled down his zipper, but she did not reach for him. She slipped away from him, lowering herself into the large tub. She watched with crazed and lustful eyes as he stepped out of his pants, his turgid length springing free. He felt hot under her gaze and hurried into the bath, settling behind her. His legs spread so that they were on either side of her and she scooted herself back against his chest. The curve of her backside was flush with his member under the water; she could feel him thrumming against her and it prompted an ache in her core.

Sasuke circled his arms around her, skimming the bottom of her breasts, and she clasped her hands over his, head coming to rest on his shoulder. She lost herself, briefly, to the intimacy of the moment. She imagined that this could be any day, despite the dried blood on her knees, that this could be routine for them. She felt his unsteady breath brush her neck, but it soothed her to know that she was not the only one racked by nerves. She closed her eyes when his lips fell to her exposed shoulder.

"Sasuke-kun," she moaned when he began to suck at the tender skin there and she felt him twitch against her. She had no frame of reference, but he seemed big, long and thick at her hip.

"Sakura," his voice was breathless, his fingers running beneath the water to glide along her skin. She parted her legs as he slid over the inside of her thighs. A shiver ran through her as he passed over her quivering sex. When he bit her neck and dug his fingers into her pliant flesh, she moaned and jerked against him "You are far too tempting."

"I seek only to tempt you," she had unsteady breath and twisted in his grasp, the water sloshing from side to side in the tub as she moved to straddle his waist. Sakura was sitting in his lap, the strength of his rigid member pressing against her pulsing entrance. He set his jaw tight, eyes captive in her gaze, "I wore that for you."

She gestured flippantly to the heap of blue cloth on the floor.

"I told you, there is not a moment I do not desire you," his fingers dug into her hips to keep her still; he could feel her heat over his cock and it was clouding his mind with incessant thoughts of ravishing her, especially given their positioning. Her breasts sat pert, invitingly in front of him. He feared that if he so much as inched his fingers he would not be able to control himself, "I desire you at any hour of the day, no matter how frivolous or plain your wardrobe."

"I think you should try your hand at poetry," she smiled coyly, leaning closer to him, "Your words incite passion within me where others fail."

Sasuke smirked.

"What do they say?"

Sakura grinned and held her hand up, eyes flicking to the ceiling with a reverential gaze.

"Oh, Haruno-sama, your jade orbs are more vibrant than the trees of the forest," she giggled when Sasuke gave her a look of irritation, "Your smile shines brighter than the sun itself," she stalled her laughter when Sasuke's expression sobered and murmured, "Something like that; it all sounds the same."

"Do they ever remark on your intelligence?" she shook her head softly, "Or your compassion?" another no, "How about your humor?" again she shook her head, "Pity," he murmured, eyes shining with mirth.

"If you can see them, then that is all I care for," she whispered, sliding down his body to lay against his chest. She pressed her ear against his heart, listening to its beat while the bath water lapped at her lobe. With the curtains of her room closed and the quiet between them, it was hard to imagine that it was still daytime just outside. "Sasuke-kun?"

"Hn?"

"Have you - ," she paused, furrowing her brows, "I do not wish to make you upset, but have you killed anyone before?"

"Yes," his response rumbled in his chest, "They were not the first."

"Do you ever feel - ,"

"There is no point in feeling remorse," he said stiffly, but tightened his grip on her, "But sometimes it is a difficult thing. Last night was not. I would do it again."

She met his eyes, she had to see him. There was warmth in his gaze, but a darkness there as well, a bloodlust she had not seen before. Oddly, she did not feel fear. She felt warmth, a coveting heat that enveloped her the longer she looked into his black orbs.

"Am I terrible to be comforted by that?" she asked quietly.

"If you are, then I am worse for wanting it," Sasuke fought the urge to allow his hands free roam. There was very little still keeping the palpitation of his cock at bay, "I do not keep secrets from you because I wish to," he spoke quietly, "It is only because I must. And even to admit that puts you in far more danger than I would like."

"I do not understand, Sasuke-kun," she did not look away, allowing him the exposure of her gaze and the truth that lay there, "I am not mad. I simply just do not understand. I hope one day you will let me."

He said nothing, only cupped her chin and lifted her lips to his.

He was still hard, throbbing painfully for her as he wrapped a towel at his waist and she did not fail to notice. Sakura padded with quiet steps to him, knotting her robe at her waist. Her fingers slipped along the sharp cut of his abdomen where she felt him suck in a sturdy breath.

"I think you hold more patience than I," she smiled demurely, "And more control."

"It is waning," he confessed, and caught her hand in his before she could do something irreversible. He watched the glint in her eyes, caught the blush in her cheeks, and traced the line of her lips; she seemed too beautiful, too good to be real and to hold such feelings for him, "I think you need rest. As do I."

"I do not wish to sleep just yet," her face fell, but he noted that it was not simply disappointment etching over her features.

"Sakura, you have just been through something traumatizing. You are not thinking straight, you need sleep," he expected her to fight him, to be insulted by his gentle insistence, but instead, Sakura merely nodded.

"Very well, Sasuke-kun," she turned away from him, but he pulled her back, flush to his chest. His lips caught hers roughly and she responded with fervor. Every time he kissed her, he felt a swell of relief, a reminder that she was alive and standing before him. The breath stolen from her, she panted softly, "Will you stay with me tonight? Please?"

He did not comprehend that he was hoping she would ask him until the words had left her mouth. He did not want to leave her that night. He was afraid that if she disappeared from his sight she might be stolen from him forever.

"Yes," his thumb stroked her cheek. Sakura clasped his hand and led him to her bed. She pulled back the covers and slipped beneath them. It occurred to him then, as he slid in next to her, that he had left all of his fresh clothes in his own room. But her robe had shifted, exposing the tops of her breasts and the alabaster slope of her thighs, and he realized that he was not concerned. She observed him quietly as he drew her into his side; skin brushed skin, tentative breaths were shared, and the warmth of their bodies were exchanged in a contented loop.

"Good night," he said simply before leaning in to kiss her again.

"Good night," she whispered against Sasuke's lips, hands settling on his strong back, as she relaxed against him.