Last edit: 12/8/20

Tags: Romance, Isekai, Fantasy, Drama, Humor, Adventure, Slow Burn

Main Pairing: SasuSaku

Side Pairing(s): ItaIzu

Dear little brother,

This woman you speak of, you say you found her in the Charmed Forest? I assume with the lack of a second letter and no whispers of misdeeds and mishaps in Mangekyou that she has not yet shown threat towards you nor the kingdom. With the power you say she possesses, however, I would prefer you do as you already have and maintain your keen observation on her. As it is now, it would be better to be more prepared than unprepared. I say that because I have news of my own.

The woman I told you about during your last visit, the very same I asked for her hand, has accepted my proposal. By the time this letter reaches you, I should have already spoken to the court. Depending on the situation, I assume the rumors will spread before I formally announce it to the kingdom. I expect dissent from a few in the court and perhaps some in the kingdom, but my decision will not be swayed.

Until next you visit, I should hope your meeting with her will be a pleasant one.

Signed,

Your dear older brother.

A need to protect, a desire to know
Plans to be made and acted upon

A week had passed, and Sakura was still finding her bearings. Though she was knowledgeable about the world and her surroundings, more than she should be, actually living in it was a big change to get used to. Having people around constantly asking to do things for her was also another foreign experience. They seemed to feel the same way about her insisting she can do such things on her own, so a compromise was made. She'd ask for help when needed and told them she'd do so more often than when asking for help in putting on her garments. There were far too many layers for her to truly know how to do it on her own, so accustomed to the ease and simplicity of her usual attire. Still, she admired the beauty of its design, of the hand embroidered trims and it's beautiful, vibrant colors. The corset was one of the few things that she was pleasantly surprised about, having often seen complaints from actresses in interviews about their period films. An exaggeration, it would seem. Maybe they didn't have the proper undergarments on.

Finally finished dressing her, Suki, one of the three maids the duke had assigned to her, inspects the young woman with her hands on her hips, a smile emerging, signalling her satisfaction. "You look absolutely beautiful, my lady."

Yet another thing she had to get used to, the formality in how everyone addressed her. Being a guest of the duke, she's to be treated as nobility, despite not knowing who she truly was, or where she came from. She wondered why he was being so nice to her. The character she read on page was more cutthroat, detached and hard to grasp in front of others, some considering him too intimidating to approach. Yet here she was, a stranger welcomed in his house with open arms. Was he up to something? She was sure he was in one way or another keeping a close eye on her to see if she was dangerous, which she definitely didn't think she was. She was just a woman lost in a place she had thought was fictional. Of course, she could rule this as a hallucination. After all, last she remembered, she was just about to be hit by a car. But she knew that everything she was experiencing was real, there was no use denying it even with how ludicrous the whole situation was. And there was that person that pushed her, spoke to her before disappearing, then reappearing to have her fall to her demise.

Her demise… Could this be the afterlife? But why would the afterlife take place in a fantasy world she had just been reading about? Having had a week to allow herself to process, she had been marauded by thoughts, theories about her arrival in the continent of Konoha. But regardless of all of it, she still hadn't come any closer to a solution. All she knew and resigned herself to accepting was that she would survive. If this was a second chance at life, then she would make sure she won't be frozen to the spot the next time she was faced in a situation like she was on that street.

She would have to ask Sasuke- no, His Grace, the Duke, for something to write with. After all, he seemed to believe she had amnesia. That didn't mean she was incapable of reading and writing. From the letter on his desk upon waking up in his home, she knew she was capable of reading the language miraculously. It was a little funny to her, for the world to seem so European inspired but the names and the writing to be Japanese. That was the beauty of fantasy, she supposed, the creativity and the possibility of anything to happen. Such was her predicament.

"Are you looking forward to seeing the city, my lady?" Namie, the youngest of her lady's maids, asked, her hands meeting in a clap. "Typically, you'd need not to leave the estate and the dressmaker would come here, but the duke insisted you see what Mangekyou has to offer."

"You sound pretty excited when talking about the duke." Sakura noted with amusement.

"Why would we not, my lady?" Suki chimed in. "It is not common for our duke to take such keen attention on a guest, especially when the guest is a woman not of his blood."

'That's only because my circumstances are weird,' she thought.

"And it's even more uncommon for him to personally give a tour of the city." Aiko, who had begun brushing Sakura's long pink tresses, added. "Are you certain you do not want to style your hair more elaborately, my lady?"

She shook her head carefully. "No, keeping it down is how I prefer it actually. Maybe a loose braid if you keep insisting on a more kept style?"

"A loose braid?" Aiko considered it. "Kept down?"

"Yes."

Aiko had been a maid the longest compared to the other two lady's maids, and never had she heard such a request. Granted, their lady was an odd one to begin with. The garments she arrived in were sparse compared to what she was wearing now, but it was excellently made. There was no doubt with her clear skin and unblemished face that she was of nobility, the only things that could dispute that were her slightly rough hands and her way of speech, that of which made her a more interesting woman and in a way, possibly more appealing to the duke.

He had never held such keen attention on a woman before, not in the years she had been working in the estate. He was not short of admirers, however. With his darkly charming looks and status, it should come to no surprise, though there were some that deemed him too difficult to hope for even a chance at his affections. That didn't stop the others who did their best to at least strike a conversation with him in public events where his attendance was needed. It was hard to encounter him elsewhere after all. The duke preferred his peace and quiet compared to the festivities of balls and parties. But it couldn't be helped, and he was required to attend a number of them.

Knowing all of this, Duke Uchiha's decision to escort his guest around his domain was a cause of excitement for the lady's maids. To be seen by the city with a woman as beautiful as Lady Sakura would be enough for rumours to spread all over, not just Mangekyou, but the kingdom. Perhaps even the continent! Aiko wanted the lady to look polished and presentable. Though, as she places the finished loose braid on her right shoulder, and looks at her reflection, she thinks that it may not be as terrible as she thought. It was still kept, framed her face well, and gave attention to her uniqueness. Perhaps the lady may start a trend of sorts.

With a bright smile, Sakura turns to her maids with a smile. "Alright. Let's go."

Third: Compulsions of a Duke

Sasuke stopped in front of the carriage, adjusting his collar as he turned to face the front of his estate. Choosing to forgo his hat, never a fan of the accessory in the first place, he stood beneath the cloud-filled sky that shielded everyone from the blinding late morning sun. Kakashi stood beside him, checking his pocket watch for the time before carefully placing it in his waistcoat pocket.

"You do not have to personally escort the lady," he said, amused. "Are you going out of your way to spread the already growing rumours?"

Sasuke did not reply. He was aware Kakashi already knew the reasoning of his decision to openly prance around with an unmarried woman. His brother was about to announce his engagement, and to help ease the ridicule he and his fiancée were about to face, he was going to direct some rumours to himself. It sounded terrible, to bring her into this mess. However, it would help two of his objectives. One, of course, to lessen the judgmental reactions towards his brother's choice of bride. Two, to uncover the mystery that was Sakura. No last name. Just Sakura.

Suigetsu had spent the week going all over Mangekyou, to mage guilds, investigating nobles, and have not found anything of interest as of yet. So he was to begin venturing out of the duke's domain and, if he still were not to find answers in the Kingdom, he'd most likely go to the Senju Empire next, since the Empire had close relations to the Kingdom. This was all due to the duke's growing curiosity of the woman, not solely suspicion as it was when he had first found her.

Having shared meals with her for the week, she was a refreshing conversation partner. She had a wit about her, unafraid to speak her mind during conversations he and Kakashi would share about topics on the more serious side. She still was unfamiliar with the Kingdom's customs and politics, it would seem, so those were the subjects of her questions. She had amnesia, after all. Or so she said. Though still suspicious of her, he grew more suspicious of the truth of her condition.

Sasuke had spent some of the week reading on amnesia, and though the matter of the mind was still one that was hard to fully grasp, it was heavily researched on. There were theories that amnesia was mostly caused by a harsh impact on the head, but when he found her on the forest floor, there was no sign of blood or injury on her person. That would mean one of three things: she already had amnesia before going unconscious, she was injured in a way that her head did not bleed and someone attacked her in the forest, or she was lying. If the latter was untrue, why was she in the Charmed Forest to begin with? It's hardly the place to wander about, let alone wander as far as she had.

She displayed no ill will, however it could all be a ruse to get close to the duke and those close to him. Sasuke knew this was a very likely possibility, with his status and notoriety. He's made enemies, people who disliked his governance, disagreed with his family's politics, but they were few and far between, most he assumed weren't intelligent enough for a ruse such as this. But perhaps, he was trying to reason himself out of things. The woman did not seem like the type to willingly participate in a coup. Things do change, however. His deductions now may very well change in the coming future. All he could do now was observe.

His ponderings cease for the moment as his front doors open and out comes the woman in question. Still wearing his mother's garments, the familiar red ensemble looked different than it had on his dear mother. While on the Queen Mother, it was still beautiful, exuded a more regal and sophisticated impression, on Sakura, with her softer features and the unique pairing of her eyes and hair, it felt brighter, radiated a friendlier aura around her, more approachable, the opposite of his disposition to others. He couldn't help but watch her as she went down the steps, careful of her steps, as if she was not used to the length. Judging from her clothes when he had first seen her, that would probably be the case. Another question he had yet to find an answer for concerning this woman, incomparable to perhaps all he had met.

She stopped before him, her lady's maids behind her bowing as she stood, head tilted and with the now familiar soft smile that graced her lips, a glimmer of an excitement peeks in her eyes. "Did you wait long, Your Grace?"

The week she had been with him, she began calling him as such, but there were times when she would slip and almost call him by his first name. Thankfully, it only occurred on their one other stroll in the gardens after their first and when he was walking her to her chambers after supper.

"No." A simple reply.

Sasuke stepped to the side, and the footman proceeded to open the carriage. With the duke's hand out to the lady, Sakura lifts her skirt up slightly as she steps up and enters it, the duke following after. Kakashi only watched the duke with fascination.

Tasked with observing the mysterious nymph-like lady as per his request, he hadn't picked up on mistrustful behavior, albeit her peculiarity. Not to say he thought that the woman had nothing to hide. In fact, he thought the opposite. He thought she was hiding something big and suspected the duke felt the same. Perhaps this trip was to observe her in a different setting apart from his main objective which he was sure involved his brother.

As the carriage began moving, he stood there, eyes up towards the sky as a single bird flew across his vision. Change was in the air.

"Things are going along smoothly."

"Too smoothly."

A hush. "It will all be in our favor."

"So what made you want to go out?" Sakura asked, hands placed on her lap watching the man seated across from her.

"There are things I have to do."

She fought the urge to laugh. "Do you have to be so vague?"

"I don't think going out of my home should require a reason, should it?"

He had a point. She shrugged. "I just assumed you didn't go out much."

"As Duke, I try to go out and see my territory with my own eyes."

This surprised her. Though he was a prominent character in the books, more focus was put on his brother and his bride than the duke himself. Based on what she knew about his character, she thought her assumption was right. "You do?"

With a single nod, he gave her his answer before turning his head to view the passing greenery and curious people on the road, bewildered at the sight of the duke's very own carriage. Most only stared, a few gaped, some stopped and spoke excitedly to whomever they were with. It would be something new for the city folk. The duke rarely made a public appearance, but what he told Sakura was not a lie. He would often go out into the territory in disguise to prevent attention, to observe what his domain truly was like without pretenses. Anything he'd find needed changing, he would work upon immediately. He was not as detached as described. He just did not care for the protocol and the frivolity that his position usually brought upon him were he to show his presence so callously.

"What's with that look?"

Her voice broke him out of his deep thoughts, his eyes darting to her petite frame. Her inquiring gaze and the slight tilt upward of the corner of her pink lips made him stop. It was as if she was amused by him, and he couldn't comprehend why. "What is it?"

"You looked really deep in thought," she said. "I thought your face was going to be stuck in a focused scowl."

"A scowl," he repeated.

"You know, the deep frown, the furrowed brow, the intense gaze into the distance."

"Are you mocking me?" He didn't sound offended, moreso slightly irritated.

If she was affected, she did not show it, only laughing at his tone. "No, you don't have to be so stiff. I was just wondering what has your mind in such a tizzy."

"Tizzy?" He raised a brow. "Your vocabulary is odd."

"What I mean to say is that you look agitated." She tilted her head. "Does it have anything to do with the fact you're personally escorting me out into your dukedom?"

"You have the impression that something is awry?"

"A little bit. I mean, you're a duke. And I'm a strange woman, unmarried as far as I can remember, and as you know, I don't remember much."

"You do not remember much and yet you can recall formalities that a noble would know."

"I have amnesia, but I'm not so much incapacitated. I may not recall my own history, but there are commonalities that are more habits than memories."

"It leads me to think importunity one of said habits."

"Is it not normal for someone without much recollection to ask questions?" Her smile shifted to teasing. "Or are you perhaps trying to offend me to change the subject at hand, Your Grace?"

"With a smart mouth such as yours, one would be sure you're a noble, but your unabashedness reads more like commonfolk."

"And you're stalling." She leaned back onto the seat, though with visible uncomfort, as if the corset hindering was hindering ease. He took note of it. He thought back to what she wore when he met her, corset free and quite revealing for Konoha standards. He'd have to tell Suigetsu that piece of information to aid in his research, the possibility of her originating from a different continent growing more and more plausible.

"So?" She waited for an answer.

"As I've said, it's something I must do."

"But there's something pushing you to do so. Why else do you look so troubled?"

"You're but a stranger."

"A stranger you've let into your home and show no signs of letting go on her own because of her situation." She fluttered her lashes as her shoulder rose and fell in a shrug.

Yet another point made. Perhaps it'd be best to tell her if only to quell her inquisitive mind even for a moment. "Something is about to stir the kingdom. It'd be best to make an appearance to ease future tension."

She nodded slowly, processing his words. Knowing the events that should take place, he's referring to the king, his brother's, upcoming nuptials. She remembered the court being divided in the matter, and there were some rumors by the people of Susanoo, but for the most part, they were happy. Dissent from Earl Rai and some other nobles in court made foul rumors spread within the joy but not enough to sour the kingdom's glee. Was that what he was referring to? Why would he want to be seen out with an unknown woman? What would that do? Pull some of the disapproving eyes from the king to him, that's what.

But that couldn't be the reason. Sakura shook her head. Sasuke was far more composed than that. Of course, he was the quiet emotional type, but she didn't think he would do something so rash. But then again, he didn't have a mysterious woman in his home during the original events. She decided not to think much of it. If that truly was the case, she'd ask again in the future. She felt that if it was the case, she'd feel as though it was in exchange for the roof on her head and the hospitality she received from the estate. How she felt regarding the matter, she'd deal with when she found out the truth. For now, she'd just follow along and continue understanding the world around her and the man she should know inside and out, but being in the moment, she realized just how much of his life was hidden from the book.

The carriage stopped, signalling their arrival after the comfortable but somewhat heavy silence between them. The footman opened the carriage door, and Sasuke exited first, waiting by the side with a gloved hand out, awaiting her to step out. She moved, her head peeking out to see the city square, a patch of green grass and short trees in the middle of brick buildings and macadam roads and sidewalks where women with parasols shielded their heads from the bright sun, and groups of men shared quick conversations as they walked to their intended locations. She marvelled at the sense of bewilderment at the foreign sight, making her all the more aware of her being an outsider. It was one thing to read of such places, it was another to truly see it with her own eyes.

Her eyes landed on Sasuke's waiting hand, eyes flitting to his for confirmation. She saw the silent 'yes' in his eyes and hesitantly took his hand, the warmth of his glove on her skin making her cheeks flush despite herself. It wasn't a big deal. It was only his hand.

She walked down the single step out of the carriage and her feet were firmly on the ground. It was as she felt when she first came to a week ago and found herself in this environment, except now, there were more people with curious eyes laid upon them. Of course, with the black and gold carriage and the footman, and the man with such a presence with her, it would be cause for attention. She was beginning to think her earlier deduction might not be as far off as she thought.

Sasuke appeared beside her, elbow slightly up, his hand hovering above his chest, and looking at her, waiting. She casted him a puzzled look to which he responded with a small movement of his head to the direction of his waiting arm. It dawned upon her that he was waiting for her hand. Embarrassed and confused, she took a moment to quiet her thoughts and she lifted her hand, placing it on his upper arm, letting him finally lower it.

He began walking, leading them to the building directly in front of them, as Sakura took note of the whispering passersby and the people agog to see who was most definitely the duke and the woman he displayed on his arm.

"What is this?" She whispered to him, her voice only for him to hear.

"I'm escorting you."

"Well, duh, I understood that. But what's with the hand in arm business?"

"'Duh'?" He said the word with mild disgust. "Again, your vocabulary astounds me."

"Seriously, Your Grace. Aren't you bothered by all the eyes just staring."

"As Duke, I've grown accustomed to it."

"Growing accustomed to something is different from liking it." She sighed. "It's also one thing to be seen with a woman, it's another to be seen with a woman on your arm."

"As I've said, it's to ease coming tension."

"This looks like gossip fodder to me."

He doesn't say another word. Sakura kept her eyes forward, but she couldn't help but see the bonnets and headdresses upon the obviously upper class women unabashedly watching her, gloveless and bonnet-less. Maybe she should have agreed to Aiko's updo suggestion. But there was no use regretting it now. Besides, she'd have felt more uncomfortable with such a style, the familiarity of her hair down giving her a sense of security and sense of self despite it all.

The storefront had windows that displayed mannequins with fabrics and designs adorned on it, displaying the designer's capabilities to people passing by. Sakura's eyes were drawn to the light green dress, the sleeves bearing what would be a woman's shoulders. The doorman's eyes were wide and startled to see the Duke before him, having seen his visage through portraits and paintings all over the city. To see him in the flesh, must have been something to experience. He gave a small bow, head down as he muttered, "Your Grace," with excitement dripping in his voice. Sasuke gifted him with a nod and we proceeded our way into the dress shop.

It was evident to her that it was a dress shop reserved for nobility. Clean floors, colorful walls and fabrics so vibrant in color, they must have been expensive. A man appeared before them, hands met in a loud clap as he flashed his most grateful grin. "Your Grace." He bowed. "May I just say it is an honor to have you in our presence."

"Taiko."

Taiko raised his head and his eyes landed on the woman by his side. "And who might this be?"

"Sakura." He casted a glance her way to see the confusion hidden in her eyes. She knew how to mask emotions decently enough, however, being this close to her person, it was easy to tell. Lucky for them, Taiko would not have been able to guess. "She needs a few dresses and gowns."

'Gowns?' Her mind yelled. 'What would I need a gown for?'

Taiko clapped in excitement. "Oh, wonderful. We have a display of new designs I think could very well be the future of trends in the kingdom." He motioned to the right and began walking, leading them to a corner where mannequins stood, similar to the ones on display by the window.

With a flourish, he presented the designs to them. "If you have any suggestions, please do not hesitate to say so," he looked at Sasuke with a questioning eye before questioningly saying, "Madam?"

'Madam?' Sakura expected Sasuke to refute him, telling him he was wrong, but he didn't. Instead, he said, "Taiko, if I could speak to you in private for a moment."

Taiko agreed, and Sasuke gently removed her hand from his arm.

"What is happening?" She whispered, more like a hiss this time.

"I will be back in a moment." He lifted her hand to his lips. Then, he whispered back, "When we return to the estate." His lips left a kiss on her hand, making her take in a sharp breath, stunned by his actions.

She could practically feel the interest from the people in the shop before he left her with one of the carriage footmen who accompanied them on the way. Trying to shake it off, she ignored the gawking and focused on the dresses.

There were six mannequins in front of her in total. The first from the left showed a bustle dress made with satin, a tailored jacket with black lace detailing and a stand collar, double layered skirt, the draped overskirt being plum colored, and a black flowing cotton underskirt with ruffles. The second a dress with a tailored cotton jacket colored yellow with a white button down at front and cotton wide sweeping skirt. Perhaps too wide for her liking but something normal for the world she was now in. The third mannequin displayed a white cotton blouse with slightly puffed sleeves and drawstring cuffs. A detached cincher with a long sash tied to a bow at the back shaped it well above the flowing blue tartan accent skirt. This she thought looked most comfortable.

The last three mannequins were dressed in gowns, all of which she was partial to. There was a deep navy blue satin gown with a ruffled bottom hem and short puffed sleeves and slightly exposed neckline. Beside it was a gown in a tailored cotton bodice, a U-shaped neckline, lace up bodice and half length sleeves. Then finally, a dark olive bodice dress, ruffles decorating the neckline, a lace up bodice, and cotton underskirt with tiers of ruffles that should look busy but didn't. That one had to be her favorite of the six, but based on the exposed neckline and least wide skirt, Sakura thought that maybe this was the design Taiko referred to as something he saw as a future trend.

"Excuse us," a new, haughty feminine voice spoke.

So enamored by the dresses, Sakura failed to notice a group of three women enter the store, all dressed to impress with what could be described as their security close behind them. One of them, hair a deep violet, spotted her on her lonesome and focused on her hair in a mere braid. With a smirk, she looked to her friends and they, too, had their eyes on the woman with bright pink hair.

Sakura turned to see the three women, and immediately, she felt like she was being observed by predators. Arrogance in their posture and lips lifted in laughter.

"The designs are quite beautiful, are they not?" The woman in the middle asked her friends.

"Quite, Lady Ami."

"One can't help but admire them."

Sakura watched them with mild curiosity. It may be a fantasy world, but her situation felt eerily similar to being cornered in the girls bathroom by the school bullies. It felt juvenile.

"However, I should hope your Madam will not catch you ogling such luxuries."

All too juvenile.

She was ready to go off on the mouth with these girls, but she held herself back. There was no point in causing a scene. However, it would seem the man she came here with had other ideas.

"Sakura." His voice cut through the air and the women stiffened, seeing him walk up to them, eyes furrowed as they were in the carriage. They lowered themselves to a curtsy, head down as he approached. He stopped next to Sakura, taking her hand in his in a quick but soft motion, placing it on his arm. "Taiko has the room ready."

"Oh," was all she could let out before he led them away.

Sakura didn't look back, though annoyed at their behavior, she wanted to think nothing of it. Neither got to see the confusion in their eyes, and the fire that began to burn in Lady Ami's eyes.

Jealousy, green and unpleasant
A lady drowning in envy

"What was that?"

She asked when the two were alone. The room he led them to was a large one with a platform in the middle and several more mannequins with gowns and dresses on display lining the walls opposite them. Sasuke removed his gloves, placing them on the table between two red, velvet couches before taking a seat.

"I'd expected more of a word of thanks removing you from her presence."

"Who is she?"

"Count Watanabe's daughter, Lady Ami," he said, irritated by just speaking her name. "A noblewoman I would be more inclined to avoid."

"But you didn't."

"Would you prefer to hear her barking?"

"No, but that's not the point." She folded her arms in a huff. "Mind telling me what really is going on? No more evading the question, Sasuke."

He raised a brow. He should be offended by her informality, but he'd preferred it to 'Your Grace'.

"What's going on?"

He sighed. No point in keeping it until their return when it had already happened. "Lady Ami is quite an incessant conversationalist."

She glared at him. So her assumption in the carriage was right. Groaning, she slapped her hand onto her forehead. "And why in the world do you need people to gossip about you?"

"For my brother."

"Your brother." She shook her head. Izumi must have said yes already. That meant he really was trying to sway public interest to him to… what? Lessen the scrutiny on his brother? For someone who appeared so cold, he was definitely one to make rash decisions based on his affections for his family. "You could have just told me. I would have preferred to be ready for this circus. I do need to repay you somehow for your hospitality."

"My hospitality?" A rare compliment towards him.

"You know, letting me stay in your estate. And honestly, I have no idea why in the world you let a stranger in your own home."

"Some have accused me of being deranged."

"Yeah, in the battlefield."

"You've heard?"

She pursed her lips. "Yeah, you know. From the maids."

He nodded slowly, though he was still skeptical. Sakura's mind chastised herself.

There was a knock at the door before it opened, revealing Taiko. "Excuse me, Your Grace. Madam." He walked in and closed the door behind him and stood by the platform in the middle of the room. "Madam, if you so please." He motioned to the platform.

Sakura gave Sasuke one more glare before turning and walking to stand on the platform.

"Have you taken a liking to some of the designs?" He asked.

"Oh, yes. You do incredible work."

"Such high praise!" He feigned wiping a tear. "Was there one in particular you were partial to, Madam?"

Sakura studied the mannequins and pointed out the designs similar to the ones she liked, she felt more at ease, but there was still hesitance present in her actions.

"I see you like a forward thinking woman, Your Grace! Such boldness is worthy of praise."

Sasuke merely nodded, his go-to action when he didn't want to say a word.

Taiko continued asking her questions to which she answered in earnest, such as color preferences, fabric preferences, any liberties he would be allowed to take. Finally done with the twenty questions, he rubbed his hands with glee. "Very well, Madam. Now, for your measurements."

She expected a tape measure and commands of moving her arms one way or the other. That didn't occur. With a wave of his hands, a glitter of light surrounded her form that startled the woman, almost jumping in fright before the light disappeared. Her mouth dropped open.

"Now, Your Grace. Would you like these dresses brought to your home or would you rather bring them with you right now?"

'Now?!' He had yet to make the dresses, how would they be able to bring the dresses with them on such short notice?

"I'll have another carriage arrive to bring them to my estate later this afternoon," Sasuke said, amused by her reaction.

Taiko had noticed her surprise and tilted his head. "Oh, Madam, what is the matter?"

"How..."

"How?" He parroted, as if her confusion was the astonishing thing.

Sasuke stood, deciding to walk up in front of her, hand offered again to help her down the platform. "Taiko is a mage."

A mage. A chakra user.

Taiko began to laugh. "Oh, Madam, you're quite a performer."

"I am?"

"I almost believed your bewilderment. How silly of me! To think a chakra user would not recognize another."

A chakra user. Her. How? She looked at Sasuke, his hand still waiting for hers. He looked at her, steady, serious. Now she knew. She knew why he'd so readily let her in his home.

He thought her a threat.

But how was that possible? She couldn't have chakra. She wasn't from this world. It shouldn't be possible. Yet she was in the world to begin with. Possibilities were endless.

"Sakura."

He looked at her, and it felt like he could see right through her. She took his hand and walked down.

"We shall be going, Taiko."

Taiko bowed. "Thank you for your patronage, Your Grace. Madam."

As the door opened and the two left, she once again whispered. "I have questions."

"So do I."

"No more tip-toeing it, Sasuke." She stared at him with such intent that he was at a loss by the intensity in her eyes. If anyone had questions, it was he. But he felt the need to humor her, hear her out. It was all in her eyes, the compulsion to do such a thing was because of her eyes. Eyes that he could read like an open book with hidden messages splattered within every line. And he was determined to decipher every single one. If not for the kingdom and its safety, but also for himself.

"And so the story begins."

Notes:

Heyaaa, chapter 3 and things are unfolding!

I honestly didn't think people would be interested in this fic, but the reviews and comments astound me. I'm so glad y'all are interested in this world I'm building up. It's a lot of fun to create, and I do love me some intrigue.

As always, the ao3 version has pictures, maps, and a calendar.

I hope you all enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it!

- Mika