Thank you once again for all the reviews. Eighty five more until this story hits the big 1k mark! What a motivational milestone that will be for me. I'd like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to each and every one of you who has reviewed for me up to this point. I wish I could name you all individually. Thanks also to all the new readers on board who added this tale to their favourites, and to those amongst them who were kind enough to leave encouraging feedback. I'm really, really behind on the reviewer responses, so please bear with me. I will do my best to get back to everybody as soon as I can.
And an extra special mention goes to those wonderful souls who took the time to write extra-long, in-depth reviews. You epic people know who you are! I read these comments like a child opening a gift on their birthday. I'm not even exaggerating.
I'm so flattered by the comments that are urging me to change names and attempt to publish this story once it's done. I'm not so sure it'll be successful; there's no replacement for Hades!Sasuke, after all. And I'd have to change a lot of plot points too. But it's sweet of you readers to express such confidence in me and my writing all the same.
Please visit my profile page for the link to the music (chapter 15) that I had playing when writing the garden scene. This is the default garden tune, if you like. Make sure you load it before reading on, and just press play when you get to the relevant part. It's the same one that plays when Sakura follows Sasuke. Specifically, that particular part starts from 1:18 for atmosphere building purposes, if you just imagine Sakura watching Sasuke's fetching back as she cautiously trails after him.
Mitsukio-Tenyo has drawn another fabulous piece of artwork depicting Sakura as Persephone Queen of the Underworld and Kore the Spring Maiden. Check it out on my profile page under the artwork section and make sure you leave a comment if you favourite!
Hope you enjoy this update! The first instance of Greek God/Goddess names are used here… helps spice things up a bit. Don't worry if you're confused as to why they're being used at this point; all will be revealed in good time.
Chapter XV
Time's flow does not keep,
Within the shades of ever-night,
And lo! How wretched becomes sleep,
Unknowing unto where days pass.
Sakura lay sprawled on the bed, her eyes following the intricate swirls of golden thread that adorned the underside of the canopy high above her. After her brief exchange with Suigetsu in the banqueting hall, she had hurried back to her chamber to lose herself in the privacy of her thoughts. Her mind was racing, anxiously trying to determine a feasible way of separating Sasuke from the blade he carried at his waist.
But how in the world did Suigetsu expect her to complete such an impossible mission? What reason would be convincing enough to persuade her captor to relinquish his hold of the weapon? Sakura's incisors gnawed nervously into her bottom lip. What if Sasuke saw straight through her? What if, when he returned from ensuring that her letter had been delivered to her mother, he took one look at her and knew exactly what she was intending to do? Because surely the guilt would be garishly painted all over her face; there was no way she could hope to conceal anything from the all-knowing eyes of a god – and when Sasuke inevitably found out, he would guarantee that her note never reached the surface. And if both that and Suigetsu were ruled out, then her chances of escaping were as buried as the bodies of the dead that boarded the boats.
Get a grip, Sakura firmly scolded herself before panic could rear its ugly head again. Did she truly have a cause to be so apprehensive? Surely Sasuke wouldn't punish her if she was only following the commands of another deity. Surely he would understand that she had only sought to be obedient?
Wouldn't he?
The fearful flutter in her stomach whispered to her otherwise. She had already witnessed enough of Sasuke's icy, unsympathetic exterior to anticipate that he would not be pleased with her actions. He seemed to expect her compliance to extend to him, and him alone. Whatever the dispute that was occurring between the Death God and the water deity was clearly not supposed to be any of Sakura's business.
And yet Suigetsu had planted her in the centre of the battlefield by requesting that she obtain the lightning blade - because it held the key to both their freedoms.
Sakura rolled restlessly onto her left side. Perhaps she ought to try contacting Suigetsu again, and calling off the plan? Now that she knew what Sasuke truly was, she didn't want to risk invoking his wrath. Sasuke had told her he had no intention of terminating her life. However, there were no assurances that he wouldn't kill her if she aggravated or displeased him enough.
The stark realisation caused Sakura's internal anxiety to intensify. What was she supposed to do? She wanted, more than anything, to leave the frightening environment into which she had been so callously flung. She wanted to assist Suigetsu, even though he had burdened her with an outrageously difficult chore. But to do so would mean going directly against the wishes of the god who had carried her to the Underworld.
Make up your mind, her inner voice snapped at her in frustration. You either mope about and let Sasuke have his way – and you don't even know what he has planned for you - or you take action and you try to get out. You'll only be in trouble if you get caught. Isn't a chance at escape better than none at all?
Sakura swallowed. She desperately tried to reassure herself that it meant something to have the Water God on side. She only needed to get the damned sword to him – and he would take care of the rest.
Alright, alright, I'll try! Sakura reasoned that she had nothing to lose by at least attempting to fulfil the arduous task given to her. Sasuke couldn't accuse her of anything if she didn't succeed – and if she did; well. Then she would have to run faster than Naruto did when he smelt ramen beckoning to him from the Academy's canteen.
So she was back to square one. How to steal the blade away? Suigetsu's suggestion that she ask Sasuke to teach her the art of swordsmanship was out of the question. He would see through such an insubstantial cover in a heartbeat. She needed to adapt a more subtle approach, something that would result in him loosening up enough around her to permit her to at least examine it – or to wait until he unstrapped it from his belt, and snatch it away when he wasn't looking.
But how to express an interest without kindling his suspicions? She couldn't simply ask to see his sword. Sakura's cheeks suddenly felt uncomfortably warm as she found herself arbitrarily imagining what Ino's response to such a blasé statement would be.
'Slow down, Forehead!' she would screech. 'You want the main course before you've even started with the appetisers?'
Sakura blushed further, shaking her head in disbelief. How could she even entertain such inappropriate thoughts at such a dire time? She blamed her best friend for corrupting her innocent mind. According to Ino, every sentence harboured within it a saucy double-meaning.
A faint smile curved her lips at the thought of the beautiful blonde. Had she been in Sakura's position, she would have hurtled the entire table at Sasuke – and not even bothered to apologise for it. Instead she would have demanded an apology from him. Amusement quickly waned from Sakura's expression. How pathetic and weak was she in comparison?
She squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face into the plump, soft satin pillow supporting her head. Her disheartened thoughts unravelled, leaving her forlorn and miserable. At length her eyelids began to feel heavy, the contents of her mind scattering as she dozed into slumber.
"You sure you'll be alright alone?" Shikamaru questioned, eyeing Sai uncertainly. "There's room to crash at my place."
The pale youth shook his head. He felt sick to his stomach as he replied, "He does not know I have shared this information with you. I should be quite safe here."
Naruto gave him a resolute nod. "Sai. Thank you for telling us," he said, blinking large blue eyes in earnest.
Sai was at that second extremely grateful that he had such excellent experience at plastering false smiles onto his face. He led the young men to his apartment's front door and, after Shikamaru assured him they'd be in touch, wished the pair a good night, before closing the door after them. He counted a whole minute before slowly exhaling. Lying to people who considered him an ally and a friend was a horrible burden. Sai felt disgusted with himself. He was detestable, lower than the trash that rodents scavenged through in the darkness of night.
Rubbing tiredly at his eyes, he wondered how he was going to get any sleep when the overwhelming weight of guilt bore down upon him like a crushing steam-roller. Padding back into the lounge, he collected the cups of tea he had served to Shikamaru and Naruto and moved to the kitchen-
-and nearly dropped the tray in his hands when his gaze came to fall upon none other than the God of Death.
Sai's heart lurched violently within him. How long had Sasuke been standing there? Long enough to overhear the conversation he'd been having with the others? The displeased scowl on the Underworld ruler's face certainly seemed to suggest as much. Carefully placing the tray onto the black counter to his left, Sai bowed his head and averted his eyes in reverential acknowledgement.
"Great God," he murmured. He could feel the awful intensity of Sasuke's gaze piercing through his skull, and flinched in terror when the death deity abruptly tossed something onto the hard-tiled kitchen floor. It was the tattered, gruesome remains of something that Sai could not immediately discern, but the orange markings he spied on a severed limb quickly put into sharp relief the identity of the hapless creature. Frowning in bewilderment, he began, "I do not-"
"Determine Jiraiya's intentions. His subjects trespass upon my domain."
Sai's froze. Jiraiya suspected Sasuke? He dared not allow a flicker of hope to spark within him. Swallowing carefully, he replied, "Yes, Great God."
"Now," Sasuke ordered forcefully, impatiently.
Sai hesitantly raised his gaze, his thundering pulse causing blood to throb in his ears. "If you could give me until tomorrow-"
The Death God's glare fell upon him with withering intensity. "Until sunset," he said curtly. And then, in the blink of an eye, like a dark apparition, he vanished.
Sai's attention lowered back to the severed amphibian, and he found himself nervously wondering just what Sasuke would do to him if he failed to obtain the required information.
The rolling field was tinged the colour of pure, brilliant gold. Sunlight caught and gleamed off the freshly watered heads of wheat and corn, and blades of grass swayed playfully beneath the gentle caress of the breeze. She inhaled deeply, enjoying the pleasant aroma of ripe crops ready for harvesting, mingled with the sweetly tangy scent of familiar narcissus blooms. The sky was a glorious, cloudless blue, an azure jewel that reminded her of the eyes that belonged to the one who charged across the sky every morning on a blazing, golden chariot; he who was the bringer of light, whose smile was enough to illuminate even the darkest of places.
She sighed contentedly, twirling in idle circles, savouring the feel of the sun's warmth upon her skin. It always seemed to shine so favourably over her. Her mother was always scolding handsome Apollo for tanning her skin beyond what was pale and beautiful, but nothing could keep her out of the sun's gaze for long. It cultivated her flowers and sustained life. And she loved it, and its master, for it.
The melodic sound of birdsong permeated through the air, and she felt the desire to join the tune, to weave her own refrain. She began to hum, brushing her fingertips over the buds of tiny, immature shoots of flowers. At her touch, the buds swelled and burst into brilliant bloom, shedding gold-dust, and she heard the appreciative sighs of the flower spirits as she skipped through the grass, stroking tentative heads of flora that blossomed at her command, each stem vying to outdo the brilliance of the other in a bid to earn her precious approval. She giggled as the spirits of the trees called to her, pleading for her nourishing attention in turn.
'Kore, Kore, Kore…' they chanted over and over.
"Kore!"
She turned her head at the sound of her name being uttered behind her. Standing atop a gentle mound was a familiar figure, dressed in a flowing, elegant white gown, threaded with thousands of tiny shimmering beads. Long, golden ringlets of hair were strewn with glistening pearls, and the midday sun shone directly behind a slender yet curvaceous figure like a blinding, all-encompassing halo.
She lifted a hand to wave in greeting to the beautiful goddess who proceeded to direct a disapproving frown down at her.
"Still frolicking in fields with the flower spirits and wood nymphs? You need to find yourself a god, Kore!" A small smile touched perfectly formed, rosy lips, as the goddess added merrily, "Or perhaps I should fulfil my divine duty and find one for you!"
"Oh, no!" Kore waved dismissively. "Mother says none are good enough for me. She'll chase them all away."
"So haughty! I'll make you fall violently in love at once! And I have the perfect god for you."
She threw an askance glance at her grinning friend and said curiously, suspiciously, "Who?"
"Oh, I can't reveal his name… yet. But he's tall, dark and handsome – precisely how you like them!"
She laughed despite herself. "How would you know? I've never been in love before!"
"Love is my forte, and I assure you, Kore, you will like this one." Pausing for effect, she added slyly, "They say he is a good friend of Apollo's, you know; they race and hunt together, and are near inseparable…"
Kore scoured her mind. She had never seen a dark-haired young god in Apollo's company. Shrugging her shoulders, she said, "Save your match-making talents for the mortals who worship at your temple. I am perfectly content."
Her friend threw exasperated hands up into the air. "By Zeus's thunder, how terribly drab you are, Kore! All that beauty cannot go to waste; I simply won't allow it. I'll be sure to introduce you to this handsome fellow soon; but be warned, he doesn't look like he'll take no for an answer once he sets his sights on you!" Releasing a feminine trill of laughter, the goddess behind her faded away into the sunlight and Kore sighed heavily, shaking her head. As hard as she tried, she could never find it in herself to truly reproach Aphrodite for her tireless and often amusing scheming.
She turned her attention back to nature and strolled toward the cluster of trees. Their branches leaned eagerly toward her as she drew closer, clamouring for her touch. Kore pursed her lips in a knowing smile.
"You're already growing so well; don't be greedy!" she lightly chastised, reaching out to trail her fingers over smooth bark. The trees whispered their gratitude. Satisfied, she turned away and began to wade through the grassy fields once more, turning her face upward to catch the warmth of the sun.
If she called to Apollo, would he appear to her? She desired some light-hearted company. Maybe, she thought with a shy smile, he would bring the handsome stranger along too. Picking up the flower-filled straw basket her mother had presented to her at the start of spring, Kore gathered the layered skirts of her white gown and made to return home.
She had traversed half-way through the idyllic plains when a shadow suddenly fell over her. Blinking in confusion, she turned her face up to find that the picturesque sky had clouded over. She froze in place, her anxious eyes wide as angry flashes of lightning illuminated the near-black clouds.
What was happening? Had someone or something foolishly evoked Zeus's displeasure?
She was unprepared for the unexpected rumbling of the earth beneath her feet. Distracted, she looked down, only for the ground to quiver more forcefully. Kore's heart pounded as she discarded her basket and began to run. She had to leave the field. She had to get away-
Her desperate thoughts scattered like the flower petals flying around her when the grass directly before her began to cave in. It was too late for her to change the course of her direction. Something cool and hard closed around her ankle – a wild toss back over her shoulder revealed, to her horror, that the hindrance to her movements belonged to long, skeletal fingers – and then she was being dragged down, into a chasm of endless darkness, her screams engulfed by the closing of the earth high above her head.
Sakura awoke with a startled gasp, jolting up in bed, her lungs heaving for oxygen. The remnants of a scream were still stuck in her throat, on the verge of being let loose. Her mind raced as she tried to piece together the ghostly vision she had seen in sleep, but already the fragments were fading away, leaving her troubled and confused. She had been in a sunny field. Voices had called a name that was as familiar to her as it was foreign, the sky had darkened, and then…
Sakura touched her fingertips to throbbing temples. She couldn't remember. She didn't want to remember. It had just been a nightmare; it wasn't surprising that her brain would unleash such disturbing scenarios upon her in sleep given all that she had experienced in a short space of time. She slowly exhaled, relieved to feel her pulse settling once again.
A light knock on the doors drew her attention completely away from the strange dream sequence.
"Yes?" she called shakily. The doors parted to reveal Ume and Chizu. The older of the maids took one look at Sakura, and frowned concernedly.
"Are you well, Mistress?"
"Yes," Sakura nodded. Then, before they could press her on a matter she didn't want to discuss, she went on quickly, "Is Sasuke back?"
Her attendants exchanged surprised glances. She supposed she could not blame them for thinking it odd that their charge should ask so eagerly for their master after making it transparently clear she wanted nothing to do with him, but it couldn't be helped. She still had so many questions, and her foolish heart was holding onto the hope that if Sasuke had granted her one request, then maybe, just maybe, he would assent to another.
"Not yet, Mistress," Ume replied. "But there is something we wish to show you in the gardens." Her voice barely concealed an undertone of excitement, piquing Sakura's curiosity.
But Sakura wanted to exchange her nightdress and robe first. The hems were stained with the dust she'd picked up out in the caverns. She'd woken up in a cold sweat and the prospect of sinking into another warm, indulgent bath was tempting.
"I'd like to bathe and change clothes first, if that's alright."
"Of course!" Chizu looked pleased. "We would be happy to assist you. Ume will prepare a bath for you at once."
Ume beamed happily. Perhaps they could be friends after all – for the short time that Sakura planned to stay in Sasuke's world. She met their gazes and offered them a small, genuine smile.
Naruto's eyes trailed over the deplorable surface of his desk. It was cluttered with crumpled papers, ramen pots and milk cartons, but he had never been fastidious when it came to tidying up in the first place. He was neglecting his domestic duties even further now that his attention and focus were fully consumed by the hunt for Sakura.
A sad smile gently curved his lips. If Sakura was around to witness the state he'd allowed his room to fall into, she would clobber him disapprovingly over the head. Then she'd personally oversee the cleaning operation and bark out instructions at him. Naruto would soon grow bored and annoyed and throw a dirty piece of laundry into her mortified face. All hell would then proceed to break loose. He chuckled at the thought, before his amusement quickly diminished. He missed her so much it was a physical ache in his chest. They had always been close in the past, although she didn't remember those long-ago days too well. He had been able to shoulder the burden of not existing in her memories as long as she was within sight and safe. But now she was neither, and it was tearing Naruto's heart and conscience to pieces.
Damn it. What in the world did Suigetsu want from Sakura? Naruto combed through his mind for every possibility, but none made plausible sense. He'd never expressed an interest in her. If the mischievous Sea God had chosen to abduct Sakura on a trouble-making whim then he was in for a world of hurt. And even if he did have a reason, Naruto would still ensure that he delivered a wealth of pain to the water deity in exchange for the pain he had bestowed upon those who loved Sakura most.
A frustrated sigh escaped his lips and he clutched angrily at fistfuls of sunshine blond hair. How could he have not been there for her when she needed him? He'd promised her, long ago, beneath the brilliant glow of the rising sun; he'd promised never to let any harm befall her.
He was right back then, Naruto thought, his mouth twisting in rueful remembrance as another face from his past flashed across his mind's eye. I really am dead-last. Can't even keep my promises…
The chime of the doorbell caused his guilt-stricken eyes to lift to the clock on the wall. Who would visit him at such a late hour in the night? Making his way out of his room and down the corridor, he unbolted and opened the front door – only for his heart to jump unexpectedly in his chest.
"Hinata," he blinked in surprise.
Large, beautiful clear grey eyes met his. She looked as sad as she always did on the rare instances when they were alone in public and exchanged fleeting, secret glances as they passed each other. The bashful, stuttering act she put on before the rest of the world was almost gone as she offered him a small, tentative smile – a smile that caused his foolish pulse to quicken.
Naruto glanced anxiously over her slender shoulder into the night - and his surprise was complete when he spotted a familiar blonde head approaching down the path that lined his small front garden. Ino's expression was grim and she looked like a woman on a mission.
"Wait, what are you two doing here?" Naruto questioned, nonplussed, as Ino came to a quiet stop behind her dark-haired friend.
"We'd like to help, Naruto-kun," answered Hinata softly.
Sakura's lips parted as she stared at her reflection in the angel-framed mirror. Following her dip in the delightfully hot and soothing waters, she had pampered her skin with flower-scented oils and stepped out of the bathing room, feeling reinvigorated and more level-headed. Ume and Chizu had been dutifully waiting for her in her room. After allowing her to change into her undergarments alone, they had together selected a beautiful, softly-flowing peach and gold dress from the sprawling collection in the wardrobes and helped Sakura into it.
The semi-transparent butterfly sleeves draped to just above the curve of her slender elbows. A sweetheart shaped, gold-trimmed neckline modestly covered her assets, allowing only a slight glimpse of soft cleavage to peek through. A gold, thin-plaited belt was wound three times around her slim midriff, the high waist-line giving off the flattering illusion of longer legs. Her hair had been dried and combed to silky perfection, drawn back by pretty, gold-painted leaf-shaped clasps. Wavy locks tumbled down her back like a pale river of coral. At Ume's insistence, Sakura had agreed to wear a matching gold leaf necklace and earrings. She hadn't intended on donning Sasuke's jewellery and the resplendent gowns he'd prepared for her, but Sakura silently reasoned that if she wanted to get hold of the sword, it would be in her favour to feign compliance – if only for a while.
Chizu had brushed a fine dusting of powder over Sakura's face, and Sakura found herself wondering what in the world was in the substance. Her complexion looked dewy and flawless. Her large eyes almost seemed to sparkle. And her heart raced as a stark realisation suddenly occurred to her.
She looked… pretty. Like a dressed up version of her normal self, and yet… something was decidedly different. Unnerved, she met the admiring gazes of her attendants in the mirror, and said uncertainly, "This feels a little… much. Maybe I should change into something else-"
"No!" Ume cried, surprising Sakura with the force of her protest. Flushing apologetically, she amended, "Th-that is to say, you look so very lovely, Mistress; you could not possibly think of changing now."
"You are a sight for weary eyes indeed," Chizu complimented, prompting Sakura to blush self-consciously as Ume bent down to secure the calf straps of their young charge's golden sandals.
Sakura anxiously chewed her lower lip as she looked herself over once again. That was the precise problem. She didn't want to look like a princess, even though it was strangely pleasant to feel like one for a change. But she knew what the real issue was. Sasuke. The very thought of his dark eyes drinking up the sight of her made her heart tremble.
You're being ridiculous, she scolded herself. It wasn't rational of her to worry. He was a god. So what if she had changed her clothes and donned something more presentable? Humans did it all the time. He would think nothing of it.
Before she could protest any further, Ume rose to her feet and grasped onto her left hand, tugging insistently.
"Let us go to the gardens. You will like this surprise, I am certain!"
"Ume!" Chizu lightly reprimanded.
"Oops," little Ume giggled, as they exited the bedchamber and walked in the direction of the gardens. When Sakura stepped out into the night, she was once again awed by the ethereal beauty of her surroundings. She recalled that she hadn't even fully explored the full length and width of the extensive flora-filled expanse before her. She followed her attendants down the steps and past the first section. As they wandered into the second, Chizu guided her to the right, to an area she had either failed to notice the first time around – or it had not been there at all.
Sakura gasped in delight. A fantastic, colourful array of what had to be at least fifty different varieties of flowers were arranged in slender vases around the gently curving hedge-line. Sakura's gaze widened as she spotted familiar stems; different hues of roses, tiger-lilies, anemones, carnations, acacias, freesias, campanula bells, heathers, irises, limonium, asters, windflowers, tulips… the list was endless. There were also blossoms that were foreign to Sakura's eyes – unearthly blooms that beckoned to be examined more intimately.
She noticed pretty, pastel-shaded wraps of tissue-like paper and ribbons arranged atop a small, circular table. Beneath it were all kinds of crystal vases. She had never seen such a brilliant collection. Even Ino's mother's flower store couldn't compete.
"This is wonderful," she breathed.
"We knew you would like it!" Ume clapped delightedly.
Sakura shook her head at them. "You did this for me…?" She was touched. They had seen how unhappy she was. That they would take the time and trouble to set up a personal flower-area for her…
Her attendants exchanged a knowing look. Chizu nodded to Ume, who began shyly, "Well, Mistress, the master informed us that it pleases you to arrange flowers, so he commanded us to gather these for you…"
Sakura released an astonished breath. Sasuke? Sasuke had instructed the area to be prepared for her?
An uncomfortable sensation began to crawl up her spine. It couldn't have been easy to assemble such a diverse range – unless he had magicked flowers out of thin air. Why would the death deity go to such lengths to ensure that the things she enjoyed were readily available to her? Did Sasuke seek her approval? She couldn't fathom why he would, but recalled that he had already asked for it at the library.
Or was it that he simply sought to provide her with home comforts, with the aim of getting her to shut up and accept what he decreed was her new fate?
"That's…" she swallowed, her throat suddenly feeling oddly parched, "…thoughtful of him."
"Oh, yes," Ume was continuing to gush, oblivious to Sakura's discomfort, "now you may create garlands to your heart's content!"
Sakura could only manage a watery smile in response.
"If you require anything else, Mistress, please inform us at once," Chizu added.
"Oh," Sakura replied, as she gazed distractedly at a remarkable gold and black flower, "yes, of course. Thank you."
A lengthy, uncomfortable silence ensued as Sakura once again found herself pondering exactly why Sasuke had brought her to his world. And why had he felt the need to kidnap her, if he was an almighty god? Surely he could have instead chosen to speak to her on Spring Festival night when she'd seen him by the carousel – even though she knew she would not have believed a word he'd said.
Bad social skills, Suigetsu had told her. But in Sakura's opinion, that was a gross understatement. She reached out to stroke the tip of a cheerful, orange tiger-lily. Regardless of Sasuke's intentions, the collection was impressive and undeniably beautiful. Sakura's head felt giddy from the almost euphoric mix of scents that permeated through her nostrils.
"Are there fields here too?" she wondered aloud to the maids behind her.
"Many," was the silky response.
Sakura's heart jolted within her and she whirled around in alarm to find that Ume and Chizu had vanished from sight. Sasuke had arrived without her even realising it. How long had he been standing there, watching her examining the flowers?
"Oh," Sakura uttered. It was all she could manage at that precise moment, because Sasuke had changed his outfit, too. The black feather-lined cloak had been removed. He was dressed in deep midnight blue; a fitted, short-sleeved, tunic-like top stitched with silver thread at the high-necked collar, with a dark cobalt blue, toga-like sash bound at one broad shoulder. The fabric fell snugly across his well-defined chest, and was secured at his waist by a thick cord of silver. Black trousers that bunched loosely at the knees were firmly bound by the midnight straps of his sandals at his calves. Burnt silver gauntlets set with what appeared to be genuine sapphire gems glinted beneath the glow of the floating orbs of light around them. A small, sapphire droplet flashed in his left ear-lobe.
He was indifferent yet magnificent, like a dashing, proud prince from a long-forgotten civilisation, and Sakura was struck by how well he pulled off the look. The clothing might have seemed like fancy dress on anybody else. But on Sasuke, it simply looked regal and elegant, exotic and right.
Sakura's heart thrummed as his eyes trailed appraisingly over her in turn. Say something, she screamed at herself, cursing her tongue for choosing an ill time to fall silent.
"Uh…" she began self-consciously, as his gaze travelled with tantalising unhurriedness back up the length of her body. Then, in her desperation to break the suffocating silence that had fallen between them, she blurted, "Thank you. The flowers- for the flowers, I mean."
When he didn't respond, she added, "And I- the letter… thank you." So inarticulate! How Sakura wished a black hole would open in the ground and swallow her away from the smoking gaze that was at that second pinned onto her. She couldn't think when Sasuke looked at her like that. She did her best to defrost her brain every time, but his eyes were so intense that she felt like he could see beneath both her clothing and her skin. Like he could see into her very soul. The thought made heat pool into her cheeks. It wasn't his fault, she told herself, that he commanded such a presence. He was the personification of death, after all. He couldn't very well be soft and cuddly with his tough-as-nails job description.
She almost laughed at the absurdity of the thought, but thankfully managed to keep her inappropriate amusement in check.
Sasuke still didn't answer. No 'You're welcome, Sakura'. No 'It was the least I could do for being such a jerk of a god'. He just stood, in characteristic silence, looking like an ancient, beautiful statue that had somehow come to life.
"So, there are lots of flower fields?" she attempted to make conversation again. She half-expected him to deign replying beneath him as seemed to be his usual custom, but was relieved when he nodded, once.
"Yes," he stated matter-of-factly. Gesturing behind him toward the next section of the gardens, he added, "This is but a fragment of what exists in my realm."
Sakura was once again stunned by how perfectly articulate Sasuke was when he felt like talking. When he deemed it worth the effort. He certainly didn't seem to lack social skills then – although his tone needed work. A thought suddenly struck her. What if Sasuke just wasn't accustomed to speaking with others? After all, how much talking did dead people actually do? They couldn't make for riveting conversation. Maybe he wasn't so impossible to speak to – if only she knew how to approach him correctly.
The problem was that Sasuke was intimidating and frightening, even if he didn't necessarily mean to be, and Sakura wasn't sure what the right strategy was to adopt with him. She wasn't exactly planning to stick around long enough to find out, either. Her eyes flicked nervously to his belt. The jewelled sheath of the sword Suigetsu required rested snugly at his right side. So he was left-handed. Her gaze quickly flew back to his face as he turned his attention to her once again.
Gathering herself, she asked him another of the questions that had been badgering her since the moment she had first woken up and found herself in the Underworld. "I couldn't find any clocks inside. What time is it?"
What she really wanted to know was how long she had been underground for, but she had a certain feeling that Sasuke wouldn't reply to such a query. She held her breath in anticipation of his answer, and when it came, it surprised her.
"There is no sun. Time does not flow here as it does on the surface."
Sakura's heart skipped a beat. What did he mean by that? Was it a good or a bad thing for her that time ran differently in his domain?
"I don't understand," she frowned perplexedly, watching as Sasuke walked over to the collection of flowers to her right.
He seemed to examine them closely for a moment before remarking, "An hour for a mortal is nothing to a god, Sakura."
Sakura was even more confused by this, and internally concluded that Sasuke's response was probably his way of communicating that he wasn't going to disclose how long she had been in his world for in terms of human days. Her eyes turned up to the ever-night sky, and she glimpsed the stars, twinkling so much like the ones she'd always loved to gaze up at on the surface.
"Then..." she began, feeling awfully muddled, "why are there stars up there?"
Sasuke cast a surreptitious glance at her, watching as she stared up at the midnight canvas high above them. She was still a stranger who did not yet understand how his world operated. She would require time to fully grasp it. His eyes roamed hungrily over her slender form as he told himself that there was no need to hurry her acquisition of knowledge. Once she consumed the food of the dead, she would have eternity to comprehend the many wonders of the Underworld. And when she knew them all, she would forget about the surface to which she so greatly pined to return. He would ensure that all she saw and all she desired and knew were him and his realm.
Aloud, he stated shortly, "They are souls."
Sakura's attention shifted back to him. "Souls?" she echoed, baffled. "But I thought…?"
"There are many paths a soul may take," Sasuke informed her, turning his gaze up to the sky in turn.
Sakura stared at the chiselled lines of his profile, illuminated by the tiny spheres of light that seemed to be dancing around them. She couldn't deny that her curiosity had been captured. She had always been led to believe that when people died, it was the end. But what Sasuke was telling her suggested that death was only the start of yet another journey – one that was made without a physical body.
The thought was sobering and a little unsettling. The intellectual part of her that always hungered for new knowledge was eager to learn more, to open up her mind to a heightened level of understanding – but the other conservative part was more hesitant and afraid. Sasuke had already changed her perception of the world in which she had lived and been raised. Did she really want her previous views to be challenged and altered further?
What was the alternative? Was ignorance truly bliss, or would it be to her advantage if she discovered as much as she could while she was in the death deity's presence? What if her mortal mind couldn't accept certain truths? What if she opened the equivalent of Pandora's Box and uncovered everything there was to uncover - but was unable to close it again before it did her any lasting, permanent damage?
"Then, the souls up there…?"
"That is their final resting place."
Sakura exhaled quietly in amazement. It was difficult to believe what her ears were being told, and in any other circumstance, she would have scoffed at the idea – were it not the Death God himself who was speaking to her.
"You send souls up there," she said in wonder.
There was a brief pause, before Sasuke affirmed, "Only the worthy."
She looked at the twinkling stars – or souls – again with wide, fascinated eyes. "I thought…" she began softly. "I thought there was just Heaven, and Hell. I thought that death was the end…"
"No," Sasuke's voice was like a liquid-cool caress. "It is not."
She shook her head again, allowing the new information to slowly sink in. "I didn't know," she said in a near-whisper. She hadn't known that the souls of good people were actually honoured and immortalised in constellations. Of course she'd read about it in mythical tales, but having it confirmed as a fact was another matter altogether.
How different was the real world from the illusionary bubble ordinary people lived in everyday?
Sasuke's gaze slipped back to examine her. It pleased him that she was wearing his jewellery, and the clothes he'd had fashioned and embroidered by the dexterous hands of nymphs just for her. She was an exquisite vision of loveliness and light. He couldn't keep his eyes from her and almost of its own accord his hand lifted the bloom he had been studying, and he walked toward her. Sakura's head turned instantly, and he saw the way her body tensed at his closeness as a look of uncertainty and fear flashed across her features. She couldn't read him. She didn't know whether to increase the distance between them, or to stay put, for the sake of politeness.
His next action communicated that he intended her no harm. Sasuke lifted the peach-coloured flower in his right hand – and carefully tucked it behind her ear. It was the final touch to finish off the female masterpiece standing before him.
"You will learn." His fingers lowered to linger just beneath her earlobe. Sakura had frozen; her eyes were wide with surprise. He watched with captivated interest as her cheeks flushed a charming shade of rose, before retracting his hand nonchalantly.
Sakura's heart pulsed wildly. Had Sasuke really just done what she thought he had? She could smell the fragrant flower that was laced through her hair, and her earlobe still tingled from the briefness of his touch. She gaped, rooted to the spot, as Sasuke cast one final, smouldering look over his left shoulder at her, before turning away to head deeper into the gardens.
Her thoughts were at a chaotic standstill. What was she supposed to do? Stay where she was? Follow him?
Sakura's feet remained anchored in place. As Sasuke disappeared through the hedged archway that led to the next section, she lifted her left hand and picked the flower out of her hair, lowering it to find an exotic, peach-tinged day-lily. She swallowed thickly, stumped with confusion. His gesture had been unexpected and… deceptively gentle. So uncharacteristic and completely at war with the cold curtness with which he addressed her. She only became aware of how much the simple action had thrown her when she witnessed the fine trembling of her fingers as they held the fragile bloom in her palm.
Sasuke deliberately paced his stride, curious to discover what Sakura did next. Would fear cause her to remain where she was? Or would she be bold enough to trail after him?
If she was wise, she would return to the sanctuary of the palace, and her chamber. Because the reality was, Sasuke didn't fully trust himself to wander deeper into the secluded gardens with Sakura looking as delectable as she did at that moment. If she had any sense at all, and any regard for her personal safety, she would keep her distance.
And so his heart quickened its beat within his chest when he heard the lightness of her sandal-clad feet on the path behind him. Her steps did not becoming fainter. She was following.
Shikamaru's plans to get at least a few hours of sleep that night had been dashed when Naruto's call woke him up just after four in the morning.
"Yeah?" he blinked through the bleariness of his vision. None of them were resting as much as they needed, but how could they relax when they knew that Sakura was being held prisoner against her will by the water deity? Suigetsu's unwise actions were essentially a declaration of war on the rest of them.
"Shikamaru. Ino and Hinata are here; Sai's on his way. Can you come over?"
The young Nara rubbed tiredly at his eyes. What were the girls doing at Naruto's place at such an outrageously early hour in the morning? With a deep sigh, he answered, "Fine, fine. Give me twenty minutes."
"Great! See ya!" The line abruptly disconnected.
Shikamaru stared blankly at his cell phone's screen for a moment, before sighing again. "How troublesome," he muttered, before proceeding to drag his heavy limbs out of bed.
Twenty minutes later, he parked his car outside Naruto's place and lifted his hand to ring the doorbell – when the door was flung open by none other than Ino, who smiled brightly at him.
"Shikamaru!" she greeted.
Shikamaru's eyes trailed silently over her face. She looked fatigued but rather good, he thought, for someone whose best friend had vanished into thin air. But then, Ino always looked great – even when she wasn't supposed to. He opened his mouth to ask her whether her father knew she was snooping around at such an ungodly hour, when she reached out, grabbed a firm hold of his wrist, and yanked him inside the house. She led him to the sparsely furnished lounge, which consisted of a double-couch, a television and a small coffee table. Naruto had never cared much for interior design and always optimistically insisted that their mortal houses were merely temporary abodes.
Hinata and Sai looked up and greeted him as he entered. Shikamaru nodded then raised a suspicious eyebrow at Naruto, as he enquired, "What's going on?"
"Ino's come up with a plan," Naruto replied simply. The blonde girl nodded, a look of resolve plastered on her face.
Shikamaru sat down between Sai and Hinata. "Let's hear it," he said.
"We need to search underwater, don't we?" Ino began. "The easiest way would be to get hold of a water spirit."
Shikamaru lifted an eyebrow, curious to see where she was heading with her idea. "Go on," he prompted.
"If we find one, my dad could connect with the spirit's mind, and lead the search through the water."
Sai said quietly, "How will we find one?"
"Jiraiya's toads!" Naruto exclaimed suddenly. "They can move through water!"
Sai's heart leapt at the response, and he hoped that none of them noticed the way his shoulders stiffened at the mention of the elder deity.
"Have you proposed this idea to Kakashi?" Shikamaru questioned.
Ino shook her head, her long, fluid mane of hair swishing left and right behind her. "Not yet. I wanted your opinion." She looked hopefully at him with anxious blue eyes.
Shikamaru held her gaze for a moment, before glancing at Naruto. "Jiraiya isn't easy to get hold of; he doesn't exactly carry a cell-phone around like the rest of us do."
"Damned hermit," Naruto muttered, before piping up, "I can find him-"
"No," Shikamaru admonished quickly. "We can't afford to keep tapping into our seals. It's only a matter of time before he notices that we've been meddling with our sides of the deal."
Ino said miserably, "I wish I hadn't given up my abilities. Maybe I could've protected Sakura better if I'd sealed them like you guys did."
"Um," Hinata began softly, tentatively, twiddling her index fingers together, "there is another way…"
Three pairs of eyes turned expectantly to her. Hinata didn't say much, but when she did, everyone had the sense to quieten down and listen.
"A-ambrosia," she stammered, reddening beneath the weight of their intent gazes. "Perhaps Ino, you could…"
"Our reserves are running low enough as it is, Hinata. Ino would need a significant amount to restore her immortality," Shikamaru interjected.
"Jiraiya could supply us with more," Naruto argued. "He's got stashes of the stuff!"
"Enough to enable her to travel through the sky, maybe," Shikamaru shook his head. "She'd need much more to regain full godhood again."
"That's better than nothing!" Ino cried. "I'm sick of sitting around, relying on the cops who don't even have a clue what they're looking for! At least then I'd actually be able travel around and-"
"Ino, think about what you're saying," Shikamaru frowned. "We can only take as much ambrosia as we need to keep us immortal. You sacrificed your immortality so he wouldn't find out about Sakura. And we aren't allowed to go up there. We've already started bending the rules-"
"To hell with the rules!" Naruto exploded, causing Sai to flinch and Hinata to gasp in startled alarm. "That bastard is watching us all the time! He's probably already noticed that Sakura-chan's missing; you think he isn't wondering why we're so desperate to find her?"
The others exchanged uneasy looks.
"Why are we the ones who have to keep compromising? Huh?" Naruto demanded. "If it wasn't for his damned war-mongering, we wouldn't even be in this situation in the first place!"
"Naruto," Shikamaru held up placating hands. "Just calm down-"
"No! You know what?" Ino glared. "He's right! I'll get some ambrosia myself. I won't sit by and wait. And if I just drink a little, the effects will be temporary. And if he has a problem with it, let him talk to me! I've got some questions for that son of a bitch too! Like maybe getting him to explain what happened to our King and Queen!"
Naruto swallowed thickly, his hands tightening into angry fists. "He killed my mum and dad. He's responsible. He probably promised Suigetsu something too, the bastard. He's the first person we should be confronting. Instead we're wasting our time running around in circles while Sakura-chan's stuck in some cage!"
Sai, crumpled with guilt, opened his mouth without thinking. "Naruto, Sakura is-" he began quietly, before choking off as his throat and chest were overcome by an agonising, burning sensation. Sasuke's seal was working, just as the death deity had warned him it would if he tried to disclose anything about Sakura. He swallowed through the pain, and fell silent again. Luckily Naruto, Ino and Shikamaru were too busy arguing to notice his failed attempt at communicating with them.
But the sensation of a lingering gaze caused his attention to shift left. Hinata was watching him with eyes that were almost luminous in their clarity. His heart leapt within him. She was staring so intently, and for a moment he had the unnerving feeling that she was reading him like an open book. Then her eyes abruptly slipped away. She remained silent.
"You're both not thinking," Shikamaru said in frustration. "There's no way Kakashi and the other elders are going to agree to this, anyway-"
Ino flashed a brilliant smile. "They aren't going to find out. Because none of us are going to tell them!"
Shikamaru's jaw dropped. "What?" he managed after a moment of astonished, verbal floundering. He cast an incredulous look at Naruto and the others, and was horrified when he couldn't read any objections on their faces. Didn't they realise how foolish they were being?
"That's right," Naruto nodded firmly. "We're not kids. We can't rely on Kakashi and the others anymore. If we're gonna find Sakura-chan, we've got to work together! Right?"
Both Hinata and Sai nodded their solemn agreement.
Shikamaru glared fiercely at them. "If you think I'll keep this quiet and let you idiots put yourselves in danger-"
"Tell my dad," Ino interrupted softly. The object of her affections met her gaze, and hesitated despite himself as she added with finality, "But I'll never forgive you if you do."
Sakura's eyes were fixed on the handsome lines of Sasuke's shoulders ahead of her. She lingered a safe distance behind him, but knew that he was aware that she had decided to follow. She wasn't sure what it was that had spurned her to do so, knew it would have been wiser to remain amongst the floral collection where he had clearly intended on leaving her. But she had to reluctantly admit to herself that ever since Sasuke had confirmed who and what he was, a part of her had become… curious. What did being the God of Death entail, apart from gathering, judging and sending off souls? Was there anything more to his role?
She wanted to somehow find the words to ask him why he had placed the flower in her hair. She wanted to ask him what he had meant when he had assured her that she would learn.
What was it that he intended on showing and teaching her?
The floating spheres of light shed a magical glow about the garden's surroundings. Sakura found that she kept getting distracted by the sights that were around her, rather than focusing on tailing after Sasuke. But each time she looked ahead of her again, he would still be there, walking with the same effortless grace he seemed to command all too easily.
Where was he going? She felt a flitter of apprehension as they walked through the same area that she had drifted into when she'd entered the sirens' cavern, the same sirens the god before her had by Suigetsu's account slain. Sasuke disappeared through another arched, flowered hedge opening ahead of her and she hesitated. It wasn't a good idea to continue any further, especially when she had no idea what lay in wait for her. She knew it, and yet…
Inquisitiveness had always been another of her shameful faults. She wanted to know what he was doing. Her legs were already carrying her forward, and as she stepped into the next section after him, she felt the air abandon her lungs. The new stretch of grass sprawled out even wider than the others, boasted the same shimmering silvery trees and milky blooms. A beautiful brook streamed ahead, surrounded by pale grey stones. Lights, even more luminous than the ones that weaved through the air, shimmered over the crystal water's surface. Sakura stepped forward, entranced, eager to take a closer look, when a cool hand suddenly caught hold of her right wrist, and tugged her back and onto her knees.
She stiffened when Sasuke's voice whispered harshly into her ear. "Wait."
Sakura watched with baited breath as the lights before her shed glimmering sparkles. Her dazzled eyes darted from one radiating point to another. What was happening? She was so distracted that she failed to notice that Sasuke, crouching directly behind her, was still grasping firmly onto her wrist. At that moment she forgot who he was, where she was. Her attention was fully engrossed by the miracle that was occurring in front of her.
The lights separated and began to move in a spiral shape, before merging together to form transparent, luminous female bodies. They seemed to be clothed in golden radiance. Sakura exhaled in amazement, not daring to move a muscle lest the magic that was being woven before her very eyes dispelled.
"What are they?" she whispered in awe.
Sasuke sounded very close when he murmured quietly, "Nymphs. They purify these waters."
Sakura shook her head in wonder. Once again she was enchanted by what she was seeing. She was starting to realise that the Underworld was a contradiction of sorts; beyond the gates of Sasuke's palace was a landscape that was cold, barren and frightening. Yet within the grounds of his abode resided beauty of incomparable splendour.
It was unnerving. As Sakura watched the nymphs continue to cleanse the water's surface with graceful motions, she became distinctly aware of the warmth of Sasuke's body behind her. Her heart thundered. She should not have followed him.
Sasuke's eyes trailed over the silken locks of hair before him. She was close enough for him to catch the rose-scent of her skin. All he had to do was reach out and wind his arms around her delicate frame, and he would feel her softness against him. But he saw the tense lines of her shoulders, sensed her apprehension as she became conscious of his proximity once again. He drew a quiet breath, savouring the sweet smell of her, before rising fluidly to his feet, saving her the trouble of formulating a way to increase the distance between them.
Sakura stared as Sasuke walked forward, straight through the brook. The nymphs separated and seemed to bow in reverence to the death deity as he passed them without so much as sparing a glance their way. This time she remained firmly in place as he disappeared into yet another section hidden by higher hedges than the rest of the gardens, the flower he had placed in her hair still clutched securely in her left hand.
Tsunade watched as the waves lapped up the deserted beach's pebbly shore. It was hopeless. No matter how many bodies of water she visited, neither the water deity nor any of his subjects responded to her calls. The sea before her was as unsettled as all the others. What was happening beneath its tumultuous surface?
Grief once again tormented her heart, made it swell as though it were ready to burst from within her. Sakura. Sweet, naïve Sakura, who she had always strived to protect, to conceal from the lecherous and ill-intentions of other, lesser immortals and semi-deities… where, exactly, was she at that moment? Was she hungry? Cold? Hurt? Tsunade swallowed down the bitter taste in her throat. The surface was already missing the child's absence. Because despite everything that had happened, nature still responded to Sakura's presence.
Tsunade released a shuddering sigh, her head drooping in dejection. The tears were so close to falling, now that she was alone…
"That's not the Tsunade I know."
Her shoulders instantly stiffened, her spine going rigid as a familiar, agitating aura settled behind her.
"Why are you here?" she bit out through tightly clenched teeth. How many centuries did it take to make the deity behind her comprehend that he wasn't welcome by her side?
"You still despise me, as always," Jiraiya sighed heavily. Tsunade resisted the urge to sneer. He almost sounded genuinely saddened. Almost.
"If you think you can sneak your way back into our fold, you're wrong," Tsunade said woodenly. "You gave up that right when you abandoned us."
A brief pause fell between them, before Jiraiya answered, "I didn't abandon you, whatever you might think."
"I don't want to hear it. And I don't need your help," Tsunade said acerbically. "I never have."
"You have it all the same."
She whirled at that, her eyes flashing with anger. Did the fool think he could make up for his past faults by adopting a chivalrous façade? Disgust dripped from her voice as she snapped, "I don't need your pity! The child is my responsibility. Mine alone!"
"That's what Minato told me back then," Jiraiya agreed, infuriating the woman with the calmness of his demeanour. "Has the past taught you nothing, Tsunade? Where has your pride carried you? You were so afraid of any harm befalling Sakura that you failed to notice the threat that was so plainly creeping up on her! Now she is gone, and you haven't the faintest clue what to-"
"Be quiet!" Tsunade lashed out, striking him against his chest with enough power to force him back a few steps. "You have no right to accuse me of failing when you were never around!"
A look of indignation passed over Jiraiya's face at that, and he opened his mouth to fire a heated retort at her – when a rasping voice suddenly spoke up beside them.
"Tsunade and Jiraiya… how amusing to discover that you are still at each other's throats, as always."
They had been so absorbed in their feuding that they'd failed to notice the new arrival as it had materialised silently from the ground - a black snake that quickly morphed to form the shape of a tall, pale-skinned man with slanted, sinister golden eyes and long, loose black hair. He was dressed in a deep, heavy grey cloak. A serpent earring flashed in his left ear and the smile he offered them was cold, devoid of any warmth.
Both god and goddess tensed. Instinctively, Jiraiya stepped in front of a shocked Tsunade, his heart pounding within him at the sight of the dangerous and unpredictable individual that had appeared so unexpectedly before them.
"Orochimaru…"
Author's note
Holy macaroni, I was drooling when I was describing the bit about Sasuke in his new fetching outfit. Thing is I have it so clearly in my head, and he looks so absolutely delectable and prince-like in midnight blue and black, with the sash and everything – I wish I could telepathically project the image in mind to you somehow. Since I can't though, I hope my description was adequate enough for you to get the picture.
And kukuku… Sasuke says Sakura will learn. Oh yes, he's going to be teaching her many, many things – and I don't just mean intellectually. Blush blush.
I'll have you know I hate Oro-creepster. But he's necessary for the plot. Good thing Itachi hates him too, eh? *whistles*
Anyway, there's going to be some further ice-breaking in the next few, and also some jumps in time on the surface. At the moment it's about three going onto four surface days since Sakura was kidnapped. Please bear this time-frame in mind. Next update might take a bit longer than usual, which I apologise for; things are getting hectic at work (I'm not in school/college as many readers seem to assume xD).
A note about the Greek gods/goddesses; they won't necessarily be sharing the same blood ties as they do in myth. Like Demeter was Zeus's sister, and Hades and Poseidon's and she obviously can't be that here because...ew. And besides, there aren't enough family links in Naruto to make that work. So family relations are out the window (apart from the Uchihas, Hyuugas and Naruto-Minato-Kushina…but you'll find out more about those later). I'm creating my own dynamics when it comes to that otherwise. I've ironed out the back-story and now actually know which direction I want to take this story in. I didn't a few chapters ago xD So that's good news. I hope you'll all enjoy what I have planned – I can't wait to share it!
If you review for me, Hades!Sasuke will give you one of those shiny sapphires. Seriously. I made a deal with him – you get gems for reviewing, and he, uh, gets a piece of Sakura at some point. I didn't specify when, though, which ticked his Royal Grouchiness off. Mwaha! Feedback is gold, thanks! ; )