A thousand reviews! I'm over the moon! Thank you to everybody who reviewed! This is such a personal milestone for me, thank you so much for helping me reach it! And a special mention goes to the reviewer -chan, whose five consecutive reviews hit the 1000 mark.

Okay, some more fanart to share; I really can't get over how many pieces of artwork you wonderful people have been creating for this story. Again I am so, so honoured and privileged and you have no idea how much these inspire me.

I'm wondering though whether it might be a good idea to set up a gallery on deviantart featuring all Quietus artworks? Would people prefer that to individual links? My profile page is filling up with links, maybe one gallery divided under different artist names would be easier to organise/look through? Of course this is dependent on permission from the artists who have so kindly contributed.

Mitsukio-Tenyo has created a wonderful, helpful map of the Underworld. Find it under her username in the Artwork section on my profile. Thanks for your help with this, Mitsukio! It'll really come in handy and make things much clearer for me and everybody else as we visit the various parts of Sasuke's realm. She has also drawn a wonderful piece of Sasuke seducing Sakura. It's hot. Go look and comment now!

Speaking of Sasuke… Cheesyporridge2121 on deviantart has sketched an absolutely DROOLWORTHY picture of Sasuke in his guise of Hades, King of the Underworld. I swear to you, when I first saw this, my jaw dropped and I could only gape in helplessly smitten awe. IT IS THE DEFINITION OF SEXY. His expression, the haughty, knowing smirk, the throne, everything. She has also created one featuring Sasuke looking extremely tempting, holding a pomegranate and jewels to entice Sakura into jumping him- I mean eating the food of the dead xD Go open them on my profile page NOW. Thank you so much Cheesyporridge for these fabulous contributions. They made me finish this chapter so much faster!

Ariadnia has also added another artwork to her Quietus collection, featuring Sasuke and Sakura making out in the future xD It's hot-stuff, check it out! Thank you Aria for continuing to honour my story with your artistic talents!

One final thing – make absolutely CERTAIN that you load the piano music on my profile page prior to starting this chapter. Then hit play when you get to the piano scene, which begins from the flashback part in italics and repeats when Sakura hears it. I was listening to this when writing it and it is just PERFECT. Kudos to the very talented composer! Really captures the mood I had in mind. It's not the same if you don't listen, make sure you do to feel the full impact of the scene!

Last, last thing… brace yourselves for a flashback from Sasuke this chapter… featuring… someone you've all been waiting to read more about! :)

Chapter XVI

A lost refrain unwinds to weave,

A poignant, broken elegy,

That long forgotten requiem of old,

Formed in the midst of sweet repose,

Will grieve a heart until t'is cast,

Into the shades of memory past.

The crashing sound of sea waves infringing onto the shore only heightened the tension that hovered in the air like a veil of thick, ominous smog. The darkly sinister smirk on Orochimaru's face deepened as the deafening silence roared on between them. Their stunned faces alone made the long route he'd taken to visit them worth it.

Then Tsunade's features shifted to display open hatred, as she demanded, "Why are you here?"

Jiraiya felt an involuntary constriction deep within the cavern of his chest. He knew the woman positioned behind him like smoke knew fire. On the surface, she was formidable, unconquerable. But he detected the uncertainty that was carefully concealed beneath the harshness of her tone. They hadn't seen Orochimaru in centuries, had almost allowed themselves to believe that his cursed existence had vanished from their lives forever. But the Fates had never smiled kindly upon them. He continued to exist, an embodiment of the fear and terror that resided in men's hearts.

Orochimaru's slanted, serpent-like gaze flicked onto Jiraiya, as he leisurely enquired, "Is this how one greets an old friend…?"

Jiraiya sensed, rather than saw, Tsunade stiffen behind him. "You son of a-"

"Now, now, there's no need to waste time on your usual pleasantries, Tsunade," Orochimaru swiftly interjected, running the tip of his alarmingly long tongue over pale, ashen lips with slow deliberation. "I was simply minding my own business, when word reached me of a most delicious rumour."

As she looked upon him, Tsunade was suddenly overcome with stifling nausea and disgust. It outraged her, that the daemon standing before them possessed the nerve to approach them so brazenly. She wanted nothing more than to pummel that abhorrent face into the dirt, where it belonged.

"Oh? And what might that be?" Jiraiya questioned, taking care to keep his demeanour as casual and unaffected as possible.

Tsunade's heart drummed. No news from Orochimaru was ever good news; the fact that he'd appeared to them caused an unpleasant sense of foreboding to whisper through her veins.

Orochimaru's smile became positively predatory, as he rasped, "I have discovered that the righteous Tsunade has been neglecting her duty in ensuring the preservation of lives. Naturally this came as quite the surprise… and a delectable increase in fear on the parts of mortals."

An emotion the snake before them thrived upon. Orochimaru was drawn to negative feelings as a moth was to a flame, and Jiraiya bitterly acknowledged that it made perfect sense for the daemon to have appeared before them. They ought to have anticipated it.

"I wonder," Orochimaru was continuing thoughtfully, tapping a long, skeletal index finger to his chin, "what would account for such unusual behaviour…"

"You are mistaken," Jiraiya answered. Tsunade swallowed. The grim tone of his voice was a stark contrast to the lackadaisical and often lewd manner in which he enjoyed addressing her. She glared heatedly at his back. Hadn't she told him that she didn't require his assistance? She could deal with the nuisance that had presented itself before them, alone. But Jiraiya was already continuing, "Tsunade would never forsake her responsibilities."

Orochimaru blinked, feigning ignorance. "Oh? Then perhaps you would care to explain her prolonged absence from the station of work to which she so sentimentally chose to dedicate herself…"

Tsunade stepped forward, her honey eyes ablaze with pure, molten fury. How was it possible that he knew she'd been skipping her hospital shifts? There were only two explanations to account for his intelligence; that he had watched her, of which she would have surely been aware, or that somebody had conveyed the information to him. Her suspicions were immediately roused by the latter possibility; which begged the question, if it was true, just who would do such a thing, and for what purpose?

"Who have you been talking to, you vile snake?" she bit out acidly.

The golden-eyed daemon held up an arm. A white serpent slithered out from beneath the sleeve of his cloak, hissing, its forked tongue licking the air. "We have many sources, and many eyes, Tsunade," he answered pointedly.

"You-" Tsunade began furiously, but Jiraiya was quick to intercept.

"Has he sent you, Orochimaru?"

Orochimaru's smile grew even colder, as he replied, "Your fruitless attempts at hiding your affairs from our eyes have been most amusing…"

"And what, precisely, is it you believe we are hiding?" Jiraiya inquired, straining to maintain a blasé air in the daemon's presence.

Orochimaru smirked, and gestured out toward the sea. "Something surely quite remarkable, to warrant such unrest in the oceanic depths, would you not agree?"

Behind him, Jiraiya heard Tsunade's sharp inhalation of breath. "Your poisonous tongue will not work here, snake! Return to the festering scum that created you!"

"Kukukuku," Orochimaru cackled. "As hasty as ever, Tsunade…" he slid back, adding, "But perhaps you would not be if you discovered precisely what our eyes have seen…"

His alabaster skin began to flake, revealing glossy scales, and his arms disappeared at his sides as his form began to transmute back into that of a serpent. "Consssider thisss a warning…" Orochimaru hissed. "You can concccceal nothing from usssss…"

The transformation was complete, this time leaving behind a slender white snake with luminous, golden eyes. Tsunade didn't waste a second. With a snarl of rage, she lunged forward, meaning to tear the repulsive reptile to pieces, when strong arms wrapped around her waist, impeding her murderous intention.

"Do not take his bait, Tsunade!" Jiraiya cautioned, keeping the woman firmly at bay as the snake slithered swiftly out of sight. When it had vanished, Tsunade wrenched herself out of Jiraiya's grasp and shoved him back, her ample chest heaving with fury.

"I told you…" she said, voice trembling as she fought to rein in her anger. "I neither want nor need your help!"

"Don't let your foolish pride blind you! He couldn't have known of your absence unless someone informed him of it!" Jiraiya called after her, as she began to storm away from him. But his words were swallowed up by the booming sound of the waves that had succeeded in flooding the shore.

Sakura stared down at the peach coloured bloom in her hand, a troubled frown weighing softly upon her brow. After Sasuke had left her in the garden, she had watched the ethereal nymphs for a while longer, in expectation that he would soon reappear. He hadn't. Eventually, she had given up and returned to the palace's interior. Once back in the privacy of her chamber, she had taken a seat on the bed, examining the flower Sasuke had selected for her as if it somehow held the answers to all the questions that were ricocheting around in her head.

She stubbornly refused to listen to the thoughts that whispered it couldn't have been by a mere quirk or whim that the death deity had chosen to place the lily in her hair. The action seemed to be so totally at odds with Sasuke's character, and yet, she told herself that she had no right to judge her captor's personality. She didn't have a solid grasp of Sasuke beyond the fact that he was frighteningly intimidating and infuriatingly aloof. And arrogant – so completely and unashamedly arrogant.

Sakura closed her eyes, unwillingly recalling the vice-like hands that had gripped her arms in the banqueting hall, the way his face had lowered to within inches of hers. Her heart began to thump, slowly at first, but soon quickened as she began to piece together the memories of their other exchanges. By the river's edge, he had again been deceptively gentle, and attempted to calm her in the midst of her hysteria. He had declared that the Underworld was her new home – and that she belonged to him.

Sasuke had stated that she had been kidnapped because he wished it. Which meant that it was his explicit desire for her to be in his realm, with him.

Which meant…

Sakura's eyes flew open and she raised an alarmed palm to her forehead, abruptly stemming the absurd conclusion before it could fully develop. What was she thinking? Sasuke was a god. The governor of death. There was absolutely no conceivable way that his actions would involve intentions of that particular nature. It was a sin to even entertain for a second that he was somehow interested in her in any shape or form.

She gnawed anxiously on her lower lip, fingertips stroking the velvety petals of the beautiful flower. His words and actions confused her so much. His tone was cold, unreceptive – yet on more than one occasion he had acted to decrease the personal space between them. The signals she was receiving were conflicting and disorientating. Whenever she was in Sasuke's electrifying presence, whenever she tried to talk with him, it was like she was roped onto an unstable boat, cast out into a murky, tumultuous sea with neither compass nor anchor. She couldn't read him. She didn't know what to expect. She had no way of knowing what he was thinking, or what he would do. She was tense and edgy for reasons she couldn't fully comprehend. He'd said he wouldn't harm or judge her. Why, then, was she still so fearful of him?

His eyes, her inner voice stated with a conviction that caused her breath to lodge in her throat. That scorching intensity with which he regarded her, which was markedly absent when he interacted with others; how was it that Death's eyes were so strikingly bright, so very keen and decidedly alive?

Sakura rose to her feet. She was tired of stabbing blindly in the dark; she needed to shed light on her situation once and for all. If she knew what Sasuke had in mind for her, she would be able to better prepare herself, to devise an appropriate strategy that would enable her to deal with him on a more solid level than the gelatinous platform upon which she was currently so precariously perched. She couldn't allow her fear to isolate and immobilise her any further than it already had done. Suigetsu had given her a task to complete, and somehow, she had to deliver. Her life, her very future, depended on it.

Sakura clenched her teeth. She needed to talk to the water deity again. She was hopeful that he could help her unearth the possible motives behind Sasuke's perplexing behaviour toward her. Still clutching onto the flower, she hurried to the bathing room and crossed over to the toilet, locking the door securely behind her. Here, at least, she was guaranteed absolute privacy. Then she turned to the elegant marble washing basin, pushed the shell-shaped plug into the drain hole and twisted the cold water knob on the golden, gracefully shaped swan taps. She tapped her fingernails impatiently against the marble's cool edge as she nervously waited for the bowl to fill. When the liquid reached just past halfway, Sakura hastily switched the knob off and gazed desperately at her reflection on the rippling surface. She was acting on instinct, not at all certain what she was doing, but Suigetsu had told her that they could connect through water. She had to trust in that.

Concentrating hard, she called mentally to him, 'Suigetsu?'

Her anxious face stared back up at her. Gripping tightly onto the basin's edge, she attempted again, 'Suigetsu! It's Sakura! Can you hear me?'

Nothing happened. Sakura's heart began to sink, allowing trepidation to wash over her. What if Sasuke had somehow found out that she and Suigetsu had been communicating? But that made no sense; surely he would have made a point of mentioning it to her if he had dealt with the water deity?

'Please,' she silently prayed. 'Please answer me. I need your help.'

Silence. She waited for another long, tormenting minute, and when the water continued to show her crestfallen expression, Sakura released a heavy, defeated sigh, and made to turn away. Perfect, she thought miserably. Now what was she supposed to do? She urgently needed advice on how best to approach Sasuke, and Suigetsu was the only person who could furnish her with an answer. She fleetingly considered leaving the palace grounds and searching for him, but her better sense of judgement argued that it would be far too risky. She couldn't afford to push her luck and keep tip-toeing around Sasuke-

'Pinky!'

Sakura's apple-green eyes widened. In a split-second she had whirled back to the basin. A smile of relief illuminated her features as she found Suigetsu's pleasant face rippling on the water's surface.

'I was afraid you wouldn't answer!'

'Are you kidding? Gods always listen to mortals in need,' he grinned, before adding, 'I've gotta say it; you look hot.'

Sakura felt her face warm, and self-consciously averted her eyes, which prompted the water deity to chuckle amusedly, before revealing, 'Guess who just came by to make sure I was enjoying my stay in this five star accommodation? Yeah, that's right; our good friend Sasuke.'

'Is he definitely gone?' Sakura questioned nervously.

'Yeah, he's gone. Left in a strop, too. I mean, I was only trying to be helpful and give him some advice on how to correctly woo a lady, and what'd I get in return? Yeah. That indifferent stare of his.'

Sakura's stomach lurched as the previous thoughts she'd forbidden to consider flooded back into her mind. Her throat felt dry as she mentally forced herself to question, 'Who's he trying to woo?'

Suigetsu's lavender eyes blinked up at her. 'Oh, come on! You can't seriously be that naïve, Pinky!'

Sakura leant forward as she answered agitatedly, 'He told me this is my new home. He said I…' it was difficult to disclose it, '…belong to him. And he-' she disregarded the warmth in her cheeks as she finished embarrassedly, '-he put a flower in my hair.'

Suigetsu's jaw dropped, before he proceeded, much to Sakura's dismay, to hoot with vociferous laughter. Eventually, he managed to snort, 'A flower? Hahahahaha! Real smooth! That bastard doesn't have a clue!' Chuckling, he continued, 'But that first bit sounds like Sasuke. Possessive bastard. Don't you listen to him, Pinky. He's used to getting whatever he wants; must piss him off that you're not an easy conquest.' He paused, before wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. 'At least… I hope you're not. You haven't let him jump you yet, have you?'

This time the heat in Sakura's cheeks was impossible to ignore. 'W-what?' she telepathically stuttered. 'No! Of course not- listen, you have it all wrong. He's a god, and I'm a human-'

Suigetsu scoffed at this. 'Gods created humans in their likeness. You think that's stopped us from pursuing mortals in the past?' Winking flirtatiously, he added, 'It wouldn't stop me.'

Sakura gaped. Her heart was galloping so wildly within her that she feared it was on the verge of falling into cardiac arrest. For a minute, her numbed mind was unable to formulate an articulate response.

The water deity noticed, and raised an eyebrow. 'Why the surprise? Isn't it obvious he's interested? Why else do you think you're here? I mean, no other reason makes sense, unless he's just doing it to piss off your mother. He wouldn't have shackled those bracelets to you if he didn't intend on keeping you. In his twisted mind, you're here to stay, Pinky.'

Sakura mutely shook her reeling head as her earlier suspicions, which she had been quick to dismiss as madness, were confirmed. Sasuke… Sasuke was interested in her?

Suigetsu looked amused. 'Hey. Don't look so horrified. You should be honoured,' he mocked. 'It's not like Sasuke chases after females. They tend to throw themselves at him, and you obviously haven't. No wonder he's so grumpy,' he added with a snicker.

Sakura couldn't help her lips from whispering weakly, "Oh…" Her talon-like grip on the marble was the only thing keeping her upright. But her mind was spinning. What kind of mess had fate thrown her into? She felt out of her depth, way in over her head.

'He's a hopeless romantic,' Suigetsu cooed. 'He literally swept you off your feet, didn't he? Ahhh, that sly little bastard.'

Sakura swallowed down the nausea that was rising within her. How could Suigetsu suggest such a thing, and so casually? To even postulate that Sasuke held any splinter of emotion… someone as cold and distant as the death deity was… her brain simply couldn't comprehend it. Absolutely refused to acknowledge it.

'This… this is a joke. There's got to be some kind of mistake. I'm not- I mean- he wouldn't…' her thought trailed hopelessly off. By Suigetu's account, Sasuke could have taken his pick of any woman on the planet. The world was full of exceptionally stunning females, ones who were taller, far more striking, curvier, sexier and categorically more interesting than she was.

Instead, Sasuke had set his sights on her…?

It was a shocking and impossible reality to accept, more so than anything else she had discovered up to that point.

'But that's… so wrong…' she thought, completely stupefied. Surely it was a sin, something forbidden?

Suigetsu flashed a grin, baring strange, razor-like teeth teeth. 'Isn't that what makes it so good?'

Sakura was appalled. 'I don't believe it,' she rejected. Her brain could not process the information Suigetsu was giving her. Her heart, however, was another matter entirely. It was thundering within her, as if it had known the truth all along.

'You'd better,' Suigetsu advised seriously, 'because that's the only thing you've got going for you if you plan to nab that sword. You talked to him about training you yet?'

Sakura shook her head, feeling dazed. How was she going to face Sasuke now that Suigetsu had dropped such a bombshell on her? Dark, intense eyes flashed through her mind's eye, causing her heart to flutter in apprehension. How was she supposed to handle this? She had little experience in dealing with men like that – after all, her mother had always chased would-be-admirers away. But now her mother wasn't around, and she somehow had to negotiate the sticky and thoroughly bizarre situation alone.

She stifled a groan of despair. Why her? When exactly had Sasuke noticed her? How many years had he watched her? It was perturbing, not having the answers. And on the inside, Sakura was scared senseless. She could feel panic pushing through the cracks in her composure, and this time she wasn't certain she could suppress it. Suigetsu must have noticed her expression, for he released a light sigh. 'Geez. You really are hopeless. How hard can it be to ask him to-?'

'I can't do it.' The thought was choked, much like the crushing sensation in her chest.

'Huh?' the water deity peered up at her. 'Why not?'

'I can't. I can't,' she repeated, knowing she wasn't making any semblance of sense, but she couldn't bring herself to care very much at that moment. All she could think about was how Sasuke had laced the flower through her hair – and how his dark eyes seemed to ensnare her.

'Get a grip, Pinky! No sword, no freedom, remember?' When she continued to stare at him with frightened, doe-like eyes, he glared, 'Hey, do you want me to break out of here by myself and leave you to live happily ever after with your charming Romeo?'

His threatening words succeeded in snapping Sakura out of her frozen state of terror. 'No!' she communicated back, horrified by the very idea.

'Then do what I tell you. I'm being reasonable; I'm not expecting you to get the sword right away. I know it'll take time to get him to loosen up. Bastard's not an easy one to fool. But you'd better make a start or I'll lose my patience and then I really will leave you, Pinky.'

Sakura nervously wet her lips. 'If I asked him, and if he does agree, how am I supposed to get the sword off him for long enough to get it to you?' she questioned, at a loss to imagine how the plan would work.

'You only need to get it to the gates. Karin will take over from there.'

Sakura was stunned once again. The image of the sharp-featured young woman who had grabbed her roughly by her hair at the river's edge floated through her memory. 'Karin's helping too?'

Suigetsu smirked. 'Hard to believe, right? But yeah, she's in.'

'But Sasuke will notice,' Sakura argued. 'I don't understand how you expect me to divert him for long enough to-'

'All you've gotta do is bat your pretty eyes at him, Pinky. Flirt. Seduce him. You women have it down to an art! It'll be a piece of cake, trust me.'

Sakura's face stained crimson as she internally hissed, 'Forget it! I can't do that!'

She chose not to add that she was an absolutely incompetent flirt and was certain she couldn't seduce anyone – except for maybe Lee, but that was only because he claimed to be violently in love with her anyway.

The Sea God rolled his eyes. 'Oh, come on! Just try flirting with him a little, he'll be eating right out of your hands-'

'NO.' Sakura glared, blushing more fiercely. It was against all of her moral principles to act in such a way. Indignantly, she added, 'How do you even know he's interested in me? Maybe… maybe brought me here to test me!'

Suigetsu's smirk was lewd as he wickedly responded, 'Yeah, he'll test you, alright… in the bedroom.'

"Stop it!" Sakura cried aloud, utterly mortified and affronted. If Sasuke was interested in her, it certainly couldn't be in that way! "I said I won't do it!"

'Okay, okay, geez, quieten down,' Suigetsu huffed. 'You know, you're the first girl I've seen who isn't going gaga over that bastard. Anyway, I've just had another idea. A way we can actually disable Sasuke for long enough to get both the sword and us out – with minimal flirting.'

Hope fluttered within Sakura, causing her to abandon her anger at Suigetsu's shamelessly randy words. 'What?' she asked eagerly. 'What is it?'

'I'll get back to you,' Suigetsu replied, before winking, 'Later, Pinky.'

Sakura watched as the water's surface rippled and her reflection returned to stare back up at her. She slowly exhaled, her mind overcome with the cacophony of her thoughts. She was still having trouble accommodating what Suigetsu had told her. The notion of a god stealing a mortal away out of curiosity struck her as utterly ridiculous. Sasuke didn't honestly expect her to accept such a thing?

But she knew she had to tread even more carefully. If the water deity's words rang true, then she couldn't let Sasuke suspect that she knew. She would have to do her best to conceal her embarrassment and discomfort, and try to interact in a civil manner with him – however unmanageable that seemed.

She reached out and unplugged the drain, watching as the water swirled down the pipe and disappeared. Then, taking a deep breath and trying to rein in the erratic pounding of her heart, she turned, unlocked the door, and made her way back into her bedchamber. Walking to the fireplace, she looked down at the flower in her hand, and swallowed thickly.

'All you've gotta do is bat your pretty eyes at him, Pinky. Flirt. Seduce him. You women have it down to an art! It'll be a piece of cake, trust me.' Suigetsu's words echoed in her mind.

In silent anger, she threw the flower into the hearth and watched as it shrivelled at the scorching touch of flame before disintegrating swiftly into ash.

Sasuke's sandals crunched over gravel with sure purpose as he drew to a stop by the river's edge. Steely eyes searched the bank carefully for a moment, before directing their attention to his waiting subjects.

"Be wary of trespassers," he stated, his onyx gaze flicking between Juugo and Karin. "Apprehend any creatures with orange markings, and inform me at once."

"Yes, Master," Juugo bowed his head in subservience. Sasuke glanced nonchalantly at Karin, who had been staring hard at him. She quickly lowered her eyes, and nodded stiffly.

"Resume your duties," he ordered curtly, and began to turn away from them, when Karin's voice made him pause.

"Great God!"

Irritation sparked within him when, instead of speaking, she remained silent, causing him to prompt, "Well?"

Karin's pulse raced as she considered divulging the extremely interesting conversation she'd had with Suigetsu shortly before the death deity had arrived at the bank. Would Sasuke favour her if she told him what the Sea God and Sakura were planning? Her ruby eyes trailed over the fetching lines of Sasuke's proud shoulders, and her heart constricted painfully inside her. It wasn't often that they spied Sasuke without his black feather-lined cloak. The clothing he was wearing at that moment only served to make him appear all the more arresting.

Sasuke's raven head shifted to his left, wordlessly warning that she was trying his patience. Bitterness overcame the nymph. He didn't even deem it necessary to turn around and face her. She wasn't worth the effort, and the honour. The abysmal well of her internal loathing and jealousy overflowed to the tip of her tongue, and she was speaking before her angry mind had time to contemplate the consequences of her words.

"Sakura…"

She exhaled as Sasuke immediately shifted to regard her askance. She now had his full and undivided attention – granted by the mere mention of the human girl's name. Acknowledgement of what that implied was like a stab in the gut, with salt poured over the gaping wound. Karin's fury flared as she buried the idea of revealing Suigetsu's intentions to the Death God. How could she have allowed herself to believe for even a moment that Sasuke would somehow be grateful to her? He was only interested in his little Sakura.

Swallowing back the bile that was rising in her throat, she artfully continued, "Are the trespassers searching for her?"

Sasuke blinked, and Karin watched as his attention walled off completely. She was merely sticking her nose in business that was not her own, and didn't have anything worth his while to say, to warrant his lingering any further. The Death God spun abruptly on his heel and walked away, his form melding into the shadows, leaving the slighted water nymph fuming with resentment.

Sasuke alighted before the mighty gates of his palace and slipped through, stalking broodingly down the tree-lined path. The messenger had mentally called to him from the surface while he had been in the gardens, and with much reluctance, he had left Sakura's side to meet with Sai – only to learn that Jiraiya was indeed suspicious of his involvement in Sakura's disappearance and had consequently deployed his subjects to investigate further.

Damn him, Sasuke internally vented, glaring with enough vehemence to cause the spirits of the trees around him to quiver from the intensity of his hatred. Unlike the foolish Kakashi, who still held onto a long-buried sliver of sentimental attachment, Jiraiya had always been wary of him – and wisely so. Sasuke's hands closed to form tight fists at his sides, his keen mind already weighing out the options that were available to him. Jiraiya would soon realise that his subjects had been slain in the Underworld when they did not return at his call. As the death deity strode up the steps and entered his palace, he reasoned that the best strategy for him to adopt would be one of aggression. Remaining silent and hidden would doubtlessly increase the elder god's suspicions.

Sasuke didn't need that. He would confront Jiraiya on the surface before Jiraiya had the chance of venturing to his realm. The elder god had broken one of the agreed conditions – Sasuke had every right to slay his spies.

A sneer ghosted his lips. Did the fool honestly believed that he could be outwitted? And in his own kingdom, no less?

"Master," a young, scrawny, ashen-haired kitchen boy whose name Sasuke never bothered to remember had been crossing the hall and bowed as his lord breezed by him.

"Bring me ambrosia," Sasuke ordered curtly, without breaking stride.

"Yes, Great God," the boy bowed lower and scurried to the banqueting hall to fetch the deity his drink.

Sasuke stepped through the third door on the left side of the hall, which led to a large, richly furnished drawing room. He came to a stop before the majestic, gold-marble fireplace, flanked by two beautiful angel statues, and absentmindedly extended his left hand, accepting the goblet that was placed into it by the kitchen boy, who lingered awkwardly and uncertainly until his master waved dismissively to him. The jewel encrusted door closed after the servant, and Sasuke swallowed his drink in one quick gulp. Its potent ingredients began to take immediate effect, causing the death deity to quietly exhale as he felt the tension and fury that had been simmering to explosive levels within him dampen considerably. He couldn't afford to lose his cool. Not now. He could not handle Jiraiya the way he handled other inconveniences – but that didn't mean that Jiraiya was immune to intimidation.

They had seemingly forgotten what the Death God was capable of, and Sasuke reasoned that it was as good a time as any to remind them.

With that in mind, he set the goblet atop the fireplace's ledge and gazed up at the elaborate tapestry that hung above the hearth. It was woven with intricate details, depicting images of rolling, evergreen, flowered valleys and elemental streams and waterfalls. A perfectly azure sky made up the striking backdrop. Elysium. Sakura would appreciate such an idyllic place, and he intended on taking her to visit it, soon.

As he turned away from the heavenly picture, his eyes were inadvertently caught by the impeccably polished, elegant grand piano set in the right-hand corner of the room. Sasuke walked slowly over to it, and ran his fingertips over the fall's sleek black surface. It had been a while since he had played, and as he gazed down at the instrument, something stirred within him. A whispered memory, something he tried to suppress at first – but the images swelled and flooded through, all too vivid, and with them, a painful, constricting sensation in his chest that was still raw, despite the countless age that had passed.

He had taken a seat on the stool and lifted the fall to expose the glistening ivory keys before his distracted mind could even register the action. And instinctively, Sasuke's fingers found notes that were still ingrained into his brain, centuries after their composer had taught them to him, and his eyes closed as he lost himself in a precious, distant memory.

Slender, elegant fingers glided over the keys with effortless poise and grace. He watched, transfixed, as the hands worked their magic, producing music so profoundly moving in its melody that his ears could not help but be captivated by the beauty of the sound. He chanced a glance at the creator of the masterpiece, who was every bit as regal as the fine instrument which he so flawlessly commanded. Heavy, dark lashes that seemed to tangle from their length were lowered, strikingly sculpted features relaxed in an expression that he could only identify as one of absolute tranquillity. Long, dark, silky hair was pulled back and bound by a small, thin strip of crimson ribbon. The composer's black cloak, lined with raven feathers, made him almost appear to be one with piano, its hue matching the precise shade of the instrument's body.

As he listened to the magician weaving his spell, he felt the tension leave his shoulders. Gazing upon that serene face always banished his discontent, warded away the worries he harboured deep within him for the future of their clan. A face whose kindness was reserved for him - and him alone. By his side, he felt invincible, unconquerable.

Their father was always scolding him, of course, for over-idolising the deity who sat beside him. But he didn't care, when there were more than enough reasons to warrant such blind, unwavering admiration and love. He was second best only to the prodigy who caressed the ivory keys with such proficiency – not that he would ever acknowledge the fact aloud.

The tune rose to its uplifting crescendo, and he felt his soul soar with it. Only his music could affect him in such a way. All the pieces he had heard the other gods and goddesses play were tedious and uninspiring in comparison.

But this… this was utter perfection.

The skilled fingers finally drew to a stop, and long lashes lifted to reveal dark eyes – sharp, piercing eyes that sparked such fear in the hearts of mortals and deities alike – but eyes that, to him, were warm and wise. They shifted to regard him, and he spoke up to conceal just how impressed he had been.

"Hn. That was decent, I suppose."

Lips that were usually set into a firm, unyielding line drew back to form a ghost of a smile. "How gracious of you to concede so."

"Well?" he prompted, after a slight pause.

A dark brow rose questioningly as he was indulged with a tolerance that was not often granted to others.

He gestured uncomfortably toward the keys. "You might as well teach me that melody."

The other eyebrow joined its partner to express a look of mild surprise. "You have never expressed an interest in musical instruments, Sasuke."

He smirked at that. "I only wish to learn to better you at your own creation… nii-san.'

A light, resigned sigh. "Of course…" was the quiet murmur. And then, with a hint of amusement, "Well; shall we begin?"

The melody resonated from the keys and reverberated about the stone walls, and with it, flared pain within a guilt-stricken heart.

Sakura was lost in the turbulence of her thoughts as she drifted through the stretching hallway. Suigetsu's troubling words were echoing over and over in her mind. What if, despite her incredulity, they were indeed true? What if the reason why Sasuke had stolen her away was that she had unwittingly captured his curiosity?

The notion was ludicrous. She had rarely managed to attract nice, normal human boys on the surface. She didn't know how to draw them in like Ino did, and she never made a point of showing off any of her so-called assets. Her clever mind was probably her most interesting characteristic. How was it even possible that she had caught the notice of an almighty deity? And one who, despite being completely terrifying, also happened to be outrageously handsome, and certainly good-looking enough to take interest in far prettier girls?

Sakura was starting to view her unfortunate situation as a comedy of hilarious proportions. But one constant remained; whether Suigetsu's words were reality or not, she couldn't let Sasuke suspect that she knew anything about his intentions; if he found out that she was in contact with the water deity, what slight chances she had of obtaining freedom would be lost forever.

It was now of paramount importance that she did her best to act normal around him. It would be difficult, especially now that she was so self-conscious of what Suigetsu had told her. She wished he hadn't spoken such awful things, but they couldn't be undone. Somehow she had to push the fact that Sasuke was potentially interested in her to the back of her mind, and do her utmost to relax in his presence. Because the edgier and more flustered she was, the more suspicious he would inevitably become.

Trying to fool a god…? You're asking for trouble, she told herself. But there was no other choice for her in such a desperate situation, no other alternative.

She stopped at the top of the majestic staircase, drawn out of her musings by the clear, echoing sound of music. A piano, she immediately recognised, and curiously made her way down the steps, listening for the direction the melody was coming from. The notes were proficient and precise, and grew louder as Sakura moved along the left side of the entrance hall. She stopped before the door that was adjacent to the room in which Sasuke had permitted her to write her note, and listened. Yes, the tune was definitely coming from within. She reached out, opened the door quietly, and curiously peered inside.

She was immediately struck by the imperial décor of the new area that sprawled out before her. Rustic gold and ash-blue wallpaper featured elaborate damask patterns, climbing up to a ceiling that was once again spectacularly painted with a mural that depicted heavenly skies and deities, set within a gilded frame of gold. Three grand, golden chandeliers provided warm and bright lighting. Elegant, royal blue, gold-gilt sofas featuring matching gold damask patterns were furnished around the room, decorated with plump, gold cushions. Swathes of bronze, satin material were arranged over exquisitely carved tables. A magnificent, gold marble fireplace caught her eye, above which hung a breath-taking tapestry that featured a delightful, paradisiacal valley. A massive, exotically woven gold and midnight blue carpet lay sprawled along the impressive length of the room, bordered by the same spotless black marble that featured so prominently around the palace.

But Sakura's eyes only took a few seconds to register her surroundings, before her gaze was impelled to the right side of the room. Seated in the corner before a grand, majestic, black piano was Sasuke. Sakura's pulse wasted no time on quickening as the sound of the melody he was playing coupled with the sight of him, so very refined and regal, lured her further into the room. The tune was spellbinding as it settled over her senses, and she walked slowly forward, unable to look away from the arresting form of her captor as his fingers danced effortlessly over the ivory keys.

Sasuke's eyes were closed, and he seemed to be fully absorbed in the enchanting piece he was playing. Sakura passed the middle of the room and drew to a stop, close enough to watch him without hindrance, but far enough to maintain a comfortable distance. Her heart was drumming in anticipation as she expected his heavy lashed gaze to rise and sweep onto her at any moment. But it didn't. Sasuke continued to weave his faultless melody, seemingly oblivious to her presence.

Or so she believed.

Did he compose this…? Sakura found herself wondering, scarcely conscious of the fact that her lips had parted to form an 'O' of astonishment. It seemed to be the case, for he wasn't reading any sheet music. It was a poignant, emotive piece, and she was thrown. She stared at him in open bewilderment, her brain at a total loss to explain how someone who appeared so cold and distant could produce a tune of such profound resonance and feeling. As he struck the higher, louder notes, Sakura's soul flew in turn. Her ears, her mind, her body; all were captivated by the mesmerising song as a disconcerting thought suddenly occurred to her.

Was there more to Sasuke than what he portrayed?

Her eyes moved from his skilful fingers to trail over the flawless lines of his chiselled, aristocratic features, and that was when she noticed the barely there, downward tilt to lips that were usually set in a firm, stoic line. Sakura exhaled quietly. Was the tune he had chosen to play a random selection, or one that held some semblance of meaning to him?

Whatever it was, Sakura had never heard such a powerful, stirring composition. As Sasuke's fingers negotiated the final crescendo, she became aware of the fact that she had been clutching a hand over her racing heart. The music had affected her on a level that left her near breathless. And when the melody faded away into silence, and Sasuke's dark eyes finally lifted to regard her, she felt heat flood into her cheeks. She had been caught staring red-handed.

Don't just stand there like an idiot! Sakura's inner voice snapped. Say something!

Still feeling displaced from the notes that had ensnared her, she forced herself to compliment, "That was beautiful."

Sasuke stared at her for a moment, before pointedly allowing his gaze to fall back to the ivory keys. He didn't respond, which allowed silence to creep between them again. Sakura already knew that the death deity wasn't much of a talker - unless he had something he deemed necessary to say – which meant that the task of making polite conversation fell solely onto her.

Which was just perfect, really.

"You're very proficient," she followed up politely, unthinkingly, and internally winced at her choice of words. What was the matter with her? She didn't usually have any trouble at all making small-talk with normal people.

But she supposed that was the precise problem – Sasuke wasn't a normal person.

Sasuke was quick to stifle the scornful snort that threatened to escape his lips. Proficient, she had said? Sakura would soon discover that playing piano was not the only thing his hands were proficient at doing. But he remained silent, waiting to discover what she would say or do next.

Smothering her nervousness at his lack of response, Sakura gestured toward the instrument and tried again. "Did you compose that piece?"

Sasuke sat quietly for another few heartbeats, before rising fluidly from the stool. "No," he answered flatly.

Sakura considered asking him who had, but something about the standoffish manner of his posture made her hesitate. She became distinctly aware then that she had been wringing her hands and ground her teeth, lowering them to clasp together behind her back. At least her body-language wasn't so defensive this way. She frantically racked through her brain for possible things to talk about – and suddenly, blessedly, she had it.

"Sasuke?"

His fathomless gaze locked onto her again.

"Umm," she began tentatively, making a point of averting her eyes as she readied her request, "I was wondering if I could see more of the palace, now."

She held her breath in anticipation of his response. When the pause following her words began to get uncomfortable, Sakura was quite sure that Sasuke was about to summon Ume and Chizu to resume the tour with her, when, in her peripheral vision, she saw him step away from the piano and move toward her.

She lifted her gaze when Sasuke's sandal-clad feet stopped a metre before her, and her heart leapt when he inclined his head toward the door.

"Come."

She followed him back into the entrance foyer, to a set of arched double doors that Sakura had somehow failed to notice before. They were tucked at the back of the hall, beneath the grand staircase, and even more magnificent than any of the other doors she had seen elsewhere in the palace – a feat in itself. They were solid gold, and encrusted with a spectacular array of jewels. Sakura's eyes were dazzled. Rubies, emeralds, sapphires and amethysts were arranged around a central crest that depicted the same uchiwa fan that she had glimpsed on a number of occasions. She wondered what the symbol meant, but decided against asking Sasuke about it. Nothing personal, she reminded herself, and a crest definitely qualified as that.

The doors parted at his silent command, and as she stepped into the new area after him, Sakura felt the air leave her lungs.

The sparrow circled in the air, before lowering to perch on her outstretched finger. Kurenai brought the bird close to her face, listened intently for a moment, before sighing.

"Thank you, dear friend," she murmured gently, and raised her hand to allow the little feathered creature to take flight once again.

"Still nothing?"

She shook her head. She'd sent out legions of her subjects to cover the air, land and even water, but none had returned with any news on Sakura.

"Nothing," she answered, gazing out at the quiet view of Konoha's rolling hills offered by her apartment's balcony. "Do you truly believe Suigetsu is responsible?"

Strong arms slid around her from behind. "Sai reported as much. You aren't convinced?"

"I find it so strange," Kurenai said softly, leaning back into Asuma's warmth. "Perhaps we don't fully understand the reasons behind Suigetsu's actions. Perhaps he is acting under another's influence."

"We have no way of discovering the truth if he remains hidden. Our priority is to locate him," Asuma replied.

"I worry for Tsunade," Kurenai's brows drew together to form a light frown. "I worry what will become of the lives she sustains if she does not find the child. Already she has begun to neglect them."

Asuma's eyes rose to regard the dawn sky, strewn with soft, pastel colours. "We can only hope that Sakura is returned soon. If she is not…"

His words trailed off, the remainder of the sentence lost as a subdued silence fell over them.

Shizune released a tired sigh. It was only eight-thirty in the morning and already she felt exhausted. She reached out to apply disinfectant to her hands, scrubbing vigorously at her skin and beneath her nails for a full minute. As she rinsed the foamy cleanser off her hands, she looked up to study her reflection. Black hair was pulled back into a short, perky ponytail, but her features were anything but lively. Her deep brown eyes were plagued by dark circles, a sure sign that she hadn't been getting much sleep. It was little wonder. She'd essentially been working twenty-four hour shifts in their head doctor's absence. It had been five days since her friend had contacted her with the news that Sakura had gone missing. Shizune wrung the excess water off her hands and turned to one of the hot-air dryers on the bathroom's clinical, white-tiled wall.

She wished that she could assist Tsunade in the search, but knew her powers were no greater than the ones her friend already had at her disposal. Besides, she had a duty to the mortals under their care. Preserving life was their sworn, divine responsibility.

She quickly secured a stray strand of hair with a pin, before turning to the door. Greeting a young, novice nurse on her way out of the bathroom, Shizune quickly hurried to her office. She'd just take a quick break to check that everything had been prepared for the next procedure at the operating theatre, and then-

The sound of a cell-phone vibrating drew her attention to her locker. She frowned. Now really wasn't the time… reluctantly, she unclipped the set of keys from her waist and unlocked the padlock. Hastily, she rummaged through her bag and plucked out the black cell.

Tsunade.

Almost dropping the phone in her eagerness to answer, she quickly accepted the call.

"Tsunade-sama!"

"Shizune. Are you alone?" her friend's voice questioned.

Shizune closed her office door and the blinds on the windows. "Yes. Is everything alright?" she anxiously questioned. "Any clues about Sakura?"

"Suigetsu has her."

Shizune blinked, shocked. "Suigetsu?" she whispered. "Are you certain?"

"Yes. We're looking into it, but…" Tsunade's voice trailed off and she released a frustrated sigh.

"I was so worried when you didn't respond to my calls and messages," Shizune said, flicking idly through the patient notes before her.

"I'm sorry. I haven't had the chance. I've been unable to think about anything else but this."

"Of course," Shizune nodded sympathetically. "I understand."

"How is everything at the hospital?"

"Oh, fine, please don't worry yourself about things here, Tsunade-sama!"

There was a pause. Then, softly, "Thank you, Shizune. I know I can always depend on you."

Shizune felt her heart warm. It wasn't often that her friend spoke so kindly and sincerely to others. "Thank you, Tsunade-sama," she smiled.

Tsunade's tone abruptly shifted as she continued, "There was something I wanted to talk to you about."

"Yes?"

"Yesterday, he appeared to us." Tsunade's voice dripped with disgust as she clarified, "The snake."

Shizune gasped in horror. "Impossible! After all this time-"

"Yes, yes, I know," Tsunade agreed angrily. "He knows of my absence from the hospital, Shizune."

The writing on the clipboard blurred briefly out of focus as Shizune slowly processed the disclosure. "He's been watching us here?"

"Either that, or someone has been in touch with him," Tsunade answered grimly.

The dark-haired woman exhaled, shaking her head. "A spy?"

"How else could he have noticed my absence? For him to travel all that way to confront us…"

"Of course the patients have noticed," Shizune stated. "But they're monitored constantly; we have tight security here. I told the rest of the team that you were called away on urgent, private business…"

She could almost see her friend scowling on the other end of the line. Hesitantly, she added, "But… people have noticed Sakura's absence, also. They're asking after her."

"Damn it," Tsunade hissed.

"Has anybody else been in touch with you from the hospital?" Shizune questioned.

"No, no," her friend answered dismissively, "only…" she abruptly broke off, inhaling sharply.

Shizune's heart leapt. "Tsunade-sama? Is everything-?"

"Kabuto!" Tsunade gasped.

"Kabuto?" Shizune echoed in alarm.

"I thought it strange that he called. I've never trusted him! And he always asked so many prying questions. I meant to remove Sakura from shadowing him but- damn it!" she took a deep breath, before barking, "Shizune!"

"Y-yes!"

"Are the samples safe?"

"O-of course, Tsunade-sama. I'm the only one with access to the code-"

"Be vigilant! I want you to watch Kabuto carefully. Update me right away if he does anything suspicious!"

Shizune's head was whirling. Young Dr. Yakushi, a spy? She found it difficult to envisage the polite young man in such a guise. But she reasoned that her friend had to have good reason to suspect him. "Yes, Tsunade-sama."

"And Shizune! Under no circumstances do you let anybody else discover the code. Bring the samples to me. If there is a spy in your midst, Sakura's blood isn't safe there. I want them at once!"

Shizune swallowed and nodded her head resolutely.

"Yes, Tsunade-sama!"

Author's note

I had a look of utter disgust on my face the entire time I was writing Orochimaru-creep and his dialogue. Yuck, yuck yuck. Words can't express how much I despise him, but I hope I capture his creepiness well enough. Let me know! He's been sent as a warning to the good guys that the person in the sky is watching them… kukukuku!

Oooh, samples of Sakura's blood? What's all that about? And a spy? Oh the plot thickens!

This was my favourite chapter to write, because I got to mention Itachi, even if it was a past interaction. I imagine that if Sasuke and Itachi had been permitted to grow up like normal siblings in the manga, then Sasuke would have started a kind of (one-sided xD) rivalry with his eternally patient big brother, who he'd still worship, even when he knows he can never really match him. It's an endearing thought, and makes that scene all the more special to me.

Any guesses which room Sasuke took Sakura to see? Here's a clue: it's the place where he judges souls and gets to look like the King he is. XD Next chapter will feature lots of descriptions as Sasuke shows our (and his) favourite girl around!

Anyway, please make me happy by leaving me reviews! I do so love to receive them! Less silent readers please, I might disable author/story alerts altogether, because there are so many of them that are not followed by reviews, and it's just discouraging! See you next update, people.