Thanks for the super the reviews! I really appreciate them all and a special thanks to the new and previously silent readers who contributed their feedback. Your reviews give me the same feeling of happiness and excitement that you all (hopefully) experience whenever I update.
Important notice about fanart; a group has been created on deviantArt called SasuSaku-Quietus. All artwork for the story will be added here from now on. Please do join if you have an account on there. By becoming a member you'll receive updates whenever new artwork is added and if you're s contributor, you can add your own artwork to your named gallery. It's also an area where you can connect with other readers. Please take a look; the link is on my profile and also on my deviantArt page.
New contributions include lovely pieces from ariadnia, mitsuki0-tennyo, deviantmanan, inshayne, 9-Echos and Angel7EagleWolf. Look their names up in the gallery section of the group and check out their work. Make sure you comment, because there is nothing more disheartening than adding favourites and not leaving back a word of appreciation. That goes for reviews too…
To the reviewer ZapZapYotsuba; Sakura does hold a great interest in myth, but bear in mind please that being stolen away by the God of Death isn't something she would have expected to happen in the real world and is consequently not the first natural conclusion she will form. So of course she is going to be confused and baffled as to where she is and with whom; wouldn't anybody be shocked and in denial if they saw dead spirits walking around? Liking myths is one thing; finding out that they're real is something else entirely.
And yes all poems are written by me. They are the last bit I add before uploading a chapter and they're also the hardest thing to do!
Cheyenne Uchiha – the 5% listed next to chapters refers to the percentage the upcoming chapter is complete, not the story itself. I can't speculate how far the entire story is from the finish line, because I don't plan content and new ideas are constantly evolving. But it is a very long way off!
PaolaPenguin, Sasuke doesn't intend to make Sakura his Queen yet. That's the prize she gains in the event he doesn't tire of her. He wants to bind her to his realm before Tsunade and the others can take her away. It's the only choice he has to keep her for long enough to unravel her mystery and just why she draws him in, because he knows that Tsunade and the others will quickly connect the dots and retrieve her otherwise. He has no claim or right to keep her in the Underworld unless he binds her to it. In other words, if he didn't bind Sakura, his days with her would be numbered. If he loses interest, he ends her life and she follows the path all souls take. His feelings will slowly begin to change as he finds out more about her.
To the unsigned reviewer Ghost; I have to work on the updates? I have been updating on average every 8-12 days; two weeks maximum, with the exception of this chapter. That's faster than you get with most stories. I'm not sure why you'd make a comment like that, when you also consider that each chapter is a minimum of eight thousand words! This is over eleven! And I disagree that writing is also my job; it's a hobby. I'm not a professional. My daytime responsibilities always come first. I work on this as and when I have time in between the demanding life I lead. Thank you for the review, though.
Okay one last thing – you MUST listen to the indicated music when you get to the parts where 1) Sakura first hears the Festival music in her dream, and 2) where Sakura is following the stone path toward the forge. It isn't the same if you don't listen, as these pieces of music really build up (in the case of 2, hot xD) atmosphere. Visit the links under chapter 18 in the music section on my profile page and open up the songs, then hit play when you get to the correct parts. Let me know if any links are not working.
Charmedprincess101wrote in her very lovely review: 'It looks like as time progresses Sakura is falling into Sasuke's plans and Sasuke is falling into Sakura and Suigestu's plans. I wonder who will succeed first? ;)' What a perfect way to capture the scenario I have built! Who will succeed first indeed? Who do we WANT to succeed first? (I know who you're all rooting, perverts xD). Enjoy this long, eventful chapter and our first real steamy SasuSaku encounter!
Chapter XVIII
So it began, my fall from grace,
Too helpless, to avert my face,
Mine eyes, so treacherously ensnared,
Caught in the net of night spun web,
How he cast my heart, abound,
And stole my breath, without a sound.
Jiraiya inhaled deeply, enjoying the earthy smell of rain-drizzled soil mixed with the subtle, sweet scent of cherry blossom. The endless lines of trees that flanked the long walkway leading toward Konoha Central Hospital were surrendering their freshly sprouted blooms early – far too early. The gentle breeze that rustled through the boughs sent silken petals fluttering silently from branches, hailing down like pale pink confetti. Flowers shed like tears - as though the trees themselves were in mourning.
The sun was setting, its waning rays casting an almost otherworldly light upon the path. One week. It had been just over a week since Sakura had disappeared without a trace. A heavy frown weighed upon Jiraiya's brow as he continued to walk slowly down the idyllic lane. He had searched tirelessly, traversing through woodland, mountains and caves without success. There was little doubt in all their minds that Sakura had vanished from the surface entirely, and he'd been ready to accept that they had exhausted all possibilities in their hunt for the girl, but Orochimaru's sudden and unexpected appearance had thrown a spanner in the works, causing whispers of doubt to plague his mind. If he – the savage in the sky – was indeed watching them, then they would have to map their future actions very carefully. Because if he caught on to the true reason why they were so desperate to retrieve Sakura… not even Jiraiya could foresee what calamity would ensue.
His expression sullied further as he recalled Tsunade's stubbornness. The damned woman was still as impossible as she had always been. Time had clearly done little to chip away at her maddening pride. She still believed that she required nobody else's council when it came to Sakura's guardianship. She still claimed that she knew what was best for the child. And so he had arrived at the conclusion that he would have to act independently and without consulting the headstrong woman – because Tsunade clearly couldn't recognise what was good for her.
Women, Jiraiya internally snorted. Along with wine, they had always been his weaknesses, and Tsunade was the greatest of all. When he recalled all the futile attempts he had made throughout the ages to woo the infuriating shrew…
His trip down memory lane was violently derailed as he sensed an abrupt shift in air pressure around him. He tensed, immediately alert, his hands swiftly moving to the small, tightly wound, magic-infused scrolls he carried in brown pouches at his belt. The temperature plummeted around him, and the walkway was suddenly overcome by thick, freezing coils of mist. Jiraiya's heart slowly began to pound. That chilly, smothering aura, known to all deities and feared by all mortals - it was unmistakeable.
A split-second later, something was tossed discourteously at his feet. Gripping a scroll tightly in his right hand, Jiraiya glanced quickly down and blinked, his eyes instantly recognising the disfigured forms of eight of his subjects as they tumbled out of a slender black net, which swiftly dematerialised upon releasing the lifeless carcasses.
Anger swelled within him, but he was careful to mask it. His gaze rose again, to clash with steely onyx, and Jiraiya braced himself. He had anticipated this meeting, of course; although he had not exactly expected to be confronted so directly and in such a public place. It didn't matter, he mentally dismissed. The dense fog was cloaking them both from view, and he knew that no human would be foolish enough to venture through it.
"Sasuke," Jiraiya greeted casually. "You seem to have grown a little."
The Death God's eyes were harder and more punishing than Jiraiya remembered. Sasuke had indeed matured – his features were sharper, he was taller, more imposing – and unquestionably colder. In place of the haughty youth Jiraiya had glimpsed long ago was a god who had grown into his role, a god who radiated menace and danger - and one who was obviously in no mood to engage in small talk.
Jiraiya didn't miss the way the death deity's fingers slid to rest lightly over the hilt of his blade as he clipped, "Explain."
"Still as talkative as ever, I see," Jiraiya said lightly, watching the younger god for any marked reactions closely. "Perhaps we ought to speak somewhere a little more private-"
"We talk here and now," Sasuke replied frostily. "Why have you sent your spies into my domain?"
"As a matter of precaution, I assure you," Jiraiya answered. To make a point that he was by no means intimidated and did not seek a fight in any form, he returned the scroll to its pouch, and nodded toward the motionless amphibians at his feet. "I suppose you slayed the others, too." It wasn't a question. He already knew it to be a fact; after all, it was common knowledge that Sasuke was not a particularly lenient god.
"It is my right," the death deity answered stonily. "They trespassed upon my kingdom." Here he paused, before adding tauntingly, "What's the matter, Jiraiya? Too afraid to infiltrate yourself?"
"Is that an invitation for me to do so?" Jiraiya pounced, his voice laden with unspoken challenge.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed in response. He said nothing.
Jiraiya sensed a window of opening, and was onto it in a flash. He took a deep breath, deciding that there was little point in beating around the bush with a deity as impatient as Sasuke was, and gestured to the trees around them, innocently shedding their pink blossoms.
"The Sakura trees are a wonder of nature, are they not? They are perhaps my personal favourites…"
He threw a casual glance at Sasuke, who was staring expressionlessly back at him. The younger god did not blink. Not even once.
"Come now," Jiraiya continued conversationally. "Surely even you must appreciate the beauty of this tree-"
"You believe I have the girl," Sasuke interrupted bluntly.
Jiraiya paused. Of course Sasuke had already caught on to his true intentions – the boy had always been sharper than others. He had not, however, expected Sasuke to speak so openly about the matter. It served to throw off the suspicions Jiraiya had been harbouring about his involvement in Sakura's unexplained disappearance – if only by a little.
"I understand," Jiraiya began carefully, knowing it was imperative to proceed with caution, "that Kakashi has already visited you regarding this."
Sasuke glared at the mention of the masked deity, before snapping, "My answer was clear."
"So I was told," Jiraiya nodded. "I will not attempt to conceal my actions from you, Sasuke; I sent my subjects to your realm in the hopes that they could obtain information about the missing girl. I did the same to the ocean depths, but it seems that even Suigetsu is missing. You would not happen to know anything about that, now, would you?"
"These matters are not my concern," was the curt response.
Jiraiya sighed. "As obliging as always. Of course, I would not be so audacious as to directly accuse you of partaking in Sakura's disappearance-"
He saw something antagonistic flicker in Sasuke's onyx irises, as the death deity sneered disdainfully, "Do you take me for a fool?"
Jiraiya's eyebrows rose, as the raven-haired god continued in a hiss, "This Sakura has not passed through the Underworld's gates. But since you are so adamant that she has…" here Sasuke's eyes formed dangerous slits, "then perhaps I will arrange her death."
Jiraiya raised placating hands, his pulse quickening. He knew that Sasuke had the power to find and kill the child within a heartbeat. And he had no qualms, from the simmering fury visible on the death deity's face, that Sasuke would claim Sakura's soul, if tested further.
"Naturally, we must exhaust every possibility. Tsunade is very fond of the child-"
"I care not," Sasuke answered heartlessly, dismissively, making to move away.
Jiraiya hesitated despite himself. Perhaps, if he adopted another strategy, he could somehow manage to gain Sasuke's cooperation. However, he was reluctant to do so. After all, he had never entirely trusted Sasuke in the past. And he had nothing to bargain in exchange for securing the Death God's invaluable assistance.
"On the contrary;" he said quietly, selecting his next words strategically. "This affects you also."
Sasuke waited, casting a surreptitious glance at the pale-haired, taller god, silently demanding that he elaborate on his sentence.
"The trees are already shedding their blooms," Jiraiya stated, looking to the trees. Sasuke blinked, and turned his eyes to the cherry blossom petals in turn, fluttering so quietly around them. He watched them dance in the air for a brief moment, before returning his gaze blankly to Jiraiya.
"Trespass again, and I will find her," he warned. After another pause, he added pointedly, "You know what will happen if I do."
With those parting words, the death deity stepped back into the freezing mist, and vanished swiftly from Jiraiya's sight.
Sakura munched distractedly on the generously sized anpan bun that had begged consumption the moment she had stepped back into the banqueting hall. Her tongue savoured the sweet taste of red-bean paste filling, drawing her mind away from the dissonance of her thoughts. Even if she was reluctant to admit it, the food was good – very good. She hadn't tasted it properly before, because Sasuke had been in control of her actions back then and forced sustenance down her throat, but there was something delectably different about the dishes in the Underworld. The flavours were somehow richer than anything she had ever tasted on the surface – or perhaps her rumbling stomach was just doing a fabulous job of convincing her to believe so.
Her efforts to eat demurely had lasted for the full, impressive duration of one minute. Scoffing down the rest of her bun, her eyes roved eagerly over the endless platters in search of her next course. She was spoilt for choice by the appetising delicacies on offer, and a greedy part of her wanted to try a little of everything. She wondered whether the Underworld's nourishment would make her sick if she ingested too much of it. But perhaps it was special, magical food. After all, it had seemed like a very long time to her since she had last felt hungry.
Her gaze abruptly stopped on a plate of marinated, skewered chicken pieces, arranged artistically upon a bed of sauce-coated lettuce. She would need protein and iron to keep up her strength, she knew. Plucking up an elegant wooden skewer, Sakura raised it to her mouth and bit off the first meaty chunk. Pure bliss overwhelmed her taste buds. It was the most deliciously succulent piece of chicken she had ever tasted, and she sighed in satisfaction as she followed the five pieces with crunchy, refreshing lettuce leaves. Now she needed something to wash down the food. Her eyes were snagged by the inviting jar of golden liquid – the wonderful beverage Sasuke had served to her before. She glanced toward the door leading out to the entrance hall. It hadn't been long, she silently reasoned, since the death deity had left her at the armoury. What was the likelihood of him returning in the time it took for her to pour herself a goblet and wolf it down?
Just a little, the voice of temptation whispered to her. Sasuke would surely be none the wiser, and she really needed the soothing effects of the strange, sweet drink.
Her decision made, Sakura rose from her chair and stepped around the table, making her way over to the closest crystal decanter. She kept throwing guilty glances at the door as she lifted the stopper and served herself what she deemed to be a little. Quickly replacing the lid, she raised the goblet to her lips and drank the honey-like liquid. For a minute, nothing happened. Sakura was just starting to think that she hadn't poured herself enough, when pleasant warmth began to radiate from her stomach, extending all over her body. She sighed again in contentment. Just like before, she felt calmer. It was alcohol, she concluded; a special form of sake that was extremely potent and worked within minutes of one consuming it.
Sakura's eyes then travelled idly over the length of the table, seeking the perfect dessert. She found it in the form of a mouth-watering arrangement of ruby beads drizzled with what she could only assume was chocolate sauce. Pomegranate. The rich cakes, biscuits and pastries on offer didn't stir her appetite the same way the delightful fruit seeds did.
But she hesitated despite herself. Next to all the exotic and unfamiliar dishes, her favourite foods were readily available. Everything she enjoyed back home had been provided, including syrup-coated dumplings and pickled plums. It was unnerving. She now knew it to be no mere coincidence that Sasuke had likely instructed his kitchen servants to have everything she loved eating prepared for her.
Her musing was broken by the sound of the door opening and footsteps echoing on the cool marble floor. Chizu entered the room, little Ume trailing faithfully behind her.
"Mistress," Chizu greeted, as she came to a stop on the other side of the table. "Is everything to your liking?"
Sakura bit back a sarcastic remark before it could fly from the tip of her tongue. Being trapped beneath the ground with an unpredictable and haughty deity who fluctuated from intimidating one second to utterly confounding the next was far from ideal or to her liking.
"The food is delicious," she answered courteously. "Thank you."
"Please try the glazed prawns!" Ume urged, nodding enthusiastically. "They are most delicious, Mistress!"
Sakura patted her flat stomach. "I only have room for dessert."
"Try the vanilla and strawberry gateaux," Ume suggested, gesturing toward the glass stand that proudly displayed a large, very skilfully decorated cake. "Or the syrup dumplings; chef had them freshly prepared just now!"
Sakura made a mental note to visit the kitchens at some point and meet the chef who was responsible for creating such culinary masterpieces.
"No, thank you," she politely declined, and nodded toward the golden bowl of glistening pomegranate seeds. "I'll have some fruit."
Chizu's smile faltered. "Oh, no, Mistress," she glanced nervously over her shoulder, toward the door, before continuing quickly and quietly, "that's no good. They're awfully sour, you see, and we were informed that you enjoy the sweeter things-"
Ume looked perplexed and shot her supervisor an odd look. But she wisely chose to remain silent.
Sakura gazed at the seeds in disappointment. They looked so plump and juicy and inviting. She found it difficult to believe that such richly hued fruit could be bitter. But she recalled the rare instances on the surface when she had sampled sour pomegranates – and absolutely hated them.
"You don't have any sweet ones?" she lamented.
"I am certain we could obtain some for you," Chizu averted her eyes. After an uncomfortable pause, she added, "But please - do not try those. They are… most disagreeable in taste."
Sakura glanced involuntarily at Ume, who beamed back a smile that seemed a little too bright. She shrugged, trusting to Chizu's word, and reached out to the plate next to the pomegranate bowl, plucking up a syrup-coated dumpling and popping it into her mouth. It was the most delightful dumpling she had ever sampled.
"So much food," she commented, after swallowing down the treat. "Do you help to prepare this, too?"
"Yes, Mistress," Ume nodded. "We are pleased to do so."
"But only a little is eaten," Sakura frowned. There were enough dishes to feed a small village of people. She wondered why so much of it was set out. She couldn't think of a reasonable explanation besides the fact that Sasuke clearly enjoyed flaunting the finer things in life. He was a god. Who would judge him for wasting food, after all? He was the governor over death itself, and surely had nothing to fear from any other deity.
"This food is unlike that which is found in the mortal world," Chizu explained. "It satisfies the appetite for a longer duration of time."
That explained to Sakura why it had seemed so long since she had been hungry. So now she knew that time ran differently and that food had a different effect on the body. She supposed that the dishes before her didn't spoil at the rate surface food did, either.
She snagged another dumpling, before gratefully accepting the goblet of water that Ume had poured for her. And nearly squeaked in surprise when Suigetsu's face winked up at her.
'Pinky!' He grinned, causing her stomach to tighten in dread. Bad timing!
"Mistress?" Ume immediately noticed Sakura stiffen. "Are you well?"
"O-oh," Sakura stuttered, tilting the goblet toward her so that the face within was concealed from their eyes. "Fine! I'm fine. I think I'm just tired after my meal." She knew even as she spoke the words how remarkably moronic they sounded. Who had ever heard of a young person her age feeling fatigued after they ate? To Suigetsu, she communicated frantically, 'I'm not alone!'
'Gotcha,' he answered. 'But hurry up and get some privacy – this is important.'
Thankfully, his face rippled away, and Sakura released a quiet, relieved breath, her heart still thudding within her. That had been close. She was still convinced that Ume and Chizu had been assigned to watch over her, and probably reported back to Sasuke. She couldn't afford to slip up, even around them.
"I think I'll go back to my room," Sakura said, offering a smile which she desperately hoped didn't appear to be too evasive. Then, without waiting for the bemused maids to say anything else, she exited the banqueting hall, exhaling as she allowed the door to close behind her. She all but dashed back up the staircase and to her chamber, where she crossed over to the bathroom and locked herself in the toilet again. After hastily filling the basin, she called out, 'Suigetsu? I'm here!'
She waited with baited breath for the Sea God to respond. After a tense minute, Suigetsu's face appeared on the water's surface.
'We clear?' he questioned.
Sakura nodded.
'Good,' Suigetsu smiled. 'You know,' he added slyly, 'we've really gotta stop meeting like this…'
Sakura resisted the overwhelming urge to roll her eyes. The water deity's attempts to draw her into teasing banter reminded her all too much of Naruto's hopeless, half-hearted efforts at flirting with her. Her heart constricted. How she longed to see Naruto's sunshine smile again! He was warmth and safety – nothing like Sasuke, who was cold and dangerous. Fresh resolve swelled within her. She would see Naruto, her mother and all her friends again soon. She was prepared to do whatever it took to break free from the Underworld.
'I did what you told me to do,' she communicated, cutting straight to the chase. 'I asked him to teach me to sword-fight.'
'And?' Suigetsu prompted expectantly.
Sakura shook her head.
'Huh? He said no?' The water deity blinked. Then, suspiciously, 'You didn't give anything away, did you? You know you're literally screwed if you mess this up, right?'
Sakura's heart thumped. 'I don't think he suspects anything,' she replied. At least, she desperately hoped that Sasuke hadn't somehow caught on to her intentions. She had been very wary to conceal her true thoughts in his presence. But he was a god. Sakura had no way of knowing precisely how much he could tell just by looking at her. She swallowed nervously.
Suigetsu seemed to notice her discomfort and couldn't help himself from winding her up. 'You could just jump the gun and ask him for his sword,' he stated. 'I'm pretty sure he wouldn't mind giving it to you…' he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, and chuckled when Sakura's cheeks stained crimson at the unashamed innuendo contained within his comment.
'Stop it!' she scowled in frustration. 'This isn't funny! I want to get out of here-'
'Relax, Pinky,' Suigetsu grinned. 'I've got it under control.'
Sakura released a breath. 'Really?' she dared to hope. 'Your other plan will work?'
'Lucky you that I'm so smart, huh?'
She lowered her face so that it was closer to the water's surface. 'What is it?' she pressed, eager to hear his alternative strategy.
'We'll drug him. It won't be enough to knock Sasuke out, but it should disable him for long enough to allow us to get out of the Underworld.'
It seemed to Sakura that iron nettles had suddenly sprouted in the depths of her stomach and were coiling painfully. Drugging a god? How could Suigetsu expect her to go through with such an act of madness?
Apprehensively, she replied, 'There has to be another way...'
Suigetsu shook his head. 'If you want out, you're gonna have to get your hands dirty one way or another, Pinky.'
Sakura raised a hand to grasp anxiously at her hair. 'But if he finds out…'
'He won't.'
'But if he does-'
'Then what?'
'He…' Sakura mentally stuttered, the very thought terrorising her, 'he'll kill me!'
The water deity rolled his eyes 'You still don't get it, do you, Pinky? That bastard wants you alive. What good are you to him dead? Think about it.'
His words did little to soothe her agitation. 'He'd be so angry-'
'Listen,' Suigetsu interrupted her thought, 'Sasuke is going to be pissed off either way. Don't worry so much; by the time he realises what's happened we'll be long gone.'
'But-' Sakura began to protest weakly once more.
'Look,' the Sea God glared up at her, 'do you want to see your mother again or not? I told you already, I'll leave you behind if you give me a headache.'
The argument Sakura had been preparing to present to him next dissipated as her mother's beautiful face filled her mind with warmth and love. Then it suddenly struck her that Suigetsu had yet to explain exactly how he knew her mother. And so she ventured to ask him, not at all certain of the reply she would receive, or whether he would answer her at all.
'Did my mother send you to rescue me?'
Suigetsu's lavender eyes blinked up at her. 'Send me?' he telepathically echoed. 'Gods don't run errands, Pinky.'
Sakura's brows drew together to form a light frown. 'Then how do you know my mother…?'
'Who said anything about me knowing her?' Suigetsu tossed back.
Sakura was silent. Perhaps her mother had simply said a prayer, and the water deity had seen fit to answer it for reasons that were still concealed from her. After all, he had asked for a favour in return for helping her escape. But she had the nagging, unshakeable feeling that Suigetsu was hiding something from her, and inwardly resolved that she would endeavour to obtain information from him – but later. Her priority was to escape, first and foremost, and so she let the subject slide at that moment.
'What kind of drug?' Sakura asked uncomfortably, scarcely believing that she was actually plotting against the death deity. Suigetsu's plan had the potential to go disastrously wrong, and here she was, willingly partaking in it. The fact only served to underline the full extent of her desperation.
If she was caught, if Sasuke realised what she was up to; Sakura barely managed to suppress the shudder that shot along her spine at the consideration of the consequences. She had little reservations that Sasuke would make her pay dearly for what he would surely deem as an act of treason. But what price? It frightened Sakura that she didn't know. Suigetsu claimed that the Underworld's king wouldn't kill her. How, then, would he choose to punish her?
She pushed the disturbing thought out her head. She couldn't dwell on it. As Suigetsu had stated, they were only in trouble if they got caught. But the art of not getting caught was easier applied in theory than in practice – especially when it came to trying to deceive an immortal.
It was a lunatic plan; but there was seemingly no other alternative – unless Sakura agreed to attempt to seduce the lightning blade away from Sasuke's side – which she most absolutely was not going to do.
'One that's potent enough to immobilise him. One of Sasuke's greatest advantages is his speed. If we take that away from him, we've got a much better chance of making it to the surface before the effects wear off.'
'And,' Sakura followed nervously, 'where do we get this drug from?'
Suigetsu smiled another of his razor sharp, toothy smiles. 'Don't worry about that, Pinky. I've got it covered.'
Sakura stared uncertainly at him for a moment, before questioning next, 'How are we supposed to get him to ingest this drug?'
'That's where you come in,' Suigetsu's eyes glittered mischievously. 'You're going to have to slip it into his drink. Or apply it onto the rim of his goblet – something his lips come into contact with.'
Sakura gripped tightly onto the marble basin's edge. How in the world was she meant to do that without arousing Sasuke's suspicions? She couldn't very well offer him random refreshment! Unless she spiked the golden liquid she'd seen him drink – but then, how would she know when he consumed it? She had to be there to see the drug work with her own eyes before making a run for it.
'This is crazy,' she mentally worried. 'What if I put it in his drink, and he doesn't drink it? I'll lose the drug!'
Suigetsu raised a hand. 'Calm down, Pinky. You only need to use three drops of this drug at a time. You'll get a whole phial, so that's a lot of attempts. Not even you could mess up that much, right?'
Sakura's eyebrows twitched in response.
'Just make sure you keep it hidden in a place he won't find it,' the water deity added in warning. Then, after a brief pause, 'I'll contact you again to let you know when Karin gets hold of the drug.'
Sakura hesitated despite herself. 'Can we trust her?' she asked.
Suigetsu snorted. 'She won't screw us over. If she does, I'll kill her.'
Sakura's heart skipped a beat. The water deity's pleasant face had lost all traces of amity; he looked deadly serious. A second later, the brooding look was gone, and he winked at her, before adding in parting, 'Stay sharp. Maybe you'll learn something interesting.'
With that, his face evaporated out of sight, and Sakura was left staring at her anxious reflection. She exhaled and turned slowly away, lost in the turmoil of her thoughts. She had never been the sort of girl to engage in trickery of any kind. She was as straightforward and honest as she believed everyone ought to be, yet she was being forced to resort to insincere measures that she would have firmly rejected prior to her abduction. As she exited the bathroom and stepped back into her bedchamber, Sakura contemplated the change in attitude. Sasuke left her no choice, she fiercely defended; she had no other alternative.
Then why did she still feel so guilty, even after everything Sasuke had done to her? He likely had intentions for her that her mind couldn't even begin to comprehend. And the dishonourable truth was that Sakura didn't want to stick around to understand the reasons behind Sasuke's actions – even if he was god.
People of faith accepted everything that fate hurtled their way, claiming it to be a test from the deities they believed in. They were obedient and accepted their destinies, exhibiting remarkable patience and resilience. Sakura knew what Sasuke expected of her; he expected her to accept the fact that the Underworld was her new home. And if she was sensible, and knew what was good for her, Sakura would comply and bend to his will.
But she couldn't. She prayed for forgiveness, but she couldn't let go of the life she'd had on the surface. Maybe she was selfish, and a wretched disbeliever, but fate had chosen to test her far too cruelly, beyond the burden she could bear. It had delivered a blow straight to the weakest part of her. To never see her mother and friends again, to be trapped, forevermore, in the deepest, most secretive caverns of Earth, in a world that was as frightening as it was beautiful, and with only spirits, strange beings, and the death deity himself for company…?
I can't, Sakura thought miserably, as she sunk into the armchair before the hearth, her head feeling strangely light all of a sudden. She had no alternative but to fulfil her role in Suigetsu's plan. And if drugging Sasuke was the only way to disable him… then she would do what she had to do. And pray to whichever other benevolent deity that existed for protection from Sasuke; that once she was back on the surface, he wouldn't hunt her down. That he wouldn't tear her soul from her body in retribution for her treachery.
And if death did choose to follow her… Sakura swallowed thickly, unable to bear thinking of the penalties. Then at least she would have seen her mother one final time. At least she would have been given a chance to say her proper farewells.
Sakura sat for a long time in silence, watching the crackling of the flames moving in a lulling, hypnotic dance, until eventually, her vision blurred and turned to black as sleep crept up on her.
Sasuke alighted and passed through the towering gates of his palace. He stormed down the tree-flanked path, positively seething. Jiraiya still suspected him. He had noticed the way the old fool had regarded him throughout their exchange, had done everything in his power to bluff his way through the encounter and blatant accusations. And he believed that he had bluffed well – but was it enough to throw an immortal as shrewd as Jiraiya off his trail? Only time, and reports from the messenger, would tell.
His hands closed to form fuming fists. It had taken every ounce of his will power to not engage Jiraiya in battle for his bothersome meddling. To do so would have been impetuous and a declaration that he had everything to hide. How he despised Jiraiya, and all the other elder gods and goddesses! He loathed them with every fibre of his being for the injustice they had partaken in against his family. He knew that fact was the root of Jiraiya's suspicions toward him; he believed that Sasuke wanted to strike back at them for the past. But the truth was that Sakura's connection to Tsunade was entirely an unfortunate coincidence. Sasuke hadn't stolen the girl away out of spite or in the name of vengeance. He wanted her, and that reality was completely independent of the fact that she happened to be Tsunade's adopted human daughter.
As he thundered into the palace's entry hall, Sasuke's thoughts diverted to focus on the words Jiraiya had spoken to him. They had caught him off guard, although he had been cautious to keep confusion from registering on his features. The older deity had claimed that Sakura's situation concerned even him. He'd stated that the trees were already shedding their flowers. Sasuke's keen mind raced, and so quickened too did his pulse. Jiraiya did not say random things unless they were somehow connected to the conversation he was having. History had taught Sasuke that the hard way.
So had Jiraiya been implying that Sakura's absence was somehow affecting the state of the trees? Sasuke scoffed. The very notion was ludicrous. That Sakura could somehow be tied to nature… she would have to be nymph or a goddess in her own right to hold any manner of influence over such a significant environmental system. And she was neither. The blood in her veins was incontestably mortal. Sasuke knew this without question. He would have been able to detect otherwise.
And yet, the purity of her soul, the light that had captivated him from the very start – that was certainly no normal occurrence. Sasuke was lost in the contemplation which Jiraiya's strangely selected statement had awakened, as his legs carried him through the art gallery and toward the inner courtyard overlooking his quarters. Was it possible? That there was even more to Sakura than what he had initially believed; that somehow, in all his foresight, he had failed to identify something substantial about her, something that served to account for just why he was so drawn to every part of her being?
No, he rejected angrily. She couldn't possibly be anything other than human. A human whose soul was untainted for reasons he would soon uncover. Sasuke bitterly acknowledged that Jiraiya had obviously chosen his words with the intention of lodging uncertainty within his mind. And it had very cleverly worked. Sasuke was filled with an even greater resolve to unravel everything about Sakura. Why had Tsunade chosen to adopt her in particular? He had thought that the woman had sought to perhaps atone for her past actions, or maybe she had failed Sakura's biological, mortal parents, and raised the girl out of guilt.
Or maybe, as Jiraiya's words had seemingly implied, Sakura herself was a secret, one that had to be concealed. She'd been guarded so closely and carefully throughout the years he had watched her. But why, and from whom, Sasuke had not yet fathomed.
He released a breath as he passed the stables. He needed to busy his hands, to strike something, to take his mind off the anger that had almost over-flooded in the face of Jiraiya's accurate accusations. He stepped into the forge and was assaulted by unbearable heat, emanating from the scorching flames that blasted in the large stone furnace set against the wall directly before him. Sasuke unfastened his cloak and the tunic top he wore underneath, and silently set about forging fresh steel.
She sighed discontentedly from her lonely seat atop the white, column-shaped plinth. Moonlight flooded down from the star-scattered sky above, tinging everything it touched with an ethereal, silvery glow. As she gazed out at the endless set of narrow stairs that climbed up to her mother's spectacular temple, deep longing tugged at her heart. Tonight was the Festival of the Eve of Spring. One single night in the year when all gods and goddesses, regardless of rank, gathered in her mother's valley, drank ambrosia and enjoyed the endless prayers and idolisations sent to them from grateful mortals. It was an event that involved dancing, singing, and general merry-making. All the things she so loved to partake in – but she found herself barred from the celebrations yet again.
Her mother, Demeter, had promised her that she could attend the following year, when she was a little older and wiser – but had said the same thing the previous year. She pouted unhappily. To think, that she was forbidden to attend a festival that was named in her honour! All because her overprotective mother was convinced that she was far too beautiful to be seen by lesser gods and deities, and that one of the lecherous youths would most certainly attempt to make off with her. She snorted at the thought. Aphrodite and Diana were more beautiful than she was, and they always participated in the celebrations. She hadn't heard any stories of either of her friends being abducted by lust-driven gods.
She huffed, picking idly at the golden ribbon wound securely around her slender midriff. It blended prettily with the rich crimson of her flowing, feminine gown. Her nymph companions had assisted her in loosely curling her long, pale tresses, and woven them with golden strings of pearls and garnets. A solid, golden, leaf encrusted necklace rested around her neck, and gold-dust shimmered upon her eyelids. But what good was dressing up if she couldn't join in the fun? Even Zeus had pleaded with her mother to allow her to attend, promising to assign her to Hera, who would take good care of her. But Demeter had firmly refused and declared her daughter not yet ready – because who was a better judge of a daughter's needs than a mother?
Her eyes turned to the sweetly singing nymphs below her, who were dutifully keeping her company. And although she loved her friends dearly, it suddenly wasn't enough for her to wait obediently and patiently until her mother returned with vivid stories about what wonderful things had come to pass at the event. She was young and curious – and she wanted to be present at her own festival.
"I'm going," she said with sudden resolve, rising from her seat. The nymphs immediately broke off their music. One of them, a silver-haired beauty by the name of Arenee, looked alarmed.
"Oh, no, Mistress! Your good mother has forbidden it-"
She waved her hand dismissively. "She needn't know. I'll just sneak in, look around a little, and hurry straight back."
A blue-haired tree nymph called Rheas shook her head. "You mustn't, Mistress. We cannot allow it-"
"I don't know why you surround yourself with these nymphs," said another voice. "How droll they are!"
She gasped as a figure materialised into existence at the base of the plinth.
"Aphrodite!"
The Goddess of Love smiled mischievously up at her friend. She was dressed in a purple, sleeveless, shimmering full-length gown, her golden hair curled and laced with tiny amethyst gems set in glimmering gold. Bracelets adorned her arms and wrists.
"Well, Kore?" Aphrodite blinked expectantly. "Are you going to stay here and miss your own Festival, or are you going to come with me? I already told you; I won't allow your beauty to go to waste!"
Kore hopped eagerly off the plinth and accepted the embrace her dear friend offered to her. Aphrodite not only looked exquisite, but she smelt like a dizzying concoction of seduction too. Kore was certain that no god would be able to resist her friend tonight – not that any usually could, anyway.
"You smell wonderful," she complimented, inhaling deeply.
Aphrodite laughed; a tinkling, feminine sound. "Careful you don't fall wildly in love with me," she teased, as her friend pulled away. "Now quickly, let us depart; the dancing is about to begin!" She grabbed hold of Kore's hand, but her friend hesitated despite herself.
"Wait! What if my mother sees me? She will be so displeased-"
"She won't; I've had a word with a friend. He'll make sure you're hidden…"
"A friend?" Kore blinked in puzzlement. "Who?"
Aphrodite simply offered her a sly little wink. "Oh, you shall see. Now, come on!"
"Mistress-" Rheas began to protest, but the Goddess of Love swiftly turned on Kore's companions.
"Not a word to anybody about this," she instructed, "or I'll make you all fall madly in love with the most gruesome of satyrs!"
The nymphs blanched and hastily stuttered their promises. Kore giggled at Aphrodite's antics, and without wasting another moment, fled down the stairs with her friend.
A thrill rushed through her veins as they darted lithely away from the safety of her mother's temple and out into the night-blanketed valley, which was usually closed off to other immortals. The night of the spring eve festivities was the only exception. For the first time in her life, she was disobeying her mother's wishes! Her apprehension and guilt were quickly replaced with excitement. She was finally going to see a true celebration! Kore eagerly wondered what it would be like, and the route to the festival grounds passed in a blur. Eventually, Aphrodite drew to a stop behind flowering narcissus bushes, and whispered to her, "The celebrations are just ahead. Your mother is seated atop the dais in the northern-most point. We're going to head to the trees to the west. Keep up with me, Kore!"
Kore nodded, and followed after her friend. As they closed in on the festival grounds, wonderful music drifted to her ears, and she released a delighted gasp. It was exotic, whispering to and commanding the senses, and she felt the overwhelming urge to dance in time with the alluring beat. Aphrodite, who knew her too well, chuckled throatily. "You will have your chance. I have the perfect partner for you."
They came to another stop behind a cluster of evergreen trees.
"Trying to match-make again?" Kore sighed heavily at Aphrodite. "I'll be in enough trouble as it is if my mother finds out-"
"She shan't find out. Don't be so spineless, Kore. Now look there!"
Kore followed her gesturing finger, and felt her eyes widen as she took in the spectacular sight ahead of them. Deities were gathered around a roaring fire, dressed in togas and gowns of fabulous hues. The smell of food, spice and ambrosia wine filled the warm night air. Gods and goddesses were playing various games and flirting with one another, laughing and having a wonderful time. She spied Selene, her eyes a pale winter grey, looking beautiful and demure in a silver gown. She looked uncomfortable with the attention she was receiving from an unfamiliar, dark-haired god. Younger deity children were skipping and prancing about, ribbons trailing after them. Kore felt a spark of anger. Her mother had claimed she was not yet old enough to join the celebrations, and yet there were children in attendance!
Wreaths upon wreaths of flowers adorned the area, some tied to posts with swathes of rich material. Satyrs carrying golden platters of food circled the vast area, whilst nymphs served ambrosia and were responsible for the enchanting music streaming through the air. Kore had never seen so many immortals gathered in one place.
"Oh," she whispered, as she caught wind of the whispers that were travelling through the air. Mortal prayers reached her ears, each one spoken so sincerely, exalting her name and that of her mother, giving thanks for spring and the bounty it brought. Her eyes watered; she hadn't realised that she was so loved by humans. Her mother always kept her firmly away from even her own temple out, of what she swore was protection.
"Shall we go closer?" Aphrodite smiled at the wistful look on her friend's face.
Kore spied the dais, far ahead, shining with light. She didn't want to risk her mother seeing her, and firmly shook her head, fighting against temptation.
"I shall be quite content to watch from here."
Aphrodite rolled her eyes. "You cannot expect me to leave you here alone," she censured, when her face suddenly brightened and she released an excited little squeal and grabbed hold of her friend's hand. "Oh! Oh, there he is! Look, Kore! Look there, next to Apollo! Do you see him?"
Kore's eyes darted between the faces, and finally caught sight of brilliant, handsome Apollo. He was dressed in a deep blue toga and was waving a wooden sword, sparring playfully with a grinning child deity. Even in the fire-tinged dark, he shone. Then Kore's gaze moved to the tall, cloaked youth who was watching Apollo's interaction with the little boy – and she felt the air leave her lungs.
His hair was silky, raven-black, falling in an unruly manner into a face that rivalled even Apollo's in its beauty. It reached the base of his neck in length, spiking erratically at the back. His features were finely sculpted, and almost haughty. He wore black like it was a second skin, and seemed to be moulded from the night itself. Even at the distance from which Kore stood she could glimpse the piercing intensity of the handsome stranger's dark eyes. A silver circlet glinted in his left ear as he raised the golden goblet in his left hand to proud lips. Kore's heart fluttered. Perhaps it was just the hypnotising melody – or perhaps Aphrodite's perfume had somehow displaced her senses; whatever was responsible for the sudden spell that had befallen her, Kore found that she could not tear her gaze away from the young god's arresting form.
"That," a gleeful Aphrodite, who had been carefully gauging her reaction, whispered, "is Hades."
Hades. Even his name was darkly alluring. Was this Apollo's mysterious companion, which Aphrodite had previously mentioned to her?
"Well?" Aphrodite nudged her in the side with a probing elbow. "What do you make of him?"
Her friend nervously wet her lips, and opened her mouth to offer a response – but her words caught in her throat as the handsome stranger's head suddenly shifted, as if sensing that he was being closely inspected. Kore was powerless to look away when, with frightening abruptness, searing onyx locked straight onto her, effectively impaling her in place.
Hades was staring directly at her.
Sakura's eyes fluttered open. The exotic music in the dream sequence seemed to linger, and for a horrible moment, she was disorientated and uncertain of exactly where and who she was. Foreign names whispered through her mind, and she almost grasped them, but they dissipated before she could recall what they had been. She blinked and found herself still seated by the armchair before the fireplace. Slowly, she released a breath, disturbed to feel her heart racing within her chest. It was the second vision she had received when asleep in the Underworld, and like the first, had felt so vivid, so very real – as if she were accessing somebody else's memories rather than dreaming. Which of course was utterly impossible. And even stranger was the fact that she could never remember the full details of what she had seen upon waking. She could recollect vague elements – like moonlight, trees, a great feast and celebration, someone's eyes on her… but little else.
Sakura's head throbbed. She needed a cool glass of water. Gingerly, she rose to her feet, and was overcome with an unexpected bout of vertigo, which almost caused her to topple over. She gasped and clutched back onto the armchair, wondering what was the matter with her all of a sudden. Had she eaten too much food? Or perhaps it had been the golden, honey-like beverage, of which Sasuke had firmly advised her not to drink too much. She counted sixty seconds and tried moving again. Thankfully, the spinning sensation cleared and she was able to leave her room without further trouble.
She paused as she reached the entrance hall. How long had she been slept? How many hours had it been since Sasuke had left her at the armoury? It frustrated her once again that she did not have a grasp of time and how much of it passed. Sasuke had informed her that the flow of time ran differently in the Underworld, but surely it still operated in some basic form? Would Chizu and Ume answer her if she questioned them about it?
Sakura didn't hold much hope of receiving any explanations from her attendants. Sasuke had likely forbidden them from revealing anything to her; the fact that they were always so reluctant to reveal information about the Underworld and its ruler only served to confirm her suspicions.
She deliberated what to do next as she entered the banqueting hall and poured herself a goblet of water. As she sipped the refreshing liquid down and felt the tension in her temples ease, Sakura told herself that there were still other parts of the palace she had yet to see. Did she want to carry on exploring alone? Or would she revisit the areas that required further inspection – such as the library and the art gallery? And even the objects she had spotted on the table in the majestic throne room – hadn't she wondered what they were too?
But none of those options appealed to her as much as investigating the area to the right of the passageway leading toward the inner courtyard – the place Sasuke had curtly deemed as being nothing of importance. She had always been hopelessly curious, and if it truly was nothing, as the stoic deity claimed, then Sakura reasoned that Sasuke would not mind her taking a closer look.
Her mind firmly made up, she exited the banqueting hall and took the door to the left of the central throne room, passing through the corridor and the bejewelled doors leading through to the stretching gallery, which she promised herself she'd dedicate time to later. She hurried to the doors at the end of the art hall and stepped into the white-marbled passageway, heading straight toward the arched opening on the right. It led to a small, square shaped area with a single, golden door bearing another uchiwa crest in its centre. Filigree swirls radiated from the circular fan, etched in contrasting silver. Sakura's heart picked up pace as she reached out to the doorknob, wondering what she would find on the other side – but it didn't budge.
Blinking, she tried twisting again, rattling the handle more forcefully, but it remained firmly in place. The door, Sakura realised with a sinking feeling of disappointment, was locked. Her curiosity amplified ten-fold, as she told herself there had to be something of significant interest beyond the solid barrier before her. What secrets rested therein? She glimpsed a keyhole and placed her hands on her hips. Surely there was a key somewhere. The question was, however, where, and who had it? If the key to unlocking the door was with Sasuke, then Sakura knew she might as well forget all about finding out what was on the other side.
But if Sasuke's servants had access to the room, then maybe, just maybe, she could… her thought broke off as she heard a door closing, causing her heart to jump in her chest. Sasuke? Was he back already? But no – the hurried footsteps she heard scuttling down the corridor did not match the Death God's steady, confident gait. Sakura quickly rushed out of the opening and came face to face with an unfamiliar, ashen-haired boy. He was dressed plainly in a black and white uniform that mirrored Ume and Chizu's simple clothing, and looked as though he were in desperate need of a meal. Large brown eyes widened as they came to rest upon her face, before averting respectfully away.
"Mistress!" he bowed low to her in greeting.
Sakura released the breath she had scarcely realised she'd been holding, and questioned, "Who are you?"
"Pip, Mistress; I work in the kitchens," the boy, who looked no older than sixteen at most, answered politely.
Sakura glanced back at the arched opening she had just evacuated, and gestured. "What is behind that door?"
Pip's eyes slid in the direction she was indicating. He shook his head. "Nobody but the Master has access to that door, Mistress."
Sakura folded her arms unhappily. "You don't have a key?"
Pip hunched his bony shoulders. "It is strictly off limits."
Sakura stared incredulously at him. She was now quite certain that a great treasure was contained within. "You mean nobody else has access? Not even to clean inside?"
The young boy hesitated. "There is a key but… it is forbidden that we enter."
Sakura pounced. "Please tell me where the key is!" she entreated in a hush.
"I'm sorry, Mistress," Pip apologised, bowing even lower. "I've said too much." Looking frightened, he stepped around her and scurried off. Sakura huffed, frustrated. She would just have to try and hunt for the key – or maybe she could ask Suigetsu about the secret door when she next communicated with him. Shrugging off her annoyance, she continued out to the expansive courtyard with the lone tree, and was surprised to find Ume standing before the tree.
"Ume?" she questioned, as she approached her younger attendant's tiny figure. A straw basket rested by the girl's feet, full of freshly pressed, neatly folded clothing. She turned her head and offered Sakura a smile.
"Isn't it beautiful, Mistress?"
Sakura's eyes rose to gaze appreciatively at the shimmering, milky boughs. "Yes," she agreed softly.
"Sometimes," Ume began shyly, quietly, "when I feel sad, I like to come here and look at the tree. I don't think the Master minds. At least," she added nervously, "I hope he does not."
Sakura exhaled. It was the first time that Ume had referred to her own emotions in her presence, and Sakura's interest was immediately snagged. "Why do you feel sad?" she asked gently.
Ume seemed to hesitate for a moment, before shaking her head. "Oh. Forgive me, Mistress; it is nothing." Before Sakura could protest against this, the girl added, "Are you searching for the Master? I saw him pass through here and head toward the stables."
With a quick curtsey, the little maid picked up the basket and hurried back inside the palace grounds. Sakura stared after her in confusion. She had so many questions, about the Underworld, about Sasuke – and about her attendants. They didn't seem like spirits. What was the nature of their tie to Sasuke? Had he promised them something in return for their servitude?
She sighed heavily. Trying to obtain answers was like searching for a needle in a haystack; impossible and utterly infuriating. She glanced left in the direction of the death deity's quarters and felt a nagging, curious desire to see what his room looked like, but she had absolutely no intention of prying when he was nearby. What would he make of her actions? Her heart fluttered at the mortifying thought of Sasuke walking in on her while she casually snooped around his personal quarters. She knew that she would have to wait for him to go off soul collecting before she could explore his part of the palace at her leisure.
Sakura only became aware of the direction her feet were carrying her when she passed over the long stone path that wound around to the stables. Her eyes distractedly trailed over the narcissus blooms as her sense of smell was once again overcome by sweetness. Eventually, she took the right turn that led to the dusty area Ume had indicated and halted, suddenly wondering why she had even chosen to find the Death God. He'd left her so awkwardly in the armoury before; what could she say to him following that?
Maybe I should try asking him about the time again, Sakura internally debated, but was pulled from her thoughts by the sound of metal clanging upon metal. It was coming from the direction of the forge. Sakura drifted slowly forward toward the stone hut. The wooden door was slightly ajar, providing a glimpse of the firelight housed within. As Sakura neared, she heard a loud hiss and the smell of coal and hot metal permeated through her nostrils. She pressed a hand lightly against the left wall of the hut, and peered through the opening, squinting against the heat that assaulted her skin. For a second, all she could see was a haze of smoke, which quickly cleared to reveal a tall, masculine figure, bent over a large anvil.
Sakura's breath hitched in her throat as the flames from the blasting stone furnace illuminated the strong lines of Sasuke's broad and markedly bare shoulders. He was naked above the waist, and the fire blazing beside him threw a flattering warm glow upon his complexion. Sakura's eyes trailed over the hard ridges of muscle in his back, watched in helpless fascination as they tensed and relaxed with every hammering stroke delivered to the steel blade which he was so expertly crafting.
Her heart was thundering explosively inside her. She felt the sensation of heat intensify in her face, tried desperately to convince herself that the furnace was entirely responsible – but in reality, Sakura knew she was only deluding herself. She was, after all, a teenager, and one whose cursed hormones had decided to awaken at the sight of the half-naked god of a man standing before her. She watched, transfixed, as Sasuke's skilful hands worked their art. He shifted, and Sakura's suddenly chapped lips parted as she glimpsed the profile of his well-defined chest.
Oh God, she thought senselessly. He had an athletic build and muscles in all the right places, the perfect places. And did the distinct edge of muscle she spied on his lean abdomen belong to the elusive six-pack that most boys her age had to slave away for months at a gymnasium to acquire? Sakura swallowed thickly, her gaze moving to admire his strong, smoothly muscled arms. Working in a hospital had meant that she was no stranger to shirtless men, but even the most physically active of her patients could not compete with the heavenly body that was on display before her. Coupled with his face, those sinfully beautiful, haughty features and intense dark eyes, it was a knock-out combination that Sakura was certain would break even the hardiest of female backbones.
I've got to stop staring, she told herself, but it was a half-hearted censure as she watched Sasuke pause in his craft and reach out to take a mouthful of water from the large goblet placed on a low, cloth covered table loaded with various instruments including tongs, metal discs and rods, and different sized and shaped hammers. Her gaze widened as it followed the path a naughty, stray droplet of water took as it trailed from his chin, down his sculpted chest, and Sakura found that she suddenly felt thirsty too. Which she considered odd, when she had only just taken a drink prior to finding Sasuke…
The death deity rolled his shoulders back, and Sakura breathlessly exhaled as he clenched and unclenched the hard muscles that lined his shoulder blades. Then, without warning, he stopped, his back to her – and abruptly turned his face to the left, as if sensing her presence. Sakura smothered a gasp and recoiled away from the door, as if burned, pressing her back against the outer wall of the forge, her heart racing fitfully. Stupid. How stupid was she to have just stood there! She was overcome with shame and guilt. She'd been standing, ogling a guy like the mindless, hormone-crazed teenager she'd always prided herself on not being. And not just any guy; a brooding, dangerous, and undeniably sexy Death God, who was probably going to kill her when he came to realise exactly what manner of thoughts had passed through her mind at the sight of him, so gloriously masculine and so completely shirtless-
Scorching fingers closed in a vice-like hold around her left wrist, yanking her away from the cool sanctuary of the wall and into the burning, stifling enclosure of the forge, with speed so blinding that it took Sakura's stunned mind a few seconds to catch up to what, exactly, had happened.
When she finally came to her senses, she realised that she was pressed up against the inner wall beside the open door, trapped from moving any further to her left by Sasuke's right arm, resting firmly by her head. Sakura's pulse palpitated as her gaze fell on the deliciously defined chest she had been admiring just moments earlier. It rose and fell steadily in time to Sasuke's calm and collected breathing – a stark contrast to the heaving of Sakura's own as she struggled to draw fresh air into her oxygen deprived lungs. She distantly registered that Sasuke was holding a slender dagger in his left hand – but she couldn't focus on it for long enough to be alarmed. She was far more terrified by the sight of smooth, slick, bare skin, only half her arm's length in distance away from her.
Sakura felt smothered and trapped between Sasuke's body in front of her and the warm wall behind her, and for a horrible moment, couldn't tear her eyes away from his impressive pectoral muscles. Then his voice came to her, and Sakura was certain that her cheeks were even more aflame than the furnace blazing over his left shoulder.
"What is the matter, Sakura…?" his words, uttered in a wickedly sensuous murmur, succeeded in drawing her attention to his face. Her lips moved in an attempt to formulate a coherent response, but to Sakura's mounting horror, all her pathetic, deplorable vocal chords could manage was a high-pitched, questioning hum.
"Hmm?"
Oh, hell no! Her inner voice yelled at her. Just ask him to kill you right now. Go on! End your despicable life! Because you know, there's no way you'll ever live this down!
Sakura's breath arrested once again as Sasuke tilted his head and angled it toward her, bringing his face to within inches of hers. Panic ran rampant within her, rooting her to the spot. She was frozen in place, pressing desperately back against the wall as if in an attempt to meld into it, her frightened, doe-eyed gaze fixing onto his wilful lips, as he exhaled, "I asked you… what's wrong?"
Flustered, she once again floundered for words. After several fruitless attempts at speaking, and when Sasuke didn't move his face away, she finally managed to croak stupidly, "H-hot."
The death deity raised a dark, questioning eyebrow in response, and a mortified Sakura realised too late precisely what she had said, and hastily amended, "I-I mean it's… it's hot in here. Very… very…" her eyes darted involuntarily to his lips again - lips that she was quite certain were fighting to suppress a knowing smirk, before gulping nonsensically, "I-I'll go."
But her body remained pinned in place by the burning severity of his gaze. She could hear the air escaping her mouth in short, rapid bursts, and knew that Sasuke could hear it too. She had never felt so embarrassed in her life, and genuinely wished that she could wither out of existence at that moment. In response, Sasuke lifted his left hand, and tilted her chin up with the sharp edge of the dagger in his grasp. Sakura's eyes rose to meet fathomless onyx, regarding her down the barrel of an aristocratic nose.
"When your blade is complete," Sasuke stated, "we spar."
Sakura's sluggish brain took a moment to acknowledge the meaning of his words, and when it finally did, she began to shake her head in incredulous disbelief. The sword resting on the anvil was for her…? Suddenly, she didn't care about Suigetsu's plan, or even her desperation to escape the Underworld. All she could think about was the need to get away from Sasuke at that very moment – to race back to her room, and lock herself in it for the remainder of her duration in his realm. Because the way her heart was galloping so uncontrollably within her shook Sakura to the core, disturbed and unsettled her beyond anything else.
The pointed end of the sword pressed more firmly against the tender skin on the underside of her chin, as the death deity warned dangerously, "That was no request, Sakura."
She recognised an order when she heard one, and decided not to push her luck any further. The heated intensity in which Sasuke was regarding her caused alarmed tremors to flutter through her veins. Those eyes. They were stealing away her ability to think rationally. She had to get out and away from him. Now. Swallowing, she finally directed a furious, screaming command at her treacherous limbs to move. At long last, and far too late to save face, her body kicked into gear. She slipped to the right, stumbled clumsily around him, and practically dashed out of the forge, and back down the path leading to the safety of the palace's interior.
Sasuke slowly lowered the dagger in his hand. He'd glimpsed the searing heat in her cheeks, heard her struggled attempts at drawing breath, and finally allowed the dark, smugly amused smirk that he'd kept carefully repressed in the girl's presence to grace his lips.
He had Sakura precisely where he wanted her.
Author's note
Cough. Is it hot in here or is it just me? My mouth was actually watering as I wrote the shirtless Sasuke scene. So I left it and got some water. Ahahaha. Oh dear lord. I hope you're all still conscious as you read this xD Anyway, hope you enjoyed that treat of a scene and the rest of the chapter. Quite an eventful one and over eleven thousand words to boot. Whoo! Poor Sakura. This is where she starts to really grasp just how sexy that darkly brooding death god is.
What's the paradox of all this? Sasuke thinks Sakura is where he wants her to be – but he's played right into Suigetsu's plans too. Bwaha! xD The drama!
I wonder why Chizu stopped Sakura from eating those seeds. Maybe she's trying to help, in her own way? ;) And anybody notice at what times Sakura is getting these dreams? They aren't random!
So, you can all make me really, REALLY happy by reviewing and letting me know how you liked shirtless Sasuke. Because that was seriously fan-service from me to you. Please do review. Especially you silent readers. I now have nearly 600 faves for this story and the more I get, and the more silent readers there are, the more disheartened I feel :( seriously. So for the love of SHIRTLESS Sasuke, leave some feedback. It takes what, two minutes of your time? If you have time to read a ten thousand plus chapter, then you can spare an extra two minutes to leave a comment. Don't make me disable favourite author/story alerts, because getting, for example fifteen reviews in one bunch of which thirteen of them are faves and no following reviews is just annoying. So please leave me feedback. Shirtless Sasuke will love you too, you know.
Until next update, people!