A massive thank you to everybody who reviewed, and a big welcome to new readers! I hope you'll continue to enjoy what this story has to offer.
Important note: Please make absolutely sure you listen to the tracks listed under chapter 24 under music list on my profile, at the start of the part where 1) Sasuke's chariot begins moving 2) the moment the lights start illuminating the forest and 3) when they reach the jewelled cave. Load these prior to starting the chapter so you don't get interrupted, and hit play when you get to the correct parts. It will really build up the mood and help you imagine everything through Sakura's eyes. Please don't miss out on them.
Please also visit the group page on deviantart. Some truly breath-taking pieces of artwork have been uploaded since the last update, from Reynaile, SaltyMama, trenamyx, mitsuki0tennyo, Pandalectra, inshayne, Brittany001, NijiNoko, ariadnia and adinavo; make sure you check them all out in the Featured gallery. A big thank you once again to all artists who continue to contribute; you really help to bring this story visually to life!
Now some selected reviewer responses covering frequently asked questions:
Feng Han, I'm not familiar with Neil Gaiman's American Gods, other reviewers have noted this before so the likeness is entirely coincidental. There will be tension between Sakura and Tsunade in future. Thank you so much again for your glorious portraits of Sasuke and Sakura in their mythological roles!
Malchior, thank you for your lovely review! I don't mind if you choose to leave feedback every chapter or every few. It's kind of you to take time to leave any to begin with.
XSilentxAngelX, thank you for reviewing. To clear up any confusion, Sasuke has Inoichi in a comatose state, imprisoned underground in a location known only to him. He is not dead.
ImmaPiratte,Sakura will be getting mad in future! Look forward to it!
Guest who asked which goddess Ino is, please refer to chapter 1 of the Appendices.
Meantimegirl: 1) Regarding Sakura and Sasuke, that is classified plot spoiler information. I can't answer it yet, time will reveal all. 2) This chapter addresses the state of the oceans. 3) I really appreciate your opinion; please rest assured that when the pieces fall in place the other gods will have their time to shine. Thanks for reviewing!
Hulkishpower, Sakura asked what humans originated from, and the very first humans were made of clay, hence Sasuke's answer ;)
theburgerninja, Please don't print this just yet if you can help it. It will be edited and polished at the end, so if you can wait until everything is wrapped up, please do. It's flattering you'd want it signed, but I couldn't do that anyway, as Sasuke and Sakura are Kishimoto's and there are messy copyright issues. If I were to rename the characters and rework the plot, that is when I can sign for absolute ownership.
Mistress DragonFlame, wee1bee, to clear up confusion about Sakura eating food in the Underworld, as she is mortal, she must eat, so she CAN willingly eat normal food and be unaffected. It is the pomegranate alone which she has to eat from Sasuke's hand that has the power to bind her permanently, depending on the amount of seeds she eats. Yes, it is a twist of the original myth, but I am changing aspects to suit my own retelling. I felt this decision to allow her to eat normal food would make the symbolism of the pomegranate more powerful. Hope this helps.
thesweetnessofdreams622, it is late March in the story right now, less than a week away from Sakura's 19th birthday.
too addicted to fiction, please read my profile note regarding Something Tangible's status.
Guest who asked about update schedules; I used to update every week/ten days at the start, then twice a month, now once on average. It depends on how much free time I have. I could update more than once but chapter lengths would be compromised.
Helen delia, I can't answer most of your questions, I'm afraid, as they are plot spoilers! Thank you for all your reviews, though, I really appreciate them.
And finally… many reviewers have asked me how I came up with the idea for this story. It's quite simple. Hades and Persephone is my favourite Greek myth, and SasuSaku is my favourite Naruto pairing. It suddenly hit me one day while I was reading a retelling of the story; I thought to myself, Sakura IS like spring, and Sasuke IS dark and tortured. I wrote the prologue as a tester, as I wasn't certain of the response an AU fic would get. I had no idea it would get such a massive, positive one, and I never dreamed of so many reviews and an entire gallery's worth of artwork! Thank you so much everybody for your support.
This is a very description heavy chapter, but it's necessary to build a picture of the splendours of the Underworld, so bear with me!
Chapter XXIV
Within the shades lie treasures untold,
Slumbering deep in the Underworld's hold,
Jewels that glisten as crystal rain,
They seek to enchant her eyes again,
Beguiled, enticed, she begins to yearn,
For that which she has yet to learn.
Sasuke disregarded the desperate pleas of the mournful souls that littered the far side of Acheron's banks. They called to him, wailing and begging for his pardon, for permission to board the ferryman's vessel. But there was no hope for those who could not procure payment for transportation across the river. They were bound to wander the shore for one hundred years; there were no exceptions, apart from young children on the few occasions when the death deity was in an uncharacteristically lenient mood. At that moment, however, he was decidedly not. His mind was fully engaged by Sakura, and the wish she had expressed to view more of the Underworld.
His initial reaction had been one of guarded mistrust, but had quickly given way to uncertainty when he had seen that her desire to know more of his realm had appeared to be genuine.
Sasuke patrolled along the river Styx's northern borders, his eyes carefully keeping sentry that everything was in order as his thoughts continued to unwind. He had always intended to show Sakura the beauty of his kingdom. But he had prepared himself for further resistance and rejection on her part first. Her request had admittedly caught him by surprise. And yet… a part of him was eager to show her more, to watch her every reaction. He wondered whether her opinion of his realm, of being trapped in it, would change if she understood more of it.
But hesitancy plagued him. How much did he really want her to understand? How much did he want to reveal to her, explain to her, how much was she ready and worthy to see? The more she glimpsed, the more she would inevitably come to comprehend about who he was in turn. He swallowed. He needed to be careful. There were places he would not permit her to visit – not yet, not until he was certain that he truly wanted her to see all the secret and sacred locations in the Underworld. She wasn't ready until he looked into her eyes and saw no more remnants of yearning to return to the surface she had left behind. When she looked at him like that… if she did, then, Sasuke silently reasoned, she would be prepared for everything his kingdom – and its ruler - had to offer.
That would require time, more than he likely had left – unless he could entice Sakura to accept the food of the dead from his hand, thus making it impossible for her mother and friends to retrieve her from him. And to do that, at least some small semblance of rapport had to be established between them – he had to grant her something, to encourage her to lower her guard in his presence. He clenched his jaw, unhappy with the need to compromise, but his decision made nonetheless. He would grant his prisoner her wish – but he would be selective with how much he showed to her and what he told her. She would have no map, no knowledge of how to exit his domain. He would show her places in isolation, so that she struggled to connect one location to the other.
One corner of the Death God's lips twitched to form the ghost of a smirk. He already had a few locations in mind that he knew would hopelessly entrance Sakura. She was convinced that the Underworld contained only death – but she would soon realise that it also housed many different forms of life.
His expression walled off completely as he followed the path he had taken and came to a stop before a familiar rock-face.
"Here for a friendly chat?" Suigetsu intoned acidly from his position, sitting crossed legged on the dusty floor of his cell. "You're such a thoughtful god, Sasuke."
Sasuke stared aloofly down at him, but did not deign to respond.
When the silence dragged on, Suigetsu glowered. "Excuse the pun, but what the hell do you want? If you're just gonna stand there with a stick up your ass, you can piss right off."
"Why do they shelter her?"
The Ocean God blinked, surprised by the bluntness of the question. "Huh?"
"Sakura," Sasuke prompted pointedly.
Suigetsu folded his arms and tilted his head back, his scowl morphing into a mocking smirk. "Why don't you ask Tsunade about that? I'm sure she'd love to indulge you with answers – right after she breaks every bone in your body."
Sasuke glared coldly at him. "You underestimate me."
Suigetsu's lavender eyes glinted at that. "You overestimate yourself; you're still as cocky as ever. Don't think for a second that just because I'm cooped up in here, you have the advantage. Have you seen the state of the oceans lately? I bet they're drawing a lot of attention, don't you?"
When the death deity did not respond, Suigetsu sneered, "How do you plan to clear up that little problem, huh? They've definitely noticed it. You think they aren't asking questions about my absence? If you have any functioning brain cells in that big head of yours, you'd let me out right now."
Once again he was caught off guard as a haughty smirk plastered itself on Sasuke's face. Suigetsu wanted nothing more than to erase it – permanently.
"They've noticed," the Death God answered cryptically. Suigetsu stared back at him in confusion – before understanding slowly dawned on him.
"You- what kind of shit are you stirring up on the surface?"
Sasuke disregarded his question and pressed for an answer to his own. "Why do they shield a mortal?"
"How the hell do I know?" the Ocean God snapped back, scowling in frustration. "Why are you so hell bent on keeping a human here? What do you plan to do with this Sakura, huh?"
Sasuke stepped back, his attention already shifting as he came to realise that Suigetsu did not possess any additional facts than he did with regards to why Tsunade guarded Sakura so fiercely.
The water deity was on his feet in an instant. "You wouldn't go through all this trouble to keep her if you were just after a fuck or two. Since when have you ever looked twice at a woman, anyway? What's the deal here, Sasuke?"
His words were left hanging in the air as the Death God responded by flickering silently out of sight.
Ino bit absent-mindedly into a luxury white chocolate bar as she stared anxiously out of her bedroom window. She was certain that she had piled on the pounds since Sakura's disappearance. All fad diets had been forgotten and replaced by serious comfort eating. She told herself that she couldn't possibly worry about her figure when her best friend was missing.
It was not a commonly known fact that Ino's vanity came second only to those she held dearest in her heart.
The powerful, thrumming sound of a sport car's engine rolling up to the Yamanaka residence's front gates caused her to bolt out of her bedroom, skid along the polished wooden hallway, and down the sprawling staircase. She raced to the front door and threw it open, just as Naruto parked up in the front driveway.
"That's it!" Ino exclaimed crossly. "That's the last time you go off without me! Do you even know what all this waiting around is doing to my heart?"
"No worse than what you've done to other poor hearts in the past, I'm sure," Jiraiya assured her blithely in greeting, patting the young woman's head lightly as he invited himself into her house. She pouted sulkily at him in response, before turning her attention to Naruto and Shikamaru as they followed him inside.
"Did you guys get hold of my dad? I've been trying to call him all morning."
Shikamaru shook his head as she closed the front door after him. "I've left several voice messages. You haven't heard anything?"
"No," Ino led them to the bright and airy second reception room. "Isn't that totally weird? It's not like him not to answer!"
"Where did you say he was headed?" Jiraiya queried, as he took a seat in a cream-coloured leather settee.
"To the mountain ranges; that's one of the places he thought you'd be," Ino answered.
Naruto snorted at that. "Yeah right," he muttered. "You know we found this old pervert right in front of-"
"There might be some interference in that region," Shikamaru interjected. "What time did you say Inoichi set out last night?"
"Late," Ino said. "Just after ten- Naruto!" she exclaimed as the blond reached out automatically for a delectable cream scone sitting prettily on the coffee table. "At least get a napkin; you'll get icing everywhere!"
Naruto simply shrugged and popped the scone in his mouth, leaving Ino gawking at how he managed to fit it all in at once.
"Mmm- s'real good," Naruto complimented. Ino wrinkled her nose in genteel disgust at his lack of table manners, before turning her attention back to the others.
"It's been over twelve hours," Shikamaru frowned. "He definitely would have reached the area by now, and he should have called back. Unless his battery's flat…"
"Inoichi always takes appropriate precautions," Jiraiya stated pointedly, and inspired by Naruto, helped himself to a scone in turn.
"You know," Naruto swallowed down his treat, "this wouldn't have even happened if you'd just gotten a damn cell phone."
Jiraiya waved a hand dismissively at that. But Ino was oblivious to their exchange. She met Shikamaru's gaze worriedly, the knot of dread that had been forming progressively in her stomach tightening.
"Shikamaru…"
He read her unspoken concern and flipped his cell up to his ear in response. "Let's check with Kakashi and the others."
The smell of damp rock pervaded through the cool air. Sasuke inhaled, picking up the unmistakable essence of brewing herbs – fused with the scent of something else wholly mystical. It was a potent smell that had the power to make mortals light-headed at the slightest sniff. Only those who could withstand the intoxicating aroma were worthy of an audience with the entity that resided inside the cave Sasuke was traversing.
The roof of the winding, narrow path he was treading was littered with jagged stalactites. They glowed with an eerie, luminous light that shifted hypnotically from red to pink, then purple to blue. At the entity's command they could fracture and impale any foolish enough to trespass uninvited.
As he walked deeper into the cave, the smell of fermenting herbs became stronger, more overpowering. Immune to its effects, Sasuke followed the right turn that led him to the entrance of the structure's heart, hidden from his gaze by a curtain of unnaturally-sustained willow leaves. Sasuke pushed the heavy barrier aside and stepped into the small area, his eyes taking in the warmth of the fire that flickered steadily in an open, stone hearth. Over it was suspended a grey cauldron, steaming with bubbling, brewing liquid. Another smaller fireplace burned to his far right, fuelled by sticks of splintering wood.
Wooden bowls, glass bottles, and jars of peculiar shapes and varying sizes littered the space, stacked messily atop each other against a section of the circular, rocky wall. Next to them was a pile of dusty, ancient, leather-bound books that looked like they had not been open in centuries. One of the rock faces leaked fresh water, which trickled to form a small pool to Sasuke's left. It was an unexpected sight – but it was one of the limited places in the Underworld that contained pure, drinking water.
A large, open birdcage housing a grown, tawny owl hung from a chain attached to the low ceiling. Odd charms and trinkets were also suspended from the roof by pieces of string. A low, cracked stone fountain that ran dry held a large, black spherical orb in its shallow bowl. Several wooden, hand carved puppets were strewn on the dusty ground, close to a straw mattress with a worn blanket laid by the wall, upon which slept a long limbed, scrawny grey dog. Beside it was a small clay pot with a dead flower. Sasuke found his eyes lingering on it.
"My, my," a hoarse, croaky voice spoke out from Sasuke's right. "It has been a while since I've been visited by such a handsome young god…"
The death deity turned his head to regard the heavily cloaked figure hunched in a low wooden seat by the smaller fire. The light from the flickering, twin torches attached to the rocky walls directly above her plunged her lowered features into shadow. In her right hand she held a long, knobbly stick, to the top of which were attached a ring of rusted keys and three small, faded wooden masks.
"But I know the reason for your coming," the voice continued. After a brief pause, she stated, "The girl does not belong amongst the dead. It is forbidden to keep her here."
Sasuke tensed. Of course she knew about everything that came to pass in his realm. She possessed powers that were more ancient than his, powers that allowed her a great measure of influence over earth, sea and sky. She was Chiyo, the goddess of the Crossroads, and nothing stirred or breathed without her knowledge.
"Stay out of my affairs, old crone," he warned icily.
After another tense pause, Chiyo's head slowly lifted, revealing an aged, fatigued face worn with heavy lines, each crease whispering its own story. They crinkled deeply as the old woman offered the Death God a smile that did not quite reach her dark eyes.
"Ah…" her tone was raspy, unhurried. "But you are mistaken, young Sasuke, for this is also my concern. You see, Lady Tsunade has been entreating quite persistently for my aid…"
Immediately, Sasuke's gaze flashed to ominous crimson. "Do not test me, hag."
Chiyo cackled in amusement, a dry, hacking sound that rattled her lungs. "Ohohohoho! Your secret is safe because I choose not to disclose it – not because of your impertinent threats! I do not fear you, little King. It is you who is afraid of your secret being known."
Sasuke's hands curled to form tight, angry fists. "I fear nothing," he snapped.
"Except," the crone continued thoughtfully, "losing the girl, perhaps...?" Before Sasuke could deny it and snarl at her to be silent, she continued to muse, "Sakura… such a pretty, ripe flower. How heartless of you, to pluck her from her mother and her friends, to steal her away to the shades of the Underworld. And her sweetheart; I wonder what has become of the poor fellow in his despair…?"
The very thought of another man, mortal or otherwise, touching Sakura and whispering sweet, false nothings into her ears was enough to simmer the blood in the death deity's veins.
"Hn," Sasuke averted his gaze dismissively. "There is no other," he stated frostily, the sharp, contemptuous edge to his words betraying more than he realised.
"Such a beauty, without a champion?" Chiyo echoed thoughtfully, her voice laced with mild surprised. "Or perhaps, it is that you will not allow there to be one? Perhaps in this regard, you are not much different from her mother?"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed in response. He remained silent.
The old woman rose slowly to her feet and hobbled forward until she reached the boiling cauldron. "The noose is tightening; they come ever closer to her discovery. It is still not too late to erase her memory of you, and return her safely to the surface-"
"No," Sasuke cut in. His answer was flat, resolute, leaving absolutely no room for negotiations of any kind.
The old woman sighed heavily. "Your desire for this girl clouds your vision, young King. You must consider, carefully, the outcome you intend for her. But be warned; an untimely death for this child will beget consequences beyond your foresight."
There it was again – the insinuation that there was more to Sakura than what was apparent. Uncertainty whispered through Sasuke's mind, a feeling that he wholly resented. Doubts were weaknesses – he could not allow them to fester inside his head.
"You know of her." His pulse had picked up pace at the realisation. He wanted, more than anything, to scour the old crone's mind until he obtained every last droplet of information pertaining to his captive – even when he knew he could not do so. Even trying such a thing would be a grave and foolish mistake.
"Many mysteries exist in this world, Sasuke," Chiyo replied cryptically. "Sometimes, as immortals, it is our duty to safeguard them."
The Death God stared at her. Was she implying that Sakura was a mystery that needed protection? But why? Her blood was mortal – there was nothing extraordinary about her, asides from the purity of her soul.
Frustrated, he hissed, "You test me. Tell me what you know."
The crone chuckled at that. "Ever so impatient. It is not the knowledge that I possess that will influence the threads of the Fates. It is what you perceive and understand – and how willing you are to listen."
Listen? Listen to whom, or what? Sasuke's irritation spiked at her nonsensical riddles, but before he could say any more, Chiyo produced three spheres in her left hand with an effortless flourish of her wrist.
As he accepted them, Sasuke found himself staring down at crystal orbs that housed what appeared to be peaceful, jewel blue oceans.
The death deity's eyes widened in recognition. "These are…" he began.
"These spheres will calm the tempestuous seas – for a time," croaked Chiyo.
Sasuke regarded her suspiciously. Hadn't she just told him that Sakura did not belong in his realm? That keeping her was forbidden? Why was she gifting him items that would buy him even more time with the girl?
"Why are you helping me?" he demanded.
"Eheeheeheehee!" The old woman cackled. "Do not misconstrue me, little King! I do not do this for you! Imprisoning another god is a sign of your arrogance. You will come to regret it, if you do not tread carefully."
Was it a trap? Sasuke could not fathom being given the spheres, when he knew that Suigetsu and Chiyo were friends, and had often journeyed through the seas together in the past. He had come to her to seek a solution to the unrest that plagued the surface's oceans – and had come expecting to pay a price. He had not expected such instant cooperation, and the fact he had received it made him all the more mistrustful. There surely had to be a catch.
Reading his thoughts, the old woman cooed patronisingly, "If I wanted to trick you, Sasuke, I would not have invited you here to do so!"
There was a strange brightness in her keen eyes that was almost enough to make Sasuke hesitate, and fling the orbs into the cauldron. Almost. But although it displeased him that the crone had effortlessly read the reasons behind his decision to pay her a visit, Sasuke was also unsurprised. Chiyo always saw more than other gods and goddesses. He wondered just how far ahead into the future she had looked – and whether that had influenced her decision to hand him the spheres.
"The crossroads have never shown me such paths," Chiyo added, smiling crooked teeth at him. "This should be most amusing to watch, oh yes. Eheeheeheehee!"
Sasuke stared stonily at her for a long moment, before stepping back, giving her a perfunctory nod and exiting the cavern. The sound of her following laughter reverberated in his head, and his thoughts were even more troubled than they had been when he had first arrived. He decided to dwell on the finer details of his interaction with the old hag later. He could not afford to waste any further time.
When he next alighted, he was standing on a white cliff top, overlooking a large stretch of sea. The smell of salty water assaulted his nose, and he scowled down at the stormy waves that crashed angrily into the rock face beneath him, at a much higher level than was normal. Such was their force that they created strong gusts of air, tossing raven strands of hair into Sasuke's face.
He was no fool. He knew that he could not afford to keep Suigetsu prisoner indefinitely. The oceans called for their ruler, the same way the shades of the dead called to him. He glanced down at the sphere in his grasp. It was a stability orb, one that contained traces of the sea deity's essence, and had the power to calm the seas when dissolved in water – for a limited time, at least. For precisely how long, Sasuke could not tell. He supposed he would soon find out.
Without sparing another thought, the Death God tossed the sphere into the tempestuous ocean.
Sakura sighed as she stepped out of the bathtub, feeling thoroughly invigorated. She padded over to the compartments containing neatly folded, fluffy white towels and drew a large one out, wrapping it around her naked form. Then she picked up a fine hair comb, stood before the opulent central mirror and began absent-mindedly untangling her damp tresses. When had she finished, she rubbed herself dry and massaged generous dollops of body oil into her skin. Her beauty ritual complete, Sakura slipped into her golden-hued, black laced underwear, tossed the towel into the straw laundry basket by the foot of the door, and threw a delicate silk robe over her body, not bothering to secure the belt as she stepped out of the bathroom. She'd just put on whichever dress her eyes first happened to fall upon, and then she would go and find-
Her heart jumped into her throat and heat seared through her cheeks as her eyes found an unexpected figure standing by the fireplace in her bedroom. She froze stupidly, momentarily shocked, inappropriately noting that he had changed clothes again and was clad in flattering grey hues – and only snapped out of her motionless state when Sasuke's wide dark eyes trailed down, promptly reminding her that her robe was open, and her lacy undergarments visible to him. Releasing a horrified gasp, Sakura yanked the robe to swiftly conceal her assets, and took refuge behind one of her bed's four posts, feeling as if she could die of mortification.
A part of her really wished she would at that moment.
Her face ablaze with a ferocious blush, she sputtered, "S-Sasuke! You- you can't just-! You should have knocked!"
Her distress only escalated when Sasuke did not immediately respond. He was momentarily hindered by the inability to remove the image of her slender, alluring body from his mind – and rendered speechless by the intensity of his own body's reaction to the sight. The immediacy in which his pulse had quickened both disconcerted and angered him. His fingers closed to form tight fists as he battled back the storm of long-brewing lust that had broken over him the moment he had laid eyes on Sakura.
"Hn," he finally managed to dismiss contemptuously. Knocking to herald arrival was a mortal custom – he had no need to announce his presence in his own palace, and he certainly did not need to be taught any manner of etiquette from a human. Feeling the urgent need to depart the room before he did something they would likely both regret, the Death God uttered stiffly, "Dress. Then meet me by the stables."
Sakura opened her mouth to reply, but the sound of the doors opening and closing signalled his hasty exit. She remained in place for a long time, clutching onto the wooden post, trying desperately to regulate the chaotic galloping of her heartbeat.
Alastor snorted, lowering his great head to his master's open palm. Sasuke smirked as Aethon clamoured for his attention in turn, jostling Alastor's head aside and eagerly extending his own. Behind the two horses, Nyctaeus and Orphnaeus stood stationary and silent, deeming themselves too proud to revel in their owner's rare display of affection.
The death deity's gaze travelled slowly over his loyal steeds as he awaited Sakura's arrival. They were magnificent creatures, as black as the night and as swift as the wind. They were prized possessions borne of darkness itself.
The sound of light footsteps approached behind him, and he lightly exhaled as Sakura's bright, warm aura flooded the immediate area around him. The memory of glimpsing her undergarments beneath an open robe flashed through his mind, briefly taunting him and unpleasantly accelerating his pulse rate – but he promptly crushed it out of his immediate thoughts and turned, telepathically commanding the front two horses to behave. They instantly complied, standing at majestic and solemn attention.
Sakura was glad that the nearby flames from the torchlights were helping to disguise the pink stain that assailed her cheeks. She heatedly told herself that their unfortunate encounter in her room was not a big deal. Her robe had only been open for a split-second, and Sasuke had clearly already forgotten all about it. Sasuke was a god. It didn't mean anything. Then she was diverted from her embarrassing recollections when she noticed the chariot.
Sasuke read the immediate recognition in her eyes and the fleeting flash of sadness which she was quick to mask. She remembered the horses and the gold adorned black chariot, was doubtlessly thrown back to the last time she had looked upon them – the evening of her abduction. He could tell she was uncomfortable from the way she briefly refused to meet his gaze – and the way she folded her arms defensively across her chest.
He took the chance to look her over. She was dressed in a flowing, gold stitched, pale green gown that matched her eyes, over which she had wisely donned a deeper green cloak. Two thin sections of her hair had been braided at the side, secured at the back of her head by a golden clasp. She smelled of flowers and sweetness. Sasuke was keen to take her onto his chariot and close his arms around her.
"Those horses are really something," she complimented awkwardly, unfolding her arms and proceeding to fidget nervously with the slender, pleated gold belt that was wound around her midriff. She kept darting anxious looks at the crimson eyed steeds, as if expecting them to lunge at her at any moment.
"Alastor, Aethon, Nyctaeus, Orphnaeus," Sasuke introduced, indicating each beast. "The dread steeds of the Underworld."
"How can you tell them apart?" Sakura questioned, deciding to keep her distance. Their names were quite a mouthful, and they looked almost identical.
"They are not the same," the Death God replied. Then, glancing pointedly at where Sakura hung back, he stated, "They will not harm you."
She swallowed uncertainly. She loved animals, and horses were amongst her favourites. But the memory of blazing red eyes and rumbling hooves simply refused to budge from her head. These were the very same horses that had carried her away from her home, her friends, and her mother. Sakura internally argued that she had every reason to feel apprehensive around them.
But experience had begun to teach her that there was only one way to conquer fear – and that was by not rejecting and running away from it. So she stepped tentatively forward, keeping close to Sasuke, just in case. Hesitantly, she reached out to one of the two front horses – had Sasuke said his name was Aethon? She was rewarded for her bravery by a snort of warm smoke as the horse jutted his head abruptly forward. She yelped and leapt away, seeking sanctuary behind Sasuke's back.
"Alastor," Sasuke reprimanded quietly, stroking down the horse's brow. Sakura watched, astonished by the unexpected tenderness of the action, and how the steed leant into Sasuke's touch. Before she could dwell on the fact that Sasuke seemed to possess positive emotions - with pets, at least - the Death God gestured, "Come."
"Where are we going?" she asked curiously, keeping a close eye on the glaring horses as she followed Sasuke to the chariot's mounting step. She climbed into the carriage, marvelling at how spacious it was, how rich in sheen the solid gold swirls that decorated its body were. Sasuke stepped in after her, his arms closing around her sides as he took the thick black and gold reins in his hands. He was close, close enough for her to feel the warmth of his breath stirring the hair on top of her head. She stiffened and suddenly thought it had been a bad idea to get in, when he suddenly inclined even closer.
"Patience," Sasuke murmured into her left ear, tugging once on the reins – and that was the only warning she got before the horses bolted forward, with speed and power that caused the next breath to arrest in Sakura's lungs. The force of their motion knocked her back against Sasuke. She ground her teeth as the air whistled past them. The dark landscape around them was disappearing in a shadowy blur, far too fast for her eyes to even hope to follow. She gripped tightly onto the front of the carriage, wondered how the horses were able to draw such a heavy looking metal chariot as if it weighed little more than a feather.
Sasuke steered right, and the horses smoothly followed his command. But the sheer pace and momentum at which they were moving made Sakura's eyes water and caused nausea to prance all over her stomach.
"Sasuke!" she gasped over the howling of the air and the pounding of iron hooves. "You're going way too fa-aaahhh!" she screamed as the chariot jerked upward and seemed to take off from the ground completely. Which, of course, was utterly impossible - or so she thought - until she dared to stick her neck out over the edge of the carriage to discover that the horses' hooves were, quite literally, on fire, and they were, indeed, levitating a little above the ground.
I'm going to be sick, Sakura told herself, holding on for dear life, which she thought was somewhat ironic and a little pointless, given that Death's arms encircled her. Mother! I'm going to be sick!
Sasuke smirked at her reaction. She had frozen in terror, which was to be expected. His steeds reached speeds that were unsurpassed in the mortal realm, and even in the league of deities, they were amongst the fastest in creation. They were also imbued with the divine ability to soar above ground in the Underworld.
Taking advantage of their proximity, and the fact that Sakura had nowhere else to move to avoid him, he leaned in close, and breathed again into her ear, "Enjoying this, Sakura?"
"N-no!" she wailed back, squeezing her eyes shut. "Please slow down! I feel sick! Sasuke!" But her stomach turned in on itself when Sasuke, with a short, deviously amused chuckle, guided the horses left, throwing her back against him again. Her eyes flew open and her fitfully racing heart leapt. Had the death deity just laughed? Surely she had just imagined it? There was no conceivable way that Sasuke could actually do such a thing, no way was he physically capable of it.
Wasn't he?
Shapeless colours streaked through the darkness, but it was impossible to make out what they were. She thought she heard the flapping of wings, but it was difficult to discern any noise clearly above the thunderous galloping of horse hooves. The air seemed cooler, more fragrant, but again, Sakura wasn't certain whether or not she was imagining any changes around her. She swallowed, closing her eyes once more as she willed the journey to be over. With her eyes closed, she was more attuned to the sensation of movement, how it felt to ride in the King of the Underworld's chariot…
Something flashed across her mind's eye. A fleeting, golden vision that was gone before she could tangibly grasp it. She opened her eyes again, thrown momentarily by an odd and inexplicable feeling of déjà vu, which rapidly diminished as Sasuke's steeds descended smoothly and came to a rolling stop before a large cluster of trees, the fire in their hooves extinguishing.
Sakura exhaled, relieved that she had landed in one piece. She was too disorientated to resist when Sasuke's hands slid down to her hips and lifted her off the chariot, setting her safely on the ground. When his hands lingered snugly in place as if they belonged there, she felt heat creep into her face. Quickly, she stepped away, drawing in deep gulps of air. Slowly, the nausea began to subside.
"That was…" she managed, at a loss to find the correct word that could accurately describe the unworldly experience of riding in a hellish chariot with horses whose hooves erupted flame. "That was crazy. You've got some real road rage."
Her attempt to half-heartedly joke sailed cleanly over Sasuke's head. He simply stared blankly back at her, as if the expression did not exist in his vocabulary - which Sakura quickly realised it didn't. Clearing her throat, she turned to regard the trees. Sasuke had brought them to the edge of a dark forest. A thin blanket of mist hung beyond the opening through the entanglement of boughs just ahead of them. Sakura felt a flutter of uncertainty. Did she really want to go in there – and with Sasuke, no less?
You asked him to show you around, she told herself. That's what he's doing. He didn't have to bother, but he is. Doesn't that mean something? Maybe you should try trusting him just a tiny bit more.
That was easier said than done, but she followed the death deity into the forest regardless. He lifted his right hand, and Sakura watched in amazement as a small ball of fire blazed into existence in his palm, providing enough illumination for her to just about discern the path they were treading.
"What is this place?" she asked, feeling an instinctive need to be as quiet as possible as she strained to peer over Sasuke's broad shoulders. The vapour clinging to the air around them was moist and cool, and the atmosphere smelled fragrantly of flowers that Sakura could not see.
"Keep up," the Death God ordered. It was difficult for Sakura to do so – she wasn't familiar with the route they were taking, but did her best to keep to his footsteps.
Suddenly, he drew to a stop, and the fire in his palm snuffed out, plunging them into complete darkness and mist. For an instant, panic began to bubble within Sakura, but her fears were quickly alleviated when something wondrous happened before her very eyes.
Slender veins of soft blue began to materialise around them, like luminous liquid paint that slowly gave creation to a breath-taking, vivid canvas. They chased the dewy mist away, leaving behind vibrant clarity. Flowers that were touched by the thin trickles of light began to glow, uncurling their delicate petals and straightening as if fed by the kiss of rain. The densely packed trees awoke, their slender branches rustling with glimmering leaves, and tiny orbs of shimmering light began to float around them like fireflies. The entire forest suddenly seemed to thrum with a life-force of its own – and Sakura was entranced by it. Even the soil beneath her feet somehow appeared to be breathing.
"This forest…" she dared to speak. "It's alive."
"Yes," Sasuke, who had been watching her reaction closely, murmured directly behind her. "This is one of several forests that are fed by the spirits of nymphs."
"It's so beautiful," she whispered, walking toward a fragrant blossom with peculiar petals that were shaped like hearts, unique amongst a cluster of radiant white lilies. She reached out to touch the flower gently with her fingertips – when the petals abruptly dispersed, taking flight before her very eyes. Sakura released a delighted gasp as she realised the petals were actually glowing butterflies with semi-transparent wings. They circled around her briefly before flittering gracefully away.
She turned, her gaze moving upwards to admire the luminous, hanging vines strewn between the trees. To her amazement, a magnificent bird with a slender beak sat perched on one of the boughs. Its plumage consisted of cobalt and gold hues, and reminded Sakura of an exotic bird of paradise.
Once her eyes had found one animal, they seemed to spot others, too. Tiny glowing insects with pretty, barely-there wings littered the place, and other varieties of birds fluttered between the trees, singing melodies so sweetly harmonious that Sakura felt a stirring in the base of her throat. She was stumped with confusion. The Underworld was a place of death, wasn't it? At least, the gloomy caverns that lay beyond the Death God's palace had suggested as much. Yet Sasuke had brought her to a place that throbbed with an array of different life forms.
It suddenly struck her that she had completely misunderstood and misjudged the realm into which she had been stolen. Even the expanses beyond Sasuke's dwelling house contained beauty and magic. The plains of the Underworld were clearly not as hostile and bleak as she had allowed herself too eagerly to believe.
As they walked deeper into the forest, Sakura felt spellbound by the magical sights and sounds surrounding her.
"It's like they're breathing," she said, resting the palm of her left hand against the trunk of one of the trees. The bark pulsated with energy. It travelled straight up her arm, and seeped into her chest, filling her with pleasant warmth. She glanced back at Sasuke questioningly.
He read her unspoken query. "Nymphs both nurture and are nurtured by nature," he stated, as an even more majestic crimson and gold bird landed on his raised left arm and lowered its head in reverence to the death deity. Sakura's lips parted as she watched Sasuke gently caress the underside of the feathery creature's beak with an index finger, causing it to croon contentedly. "In a place as unspoilt as this, their life-force is strong enough to be felt by those attuned to nature."
It made sense, Sakura thought to herself, given that she had always loved flowers and animals. It was ridiculous, but she had often almost felt a physical form of attachment to nature, and was greatly pained and affected whenever she witnessed it being damaged. Once, when she had been fifteen, she had seen two delinquent teenagers plucking freshly bloomed flowers in a park and trampling on them for 'fun' – and had chased them angrily down with Ino and Naruto until they had sworn they were sorry. She opened her mouth to share her affinity with nature with Sasuke – but hesitated at the final moment. Maybe it was the uncertainty of how he would respond to her sharing information about herself – or maybe it was the fact that he had moved over to her, and lightly taken her left wrist, drawing her to follow him further into the forest. Sakura did her best to ignore the little tingles that trailed up her arm from the skin-on-skin contact.
Giant, exotic leaves and knotted shrubbery parted for the death deity, allowing unhindered access forward. Sakura lifted her gaze up to the canopy of trees, her eyes widening as she caught sight of a delicate, silvery net shimmering high in the branches above them.
"What's that?" she asked, pointing with her free hand.
Sasuke glanced up in turn, but continued to lead her through a winding path. "A spider's web."
Sakura gaped. "A spider did that by itself?" It looked more like a jewelled, spindle-woven ornament than a humble spider's home.
"Creatures here differ to those on the surface," the death deity reminded her.
She shook her head incredulously. Finally, Sasuke came to a stop in a clearing, in which was set a pretty little brook, surrounded by stones. He released her arm, and gestured to the crystal clear, rippling water.
Curiously, Sakura edged forward, and looked down – before releasing another astounded gasp. Luminous little fish swam in the shallow depths, each one possessing elaborate fins and shining, hypnotic scales.
"How do they glow like that?"
"The essences of nymphs touch all living things in this forest," Sasuke explained.
Sakura knelt down by the stream, reached out to dip her fingers in it, but the god's voice halted her.
"Do not disturb them."
She bit her lower lip and obediently lowered her hand, resorting instead to watch the fish as they swam contentedly. The water was so brilliantly pure. It smelled wonderfully clean and fresh. She found herself wondering where its source was located.
"Sakura," Sasuke's low murmur drew her out of her absent-minded reverie. "Come."
She followed him in distracted silence, until Sasuke led them back to the entrance of the forest. They stepped out and approached the chariot and its patiently waiting horses. Sakura recalled her earlier nausea, and pulled a face at the snorting steeds, before turning imploring, apple-green eyes to Sasuke.
"Can you go slower this time?"
"Hn," Sasuke tossed her a disdainful look that suggested he simply did not do slow, and gestured for her to step into the carriage. Sakura mounted, and held her breath as he took his place behind her and drew the reins – only to lose it all over again as the chariot lunged forward at full speed. Thankfully this time, the horses remained grounded, although that fact was rendered near obsolete by the sparks of fire and trails of smoke that were flying off the chariot's wheels. Sakura clenched her teeth and hung onto the front of the cart so tightly that her nails hurt. The ride was blinding, hair-whipping, terrifying – yet exhilarating in its hurtling velocity. She found that the less she focused on the unpleasant churning in her stomach, the more she began to actually enjoy the experience – that was, the moments that did not involve Sasuke steering sharply and causing her to collide bodily into him.
Sakura was just starting to ease into the ride at last – when she realised with a rapidly accelerating sense of alarm that the death deity was driving straight toward what seemed to be the edge of a rocky incline.
"Sasuke?" she began fearfully, knowing the god's ears could hear her despite the deafening roar of the steeds' pounding hooves coupled with the ferocious crunching of wheels over gravel.
"Brace yourself," the instruction was spoken silkily into her right ear, and Sakura stiffened when a steely arm slipped around her midriff, tugging her firmly back against a solid chest. She released a trembling breath, her sense of panic reaching bursting point as she frantically wondered what in the world Sasuke was planning on doing – when, with a mighty neigh from the horses, the dark chariot reached the precipice and plunged straight down into the mouth of a yawning black chasm, sending Sakura's heart careering violently into her throat and her stomach into cartwheels. Her scream was captured and lost in the biting of the cold air, the speed of the descent tossing her hair back and causing tears to blur her vision.
She squeezed her eyes shut, panting to fill her breathless lungs with oxygen – when the wheels abruptly slammed onto solid ground, the force of the landing almost enough to throw her out the cart – but Sasuke's arm held fast, keeping her pressed tightly against him. The steeds – whom Sakura was now genuinely convinced were as utterly insane as their owner – blessedly slowed to a gentle canter. When Sakura dared to open her eyes again, she found that they were in what appeared to be a lower tier in the Underworld. She pressed a hand over her racing heart, half-surprised that she had not fallen into cardiac arrest following such a reckless and frightening plummet.
"I hate heights," she managed to wheeze. "Don't- don't do that to me again!"
She had no way of detecting the death god's half-smirk at those words as he made plans to repeat the experience again – and soon. Sakura's head was spinning in a dizzying mixture of adrenaline and nausea. As if sensing her distress, Sasuke's right arm slid away from her waist, and he lifted a hand to brush fingertips fleetingly against her forehead. Immediately the feeling of queasiness and displacement waned, before diminishing entirely. It allowed Sakura to look around clearly, and to notice that the gravelly strip of land they had alighted upon was flanked to their right by black, cave-like structures. Blue-fire torches scattered about the bank were a comforting source of light. To their left rolled a river of mist, blanketing the base of the massive, stretching cliff from which the chariot had so dare-devilishly leapt. Sakura looked up, but saw nothing except darkness in the endless heights above them.
The horses drew to an eventual stop before one opening in the rock-face. Sakura's legs, still fuelled with the fight-or-flight instinct, felt a little shaky as she stepped off the chariot. Willing her jangled nerves to calm again, she watched as Sasuke picked up one of the blue torches and held it like a beacon before them. The blue light enhanced the chiselled sharpness of his features, caught the grey in his irises, making them appear an almost pale, wintry blue. For a second, Sakura could not avert her gaze from the Death God as he directed a piercing look back at her.
Their eyes locked, and the moment could have lasted for a fraction of a second – or an entire hour. Sakura wasn't quite sure, and found she could not think coherently, could only contemplate how the shadows danced so hypnotically across that face. Then, Sasuke abruptly severed the connection, and ordered her to follow him.
They walked into the mouth of the cave. It was narrow, and the wall was jagged. Sakura nervously recalled the last time she had so foolishly ventured into a cave alone, when she had waltzed straight into the heart of a harpy nest and very nearly been torn to shreds. This time was different – the Underworld's King was accompanying her. Knowledge of the fact that she was safe and protected from other inhuman threats provided her with a little veil of security.
She trailed after him, taking every turn he took, but stumbled when he suddenly descended three, uneven steps. Her hands instinctively shot out, grasping at his silver-stitched black cloak to restore balance. He stopped and glared back at her over his shoulder. Muttering an embarrassed apology and telling herself that Sasuke was probably labelling her 'inept' in his mind again, Sakura shuffled after him, and was nearly ready to tear her hair out at the stifling silence that hung like a tonne of bricks over them, when Sasuke stepped into the colossal heart of the cave. The light from the strongly burning torch was outnumbered by the warmth of regular fire torches stationed around the space.
When Sakura entered after him, she forgot to breathe. She forgot to think. She could do nothing but stare in bug-eyed fascination.
The circular area had four levels, separated by unevenly formed, rocky ledges. It stretched up to a naturally dome-shaped ceiling, but it wasn't the structure itself that made Sakura gape in disbelief. It was what the structure contained – more specifically, what glinted, in the firelight, off the walls.
Amber. Purple. Red. Deep blue. Dark green. White. Pink. The cave glistened with shimmering rocks. Sakura was a woman, and all women recognised precious gemstones when they saw them. In a trance, she ventured further inside, her eyes darting from stone to stone, from level to level, in dazzled amazement.
"This is…" she began breathlessly, but her words evaporated into the air, were lost forever as a suitable description of the splendour around her evaded her tongue. The stones were deeply set in the rocky walls, varied in shapes and sizes, but all glinted with the unmistakeable hint of incredible clarity. Sakura realised with bubbling excitement that this was a mine brim-full with genuine jewels. Her gaze lowered, and she spotted iron carts stationed beside the walls, overflowing with piles upon piles of glimmering stones. Mining axes, ropes and other sharp digging equipment rested beside the carts, which indicated that a team of people – or more likely, supernatural creatures – were responsible for extracting the rich spoils surrounding them.
Sasuke had enough gems in the cave alone to supply an entire continent with riches. Sakura was staggered at such wealth, and hopelessly captivated by the jewels on proud display before her. What did he do with them? How did he have so many? She was certain that her eyes were glistening with stars as she turned to look dazedly at the Death God who stood silently behind her. He truly was a King, down to the last chip of treasure.
"This is all yours?" The question was stupid, senseless, because who else's could it all have been - but Sakura could not help herself from asking all the same. Her brain felt fuzzy, the same way she imagined many females would feel in her situation. She fleetingly thought that most would kill to be in her place – in a literal cave of wonders, littered with rubies, garnets, sapphires, emeralds, topaz, amber, and much more – with a devastatingly handsome and darkly seductive tour guide by their side.
Sasuke tilted his head back in haughty acknowledgement. "I own all riches contained beneath the surface's crust."
Her jaw dropped. Sasuke was a Death God – but also a God of Jewels? It was an unexpected and thoroughly bizarre combination, and one that caused an inadvertent giggle to escape her lips. Sasuke, who had clearly expected quite a different reaction, stared at her in puzzlement.
Sakura coughed, artfully disguising the remainder of her chuckle. "This is really impressive. I've never seen so many gems." She turned away and turned full circle in the middle of the gigantic room. "Are there more caves like this?"
"Twelve," Sasuke answered nonchalantly, as if it was not a big deal at all. But of course it was. Sakura gawped speechlessly at him.
"Twelve?" she echoed. If there were this many treasures in one, just how outrageously rich was he?
"This is the smallest," the deity added. "Others contain gold and precious metals."
"Wow," Sakura exhaled, and walked over to one of the walls, trailing her fingertips over an embedded, precious lump of rock. Garnet or ruby, she could not tell in the firelight's glow. The gem was hard, its edges raw and uncut. She followed an invisible path in the wall with her hand, brushing other implanted stones.
If I had just a small box of these jewels… she found herself thinking, and was internally unsettled by the unexpected pang of longing that suddenly tugged at her heart. While she had naturally always admired sparkling jewellery, she had never been particularly materialistic – that was more Ino's forte. And so she was at a loss to explain her subconscious reaction.
The mined jewels in the carts solicited her attention, and she could not help herself from reaching out to grasp a handful of assorted gems from the top of the staggering pile. They were cold to the touch, and glinted authentically. She shook her head, smiling in disbelief as she took another handful, before allowing all the stones to slip between her fingers and back onto the pile.
What would Ino say if she saw this? Sakura wondered. She turned to find Sasuke watching her intently, his eyes gleaming like black onyx gems in their own right.
"Who mines these stones?" she looked towards the large axes and picking tools.
"Centaurs," the death deity responded.
Centaurs - half man, half horse creatures. Sakura had read about them in stories, but was still surprised to discover they were real. Then she scolded herself; hadn't she already seen other magical entities?
"Where are they?" She was eager to look upon them. "Can I see one?"
Sasuke paused. He saw no reason to alarm Sakura by informing her that centaurs were untamed, fierce creatures that exhibited an often unhealthy interest in mortal women. For Sakura's protection – and for the centaurs themselves - he had firmly instructed the horse-men who served as miners in his realm to vacate the cave ahead of their arrival.
He shook his head, signalling a negative, noted the way her shoulders lowered in disappointment.
"Oh," she said softly. "That's too bad."
Sasuke did not know what exactly it was about her deflated expression that spurned him to supply an explanation for his rejection. "The creatures in my realm are untamed." He walked over to another cart and picked up a solid clump of amethyst rock. "Some harbour ill intentions to living humans – as you have seen."
Sakura gazed at him as the implications behind his words slowly registered.
"You sent them away." It was a statement, because she was oddly certain. After the incident with the harpies, Sasuke wasn't taking any further chances.
His silence was all the confirmation she needed. After another pointed pause, the Death God tossed the stone dismissively back onto the cart, the same way a person discarded anything that was inconsequential. Sakura thought that gods were likely so accustomed to great wealth, that they attributed it little to no value. In stark contrast, she knew that human nations would wage wars to gain access and ownership of such an untouched and unspoiled natural phenomenon.
She wondered why humans had been created with the ability to possess such a wide spectrum of qualities. Greed was an undesirable trait – but hadn't she exhibited it also, by ogling covetously at the gems on display? Was it innate? Weren't all mortals instinctively drawn to shiny, glimmering things?
A sudden, nagging curiosity entered her head, and the words had flown from the tip of her tongue before she could help herself.
"Do you have…" it had to be asked, "…diamonds here, too?"
Sasuke raised an eyebrow at her - before nodding once.
Her eyes became as wide as saucers. "An entire cave of diamonds?"
He snorted, and held up three fingers, indicating the number that existed.
"No way," Sakura exclaimed, gobsmacked once again. What did he do with all the riches contained within his world – apart from stash them? She opened her mouth to ask him precisely that, when something high in the rock-face behind Sasuke glimmered enticingly, ensnaring her gaze. It was larger than the other stones, and a dark colour she could not make out at her distance.
Sasuke noticed that her eyes had fixed on something in the wall beyond his head. She was staring at it intently, and he all too clearly read the unspoken wish in her eyes. She then became aware of him watching her, and averted her face sheepishly.
It was definitely time to leave the cave – before her itching fingertips reached out and snagged a gem. She didn't think displaying avarice in a deity's presence would be a wise thing to do. Thankfully, Sasuke agreed that their time was up, and gestured for her to walk ahead of him.
As Sakura made her way to the exit, his eyes flicked up to the wall, immediately locking onto the precise area she had been gazing so longingly at.
An uncommonly large emerald was set in the rock-face high above, sparkling alluringly in the warm glow of firelight.
Sasuke's gaze remained on it for a long moment, before slipping back to Sakura. Silently, he followed her.
Author's note
The ending isn't really a cliff-hanger, as the next chapter will pick up when they return to the palace. I wasn't going to waste time describing the return journey, as I think you all get how fast those horses were travelling... right?
Does anybody feel the sudden urge to jump on Sasuke's chariot and race in it?
I loved writing the enchanted forest scene and the jewelled cave. This story really lets my imagination go wild. I hope you liked reading it, too!
Chiyo… why did she help Sasuke? The mystery!
So, any thoughts on the music? The emerald at the end? On how hot Sasuke is in general, and how he's ever-so-slowly becoming a little bit more talkative (for Sasuke, anyway?).
Reviews make me super happy, so if you leave me one, I'll be forever grateful! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. See you next update, which will feature yet more hot sparring scenes… and possibly more dream sequences, amongst other things.