Quietus

by Seraphina Scribes

When first he laid eyes upon her, he thought her the very personification of spring. He watches, from the depths of shadow; waiting to steal her away from the land of the living. Waiting to make her Queen of the Dead. Hades/Persephone retold. SasuSaku/AU.

36. Chapter 35

Please make sure you listen to the tracks indicated under chapter 35 on my profile; the first for the Plains of Judgement scene, and the second for the flashback at the end of the chapter.

This mammoth chapter is much longer than usual – consider it a double in one instalment – a bumper gift to all my patient readers! It's also heavy on SasuSaku interaction, so enjoy. Thank you so much for all your continued support, and to all the wonderful artists who continue to shower fanart for the story. You keep my inspiration fired up.

---

Chapter XXXV

---

Envy - that baneful, vindictive Sin,

Seeping - as poison - through tainted skin,

She sinks scarlet talons into burdened chests,

Stealing away respite, all hopes of rest,

Tearing and clawing - She mangles and maims,

Leaving nothing - save ruin - and wrath of flame,

Sightless are those who heed to Her call,

Blind, unseeing, as She orchestrates their fall.

---

The air in Sasuke's lungs stilled. She was smiling back at him. The curve on her lips was small, tentative and thoroughly uncertain – but it was a smile all the same. And by Elysium, if it was not the most radiant thing he had ever seen!

He blinked, finding himself quite unsure of how to proceed, for he had not expected such a reaction – not after the tension loaded encounter they had shared in his quarters. Neither could he have anticipated the odd sense of warmth that engulfed him at the sight. However, Sakura conveniently diverted any further uneasiness on his part when she finally shifted her eyes from his.

Sasuke rose fluidly, discarding the dagger to the ground. He knew Esria would return to reclaim it after they had left. Sakura stood up after him and automatically shadowed his steps as he began to lead her back through the twisting and turning labyrinth of stone-paved, hedge-lined passages. But she was quick to remember the other, less fortunate nymph upon whom she had witnessed the satyr Lemnios forcing himself. She gasped, prompting Sasuke to halt and swivel questioningly toward her.

"Sasuke, there was another nymph! She was-"

"Lemnios is no more," the death deity, who had predicted her concern, assured her.

His words had an instant effect, for Sakura's shoulders relaxed and she exhaled, as if relieved.

"Is she alright?" she added after a moment. No sooner had she spoken it, she realised that the query was a stupid one. Sasuke's emphatic silence only served to further consolidate the fact. He shot her a brief, unreadable look – before turning to walk ahead of her again.

Sakura swallowed and followed him sadly. Of course the poor nymph wasn't fine. She had been sexually violated against her will. Unshed tears of anger burned behind Sakura's eyes as the memory of the nymph's pained moans echoed torturously in her ears.

Then an alarming thought occurred to her. The satyrs clearly resided in Sasuke's realm - but did he actually permit such barbaric behaviour in his own Kingdom?

No, she told herself fiercely. He wouldn't.

But the nagging voice of doubt urged her to speak what was on her mind. Troubled, she turned her gaze to Sasuke's proud, regal shoulders.

"How many satyrs are there in the Underworld?"

The Death God took a left turn and she had to increase her pace to keep up.

"Too many," Sasuke replied cryptically. She didn't witness the scowl that planted itself firmly on his face.

"Do you let them wander freely around your gardens?"

A pause. Then he said flatly, "No."

"Then what were they doing here?"

Sasuke led her over a stone bridge. "Trespassing."

Sakura considered this. Then she probed next, "And do they always chase nymphs?"

"That is their nature."

"But they hurt them," she shuddered. "I saw what they did to that other nymph." The words that followed blurted out of her mouth before she could think of checking them. "Sasuke, can't you stop them?"

The Death God's dark eyebrows knitted together and he slowed to a stop. Had he heard correctly? Sakura was questioning his decisions? He didn't know whether to be insulted or grudgingly impressed by her surprising boldness. Hovering halfway between the two, he turned to regard her askance.

She stared back at him and he could read the open concern in her expressive features.

Narrowing his eyes at her, he reminded her stonily, "I rule the dead. The welfare of nymphs who choose to dwell here is not my concern."

Sakura's lips parted. "But you're still their King, aren't you? Don't rulers look out for the wellbeing of everybody in their Kingdom?"

He glowered at her. Satyrs were creatures he definitely despised – but he had neither the time nor the inclination to keep track of and punish every single goat-man's philandering ways. Listening to the plights of nymphs was also something that was most certainly not in his job description. To Sakura, however, ensuring the happiness of the nature spirits was clearly a major priority.

And he now knew that to be no mere coincidence.

He was ready to direct a slicing retort at her – but reconsidered at the last moment when something else whispered through his mind. Sakura watched with astonishment, her pulse picking up speed again, as Sasuke smirked for the second time in a matter of minutes. This time, however, his smirk was decidedly darker and pronouncedly smugger.

"That is a Queen's role, Sakura," he uttered emphatically.

Just as he had intended, his chosen comeback threw her. Sakura's green eyes widened, and she seemed plagued by a sudden bout of indecision.

What?! Did he just say what I thought he just said? Her inner voice blared, like a deafening alarm ringing obtrusively in her ears. Embarrassment sent heat pooling into her cheeks. Was he implying something? Or was he simply stating a given truth? With Sasuke, she could never be entirely sure. Knowing she had stumbled into dangerous territory regardless, she fumbled to find an appropriate reply that would not involve digging herself into an even deeper hole.

Then it came to her in the form of directing the focus away from herself. She said, very softly, "Like your mother's?"

It worked. His smirk disappeared. Just like that. She expected him to stiffen and turn away, or to immediately snub her the way he had whenever she'd pried into his history on previous occasions. But Sasuke remained unwaveringly in place and simply looked at her with those unfathomable, sooty-lashed dark eyes. He said nothing.

Then his gaze lowered - but it was the action of casting his attention away from her and to the ground that caused something to shift palpably within Sakura.

He misses her, she thought, struck with an oddly burning sense of clarity. He misses his mother.

She did not know why the realisation was so surprising – and why she felt so moved by it. Perhaps it was because she yearned so much for her own mother. Or maybe it was the visible proof that Sasuke did possess a spectrum for human-like emotions after all, which was responsible for the disconcerting feeling that flittered around like an agitated butterfly in her stomach.

Curiosity nagged incessantly at her. She desperately wanted to know the details that Chiyo had not revealed to her. She wanted to know about what had happened to Sasuke's family – what he had gone through.

"Sasuke…" his name slipped through her lips. She was encroaching on a sensitive subject – and knew that she had to select her next words wisely.

The death deity, however, had evidently decided that it was time to close the precarious conversational opener she had sprung at him. His eyes flashed back up at her, as he reaffirmed dismissively, "I do not attend to the plight of nymphs."

Sakura was dismayed. How could he answer so casually? Yet she supposed it made sense, considering that he had the small issue of countless souls to manage, an entire realm to run and judgements to deliver - but that still didn't make what the satyrs were doing right. It did not give them an excuse to treat women so degradingly, so abhorrently.

"But what those monsters are doing is wrong," she said quietly. Surely Sasuke could just summon them all and banish them from his world? Or would that somehow disrupt a mysterious, natural balance? Sakura could not imagine why the existence of satyrs was even necessary.

The death deity gazed wordlessly at her - but said no more. Then he spun on his heel, which Sakura interpreted as a sign that he did not wish to discuss the matter further. She trailed after him, and the remainder of their journey through the maze passed in silence.

---

Piercing eyes stared balefully down the barrel of a straight, noble nose. Long, powerful fingers, well-acquainted with blood-shed, drummed impatiently atop the ornate arm-rests of a once majestic throne, wrought of silver and gold. However, the absence of its true Master had resulted in the seat of power losing its divine lustre over time's merciless flow. It was now little more than a large, fancy chair.

"Speak, Serpent," commanded the voice of the one who sat upon it.

Orochimaru allowed himself a moment to savour the exasperation which his characteristic unhurriedness was once again eliciting. How satisfying, to be able to crawl beneath the skin of even the most disciplined of deities! But he knew better than to continue to push his luck with the tall, imposing immortal on the dais before him, and instead offered a peculiar smile.

"Sasuke-kun has grown into a fine King," he informed the figure, roving the tip of his tongue keenly along his lower lip as the becoming image of the Death God materialised behind his eyes. "The darkness has consumed him. Why, his menacing aura is almost reminiscent of your own…"

The figure was silent, but internally, he felt a surge of smugness. It was to be expected; after all - Sasuke was an Uchiha - his kin. A fact the young deity hated to acknowledge, but an undeniable truth all the same.

However, he had no desire to discuss Sasuke's personality any further and pressed on, "And our offer. What was his response?"

"Kukukuku," Orochimaru chuckled amusedly in remembrance. "Naturally, he was not so receptive to my arrival. Itachi's name still opens old wounds, which works perfectly to our advantage." He raised a pale hand, tapping a long fingernail against his angular chin. "However… he was sceptical of your power and rejected the notion of a perfected Edo Tensei."

The figure tilted back his head aloofly.

"Hmph," he scoffed. "The fool."

He considered for a long moment, drumming his fingertips atop the arm-rests again. At length he uttered, "Then you had better send him some proof."

Orochimaru simply smiled his sickly, twisted smile.

---

As Sakura anchored her tumbling waves back with a silver clasp, she caught sight of the crimson dress resting in Chizu's straw laundry basket and felt a pang of regret. The gorgeous skirt was stained and tattered at the hemline. Sakura felt guilty for ruining such an exquisite work of silk-spun art.

Catching where her wistful gaze was directed, Chizu smiled understandingly.

"There, there, Mistress. We'll have a more fetching gown fashioned for you in no time."

Sakura shook her head. "You don't have to trouble yourself." Glancing back at her massive wardrobe, she remarked dryly, "I'm not exactly short on dresses to wear."

"And many of them just as fine," Chizu added, nodding pointedly toward Sakura.

The pale silver gown she had allowed her older handmaid to select for her was equally striking. Its full-length, fitted sleeves were sewn from glimmering lace. Additional trimmings of the delicate, pearl encrusted material adorned the sweetheart neckline, the detailed bodice and the elegant, high waist, giving the illusion of longer legs. The cascading layered skirt was beautiful, and as she turned, the soft chiffon fabric swished femininely outwards. The outfit was accessorised with pretty metallic sandals and silver and pearl droplet earrings.

Sakura once again felt far too over-dressed. But she had the funny feeling that Sasuke would not approve of her wearing anything but formal attire – unless she was asleep or training.

Sasuke. Thinking about him again caused something to twist in the deepest confines of her stomach. She recalled his smirk, how accomplished she had felt knowing that she'd succeeded in putting her training into practise. The adrenaline rush, the thrill of defending herself and a vulnerable nymph had sent her sense of pride and self-worth rocketing.

Maybe he doesn't think I'm so useless, after all, she allowed herself the luxury of entertaining fancifully.

But almost immediately, the scalding voice of self-doubt, which had always plagued her confidence, sneered back, Yeah, right. Don't flatter yourself. Since when did you care for his opinion, anyway?

Her elevated spirits crashed to subdued levels at that.

After leading her back to the safety of the palace's interior, Sasuke had departed without another spoken word. That was when Sakura had looked down at herself and finally noticed the sorry state she had been in. She'd made her way to her room and taken a muscle soothing, hot bath. But every time she had closed her eyes, she had visualised the sobbing nymph and the hooting, smug satyrs. Restlessness and anger had prevented her from remaining in the bath for too long. Chizu had been waiting dutifully for her as she'd stepped out in a silk robe and undergarments, and had assisted her in drying her hair and dressing.

As she stood before the mirror, inspecting her reflection, Chizu joined her, gently smoothing back her hair. It made Sakura think once again of her mother, who was so far from her.

She used to brush my hair all the time like this when I was little, Sakura recalled longingly, watching as Chizu arranged her silky locks in place. Then her mother had become increasingly busy at the hospital, and precious bonding occasions had grown few and far in between.

"You have such beautiful hair, Mistress," Chizu broke the comfortable silence, running a jewelled paddle-brush through the ends of Sakura's tresses. "It is a very unique hue."

"Strawberry blonde," Sakura answered absentmindedly, watching Chizu's reflection work.

"Oh, I was from the Northern countries, Mistress, and I have never spied such a shade of rose-blonde," her maid declared.

"People always stare a lot at it," Sakura confided, frowning lightly. "I used to feel like a freak when I was younger. But Ino – she's my best friend – she helped me accept it, and then I sort of got used to it." She pulled a face. "Mother never let me colour over it, anyway. Now that I'm older, most people I meet just assume that I've coloured over it."

"It is so lovely a shade. I cannot imagine why you would wish to change it," Chizu mused. "With your striking green eyes, you're as fresh and pretty as a spring flower."

"I'm-" Sakura automatically began to deny the compliment, but remembered Ino's responses whenever she insisted that she was not physically attractive. Self-confidence – particularly in terms of looks - had never been her strongest point. She clamped her mouth shut, struggling with a sharp pang of sadness.

Yet it wasn't enough to stop her from disclosing in a whisper, "I miss them."

Chizu, who had just finished restoring bounciness to one particular lock of hair, paused. She lifted her eyes to meet Sakura's in the mirror. She seemed to instinctively know to whom her young charge was referring, for she said quietly, "I understand, Mistress."

Sakura picked nervously at the lace and pearl belt of her dress.

"Do you think," she began uncertainly, "if I asked him, he might let me see them? Just for a little while?"

Chizu's eyes slipped away and she pursed her lips together. A clear sign that the conversation was making her feel awkward and uncomfortable. Sakura's shoulders slumped. It was easy to forget that her maids were, first and foremost, Sasuke's servants. Easy to mistake them for friends with whom she could confide.

But Chizu surprised her, by answering after a moment, "I cannot answer for the Master."

Her words were carefully selected, and Sakura understood their unspoken implication. It was Chizu's indirect way of saying: Try. Ask him.

He said I'm not a prisoner here, she thought to herself. I guess this is one way of finding out whether he really means it.

As she pushed back a wayward strand of dusky hair, she was suddenly struck by a realisation which, up until that point, she had completely overlooked.

"My hair!" she began, blinking in shock as she pulled along its length to find that it had indeed grown past the point she recalled it being before. "It's longer."

Chizu chuckled. "Oh, the food here will have that effect on you, Mistress," she reassured Sakura. "It is far more unsullied than surface food, and so your body is better nourished by it."

The difference in length was noticeable – her tresses had grown by a few inches at least. Sakura also noted that every strand seemed to have a lustrous shine to it – which was strange, given that no true sunlight infiltrated the Underworld.

Now that she was scrutinising herself there were other differences, too. Her eyes appeared brighter - but it also seemed to Sakura that her skin, which had always had a healthy, lightly tanned apricot hue thanks to the time she spent outdoors, was slightly paler.

She looked down at her right hand sadly. At how small and very fragile it was.

How long have I been underground for? And how much longer is Sasuke going to keep me in the dark about it?

A light knock on the door diverted her attention away from her frustrated musings. Ume burst in, a cheerful smile on her face.

"Mistress!" she greeted. Looking her over, she clapped her hands, visibly delighted. "Oh, such a flattering colour is that gown on you!" Then, remembering that she had something far more urgent to say, she exclaimed with a clap, "Oh, I nearly forgot! The Master requests that you meet him by the stables when you are ready."

Chizu, who had finished with her hair, doused her with one final shower of sweet perfume, before stepping back and stating approvingly, "You are ready, Mistress."

Thanking her, Sakura took Ume's hand. The smaller maid looked shyly at her.

"Please walk with me to the stables," said Sakura, squeezing the tiny fingers entwined in hers.

Ume beamed and nodded.

---

Experienced, glove-clad fingers carefully tuned the knobs of the microscope. Shizune's pulse accelerated as she positioned the lens above the swab containing three drops of blood from the phial they had acquired. What would she find? What if the results were inconclusive? What if she didn't even recognise what she was looking at?

Swiftly, she crushed down her worries. Tsunade was relying on her – she couldn't - she wouldn't - let her down!

The lens came into focus – and she blinked at what it revealed. Irregularly shaped red blood cells contained within a thick, purple cellular wall she had never before seen. They were replicating slowly – but some of the cells failed to divide correctly.

Molecular damage evident, she scribbled furiously on the pad atop the pristine white lab table beside her. Characteristic, central depression in red cells is absent. Division is irregular, suggesting mutation.

She rotated the lens disc, altering it to an even finer one. Lowering it to the slab, she fiddled with the knobs, seeking a sharper resolution. When she obtained it, she gasped behind her nose and mouth mask in astonishment.

Something was moving within the confines of the rigid cell wall. Smaller, green-black molecules. They were continuously dividing – but when they touched the cell wall, they seemed to fragment and wither.

Molecules contained within cell walls regenerating rapidly, her hand recorded. Immediate cell death upon contact.

Shizune was horrified. She lifted her head and grabbed the second swab consisting purely of yellowish-green plasma, which she had separated from the bulk of the sample earlier. Removing the blood slab, she pushed the second glass under the microscope and twisted the knobs once more.

Unnatural, virus-like spirals were wiggling in a gooey sea of paler yellow-green. Like fine fingers, they reached to other coils, forming a horrendous network which oozed green-black tendrils.

"What is that…?" she whispered, aghast. She had never laid eyes upon anything so… so unnatural.

Sickened and unable to look at it anymore, the raven-haired woman turned away. Grabbing a long, fine pipette, she removed the stopper from the phial and suctioned up a small sample of blood. Closing the phial again, she swivelled in her chair and came to a stop before the small mushroom she had taken from the base's fridge. It was in a sterile incubator. She placed her hands inside the arm holes and held her breath as she deposited three drops of blood onto the stool's white cap. She watched with repulsed, scientific fascination as the blood seeped into the mushroom, turning its flesh a sickly purple. A delicate, infant spore sprouted from it, growing in a spiral formation like a slender vein. Then, as suddenly as it had appeared, it drooped and folded in on itself before drying and turning to black debris.

Shizune exhaled. Without wasting another second, she rose from her seat, threw her gloves and mask in the clinical waste bin, snatched up her notepad and hurried out of the lab.

As she approached the room where she had left Tsunade, she heard the sound of a heated argument inside. They were fighting again.

"Don't act as if you care! I was left to raise her alone!"

"You made that choice, you damned stubborn shrew!"

Throwing all courtesy out the window, Shizune burst into the room, exclaiming breathlessly, "Tsunade-sama! I have the results!"

---

Ume stopped by the archway in the courtyard that led around to the stables. "Please continue ahead, Mistress," she said.

Sakura hesitated. "Did he say what he wanted?" she asked.

The blonde shook her head. "No, Mistress. It is not my place to ask."

Sakura looked beyond the archway. Then she thanked the little maid, and took a deep breath before venturing onwards alone. She followed the path, passing fragrant blooms, until she reached the stables where she found Sasuke waiting beside one of his black steeds. The stately horse was nuzzling its Master's open palm affectionately. Sakura wondered which of the four it was.

As she drew up behind him, Sasuke did not turn immediately. She stood with her hands clasped behind her back, watching his interaction with the magnificent animal, uncertain of what to do or say. Surely he had sensed and heard her approaching?

"Do you have a favourite?" she asked, breaking the silence.

His face angled slightly to the right, signalling that he'd heard her. But still, Sasuke continued to look at his steed. As if it understood the question, the horse whinnied indignantly before Sasuke could respond, jutting its head forward, nudging at the Death God's left shoulder. Clamouring for the privilege of being most favoured.

Sasuke smirked faintly. Inside the stable, the other three horses' ears had also perked up; as if eager to catch the answer he had absolutely no intention of giving.

Sakura's mind cycled back, trying to remember which mount was the most volatile of the four. Hadn't she gotten the name wrong on the previous occasion?

"Is that…" she wagered a guess, "Alastor?"

The stallion snorted loudly. There was no further need for Sasuke to confirm it.

"He's your grumpiest horse?" Sakura went on.

"Temperamental," he corrected, stroking the left side of Alastor's face whilst telepathically commanding the proud, stubborn horse to behave. It still amazed Sakura, how a single touch was enough to pacify and tame what was clearly a tempestuous creature. Then the Death God lowered his hand and finally turned around, giving Sakura his full attention.

Like her, Sasuke had also changed attire. He wore a charcoal grey tunic with a black undershirt. Burnt silver gauntlets were secured at his arms, set with onyx stones. His trousers were black, as were his calf-length sandals, and hanging loosely around his neck was a long strip of black material. It was secured at his left shoulder by a silver-set charcoal stone. One end hung behind his back, the other at the front of his shoulder, more in the fashion of a trailing scarf than a full cloak. A black droplet adorned his left earlobe.

As his dark eyes unhurriedly drank up the sight of her in her silver dress, Sakura had the unnerving sensation that she was being visually devoured by a ravenous predator. Why did she always feel so exposed when he looked at her so intently?

Then, without warning, Sasuke's gaze fell away and he instructed, "Wait."

Perplexed, she stood in place as he lifted the hatch off the stable door and disappeared inside. Alastor, she was quite convinced, was giving her the evil-eye. She glared impudently back. What was the horse's problem?

You helped kidnap me, she thought out to the stallion angrily. If anybody's got the right to dislike the other, it's me. What are you annoyed about? You're just as grumpy as your Master is. You must be his favourite.

To her astonishment, the steed's eyes blazed a furious crimson and he exhaled bursts of smoke, stomping mighty hooves aggressively against the ground. Sakura, in alarm, thought the stormy animal was about to charge directly toward her with the aim of trampling her into the dusty ground. But Sasuke thankfully reappeared and quelled Alastor's temper with a stern look.

"Why does Alastor dislike me so mu…" her voice trailed off. For Sasuke had exited the stable, golden reins wound firmly around his left wrist. And obediently behind him, trotted the most glorious, beautiful mount she had ever set eyes upon. Sakura gasped, hopelessly enamoured at first sight. A flawless, pristine white, it seemed to glow with ethereal light. Its long, perfectly combed mane was a light shade of cream and its large eyes were warm hazel. Upon its back was an elegant gold saddle. The horse was not as tall and strong in build as Alastor and Sasuke's other steeds – a female, Sakura was quite sure - but what it lacked in bulk, it more than made up for in terms of sheer grace and majesty.

Sasuke stopped before her and looked at the horse.

"Eos," he introduced, and the horse kept its head dutifully lowered. It seemed almost shy – which only made Sakura's heart melt all the more. "She is named after the dawn."

"Oh," Sakura whispered, reaching out to run her fingers down the side of the magnificent creature's silky head. The horse remained obediently in place – clearly the polar opposite of feisty Alastor.

Sasuke's eyes moved from Sakura, to Eos and back again.

"You-" he began slowly, the words not flowing so easily from his lips – though Sakura, distracted, was none the wiser by his uncharacteristic hesitation. "You like her."

She smiled as the mount lifted her head, nuzzling her open palm tentatively. Like was something of an understatement. She was in love.

"She's beautiful."

Sasuke was internally pleased – and held out the reins to her.

"She is yours."

"I-" Diverted by the splendour of the horse, Sakura double-took, inhaling sharply. Her eyes flew to Sasuke, to find him gazing steadily at her. Nothing in his neutral expression hinted that he was jesting.

"What?" she exclaimed in disbelief. Sasuke wanted to gift her with her own mount? She gaped at him, stunned – then looked to Eos. The horse had lifted her head and seemed to be looking expectantly at her. She turned to Sasuke again, staring bewilderedly at him.

Sasuke frowned, as if he could not understand why she was so surprised by the gesture. He practically shoved the reins into her hands in response.

Her mind whirled in a flurry of bafflement.

First he removed the bangles. Now he's giving me a horse – which allows me more freedom of movement, too. What's going on?

"Sasuke…" she was speechless. Why was he doing this, all of a sudden?

Maybe it's his way of smoothing over what happened earlier, Sakura thought to herself, recalling the earlier kiss. Her pulse responded immediately, picking up pace.

But that made no sense. She couldn't imagine that a deity as egotistical as Sasuke was would ever bother making amends for his own behaviour.

In stark contrast to her troubled expression, Sasuke was all unruffled elegance, as if granting Sakura her own mode of transportation was nothing out of the ordinary. He had turned away from her and collected Alastor. In one swift, graceful motion, he mounted, looking every inch the darkly handsome king.

When she remained in place and continued to gawk at him, he shot her an impatient scowl.

"Get on," he nodded toward Eos.

Sakura blinked. Deciding that it would be better to wait and see how things unravelled rather than confront him at that moment, she made her way to the saddle. But mounting with a dress wasn't easy, and it took her several fumbling, embarrassing, inexperienced attempts before she finally managed to drag herself, ungracefully, up onto the horse.

As she settled into the polished, plush cushioned saddle, Sakura was grateful that the long, layered skirt kept her legs modestly concealed from view. She gripped the reins as Sasuke took the lead, manoeuvring Alastor to turn ahead of her. The steed snorted, sending a crimson eyed glare her way, before cantering proudly ahead.

Thankfully, Eos did not need to be instructed to follow. Automatically, the white horse moved forward, breaking into a gentle trot. Sakura held onto the bridle tightly, unused to the sensation of riding atop a large, living animal. But the ride was not as bumpy as she had anticipated, and she quickly found herself starting to enjoy how liberating it felt to be on horseback. Eos was well-trained and gentle with her.

Sasuke led her around the palace, to the rolling path lined with dark, crimson blossomed trees, the hooves of their horses clip-clopping loudly against the ground. They soon reached the humungous luminous gates which parted silently to allow their passage. The mysterious, dense mist beyond them, much to Sakura's surprise, had vanished.

"What happened to the fog?" she asked, looking searchingly around them. But all she saw was a vast, stretching cavern.

"I temporarily dispelled it," Sasuke answered nonchalantly, leading the way along the silvery path – which was the next question on the extremely long list Sakura had in her head.

"Where does this path go?"

"It passes through the main intersections of the Underworld," the God of Death replied. He gestured with a gauntlet-clad hand to their right, where the main path split and branched off to an unknown destination. "That leads toward the Asphodel Meadows."

Sakura looked in the direction he had indicated.

"But souls can't follow that path, can they?"

"No," confirmed Sasuke. "They cannot tread beyond the central boarding isle."

"The one with the boats," Sakura recalled, trying to build a clear map in her head of the structure of the Underworld. "And those boats take them to heaven, hell or limbo."

"They sail to the Plains of Judgement – from there they are directed to their final destinations."

Plains of Judgement? He hadn't mentioned such a place to her before. As they followed the path around a gentle curve to the left, she enquired curiously, "Where are the Plains of Judgement? Have we passed through them yet?"

"No," Sasuke shook his head. "They lie before the borders of Asphodel."

"Oh," said Sakura.

He threw a brief, unreadable glance at her as Eos drew up to walk boldly on Alastor's left side – but she sensibly maintained a careful gap. Alastor exhaled a great, irritated puff of smoke, wrestling briefly with the reins in Sasuke's left hand in open protest. When his master did not order Sakura and her horse to fall back behind them again, however, Alastor ventured onwards with an indignant snort.

"You wish to see it." It was more of a definitive statement than a question.

Sakura looked at him and nodded. "Yes."

He said nothing to that and did not return her gaze. Another minute of silence passed, when something else occurred to Sakura.

"But I thought the black and white boats led straight to heaven and hell," she frowned lightly. Hadn't he told her so before?

"Both boats cross the river Styx," he clarified. "The white one stops at the banks of the Plains of Judgement. From there, souls take another vessel, to either Asphodel or the Elysian Fields."

Sakura listened in wide-eyed fascination. "And the black ones sail straight to hell?"

"To get to Tartarus, they must first pass through the wailing river, Cocytus, and Phlegethon, the river of flame." As an afterthought, he added, "Most souls are judged in the Plains. Those who board the black boats have souls so tarnished, they require no judgement."

Sakura suppressed a shudder. The 'wailing' river sounded horrific – and Phlegethon didn't seem much sunnier, either.

"Tarnished souls; like murderers?"

"Amongst others." There was something almost hypnotic about his black-velvet voice. It was one of the longest exchanges they'd had – and Sakura found that she was enjoying it, hungrily absorbing the new knowledge that was being imparted to her.

"Adulterers," he elaborated. "The gluttonous, those consumed by avarice and vanity. Hypocrites," he paused, before adding coolly, "traitors."

He said the final word so suddenly, so abruptly, that Sakura's spine stiffened reflexively, causing her hands to jerk involuntarily on the reins. Eos whinnied in surprise, tugging at the sudden resistance.

Oh God, Sakura's heart leapt. Could I have reacted any more obviously-?

Sasuke's eyes slid to her, noting the odd reaction. It took a conscious effort from every single nerve-cell in Sakura's body to keep her gaze as neutral as she could.

"Sorry," she apologised lightly. "I guess I'm not used to riding a horse."

When he said nothing else, she forced herself to keep talking, hoping he would overlook the incident.

"So," she was pleased that her voice remained steady. "That main riverbank I've seen – the river there is called Styx?"

"It is the point at which Styx and Acheron merge."

"So how many rivers are there altogether?"

"Five," Sasuke informed her, as they continued leisurely by a rock bearing torches of blue-flame.

"Which river do souls cross over first?"

Sasuke paused. He was indulging much more questions than he normally did – but he reasoned that there was no harm in explaining how the rivers worked to her.

"Acheron," he stated. "The River of Woe."

"That Ferryman brings them, doesn't he? How does it work? Do the souls just line up and wait?"

"Only those who pay may board."

"Pay?" Sakura echoed in surprise. "As in money? How much?"

"One coin is sufficient."

"Where do they get the coins from?"

"They are buried with them."

"What about the souls who have no coins?" she asked, pulling gently on the reins as Eos manoeuvred around another passage and through a wide gap in the rock-face.

"They cannot cross."

He was leading her to a familiar place. Sakura instantly recognised it. It was the very same isle they were talking about.

---

Karin prodded another figure forward into the correct line with an impatient sigh. Tiny with mousy brown, curly locks and hazel eyes, the girl looked muddled and frightened. Most did. Luckily she was joining the queue that led toward the white boat.

"Can you tell me where I am?" the girl asked in a tiny voice.

"You're on vacation," Karin spat back unkindly. "What does it look like?"

"But where is this place?" the girl went on.

Poor little idiot, Karin thought, but felt nothing. Out loud, she snapped, "Do I look like your personal tour operator?"

The girl blinked - then burst into tears. She didn't ask any other questions.

Karin watched the girl, who was probably no older than fifteen at most, shuffle into the queue. The countless years of servitude had hardened her emotions and her sense of compassion. There was no point in sympathising with the dead, or being kind to them. Neither did she have the patience to repeat herself like a broken record by offering explanations to the same questions she heard, over and over again. Where am I? They would all wonder, looking like dazed sheep. What is this place? What's happening? Am I dreaming? Am I dead? And the one that invoked the greatest contempt: Can you help me?

Only Sasuke had the power to spare the wretched. He was their only hope of salvation.

To pass the time, as always, she allowed her thoughts to wind down less innocent routes at the recollection of the Underworld ruler's name. Sasuke. His handsome image floated tantalisingly in her mind's eye. Like the forbidden fruit, he was enticing, exhilarating. So tall. So effortlessly elegant and regal. He didn't even need to try to be sexy. She was quite sure the term sexy had been specifically inked into dictionaries as a tribute to the delicious stud of a god that Sasuke Uchiha was.

She sighed dreamily, the gloomy river bank zoning out around her as she lost herself to her own dark fantasies. His voice, like rich, liquid silk… his eyes, bottomless black oceans in which she yearned to drown forever… his proud, square shoulders, his lean, strong and smoothly muscled frame…

The fact that he had absolute command over the most feared of all things only added to his allure, of course. Sasuke was enigmatic, intimidating – and he had been fashioned of the night, with a face and voice that were capable of seducing the senses. Making death so much easier to succumb to… and how she wished to be seduced! Karin had been pining so long for him. Her desire was like a physical throb throughout her body, one she couldn't quite pinpoint. She told herself that his standoffishness had to hide the fact that he was truly a shy introvert on the inside. She raised her index finger to her lips and bit into it, a velvety chuckle escaping her throat.

Sasuke-kun… so shy. So lonely. But with my master-plan, there'll be no way he can resist me. He'll finally open up his eyes and see how beautiful a woman I am! Hee hee hee!

Sasuke, she was quite positive, would be nothing less than feral in the bedroom. Everything about him screamed dominant, possessive alpha-male. Her mouth watered as she whimsically day-dreamed of being ravaged by the death deity. So much anger, so much restraint, unleashed all at once… a tremor of excitement shot down her spine as she wondered what it would be like to be trapped between the sheets, with the heat of his body against hers, what it would feel like to have those steely muscles tensing beneath her roaming hands.

A low, husky moan deployed deeply in her throat as she turned. Sasuke was just too perfect. Sasuke was everything a god ought to be. Sasuke was-

She nearly choked, swallowing back the moan before it could surface, her cheeks blazing a hue so red, it nearly matched the colour of her tresses.

Sasuke was right in front of her. Looking imperial and delectable clad in grey and black, riding proudly atop his dark steed, and-

Her jaw sagged. Her heart plunged to her feet.

Right by his side, on a beautiful mount she had never seen before – was her. The ugly little midget of a girl Sasuke had stolen from the surface. Suckura.

It took every last fibre of self-discipline Karin possessed to keep from screeching. Sasuke was saying something to the thing that masqueradedas a young woman. She was all dressed up in a silver gown that was far too stunning and feminine for what Karin perceived were her ordinary – no – practically childish – looks.

What did he see in her? Her bubble-gum hair and soda-pop eyes were unusual, Karin granted her that much, but what else did she have that was unique enough to hold the attention of Sasuke Uchiha, the mighty, unattainable god who had never so much as looked twice at any other woman – including the ones who served in his realm? Her figure was nothing special. Her breasts were not as full and amply developed as Karin's own, and she was on the less flattering side of skinny.

Jealousy brewed deep inside her, clawing at her chest, an ugly, scorching, raging emotion that made her see red – quite literally. What was so special about the girl? Special enough to warrant her wearing the finest of clothes, and being given a horse? Karin couldn't quite stomach the fact that Sasuke had actually provided Sakura with her own mount. Had things really progressed far enough between them that the death deity was actually taking turns around the Underworld with the pink-haired freak in tow?

Sakura was riding alongside him, not as if she were his captive, but as if she were his consort. Almost as if she was his queen. She looked relaxed on the horse and was looking at Sasuke, talking to Karin's Sasuke. And Sasuke, who scarcely ever strung three words together to form a sentence – unless he was giving one of his forceful, sexy orders - he was actually replying! Using whole sentences!

It was the most terrible and sickening sight Karin had ever seen. She wanted to stomp straight up to the snowy horse and yank Sakura off by her unattractive hair. If Sasuke had not been there, she knew she would have. She had never felt so enraged. She'd been trying, in vain, to catch the Death God's attention for centuries. Then the stupid little human girl had come along. The water nymph felt cheated. Robbed. She wanted to hurt Sakura.

"What's beyond the river, that way?" Sakura was pointing.

Sasuke's eyes moved in the direction her finger was indicating. He was silent. Then his gaze locked onto her, and he stared at her for another long moment – before disclosing slowly, quietly, "The entrance to the Underworld."

Sakura's eyes darted to his, to find that he was watching her closely and very, very intently. Watching for her reaction to his revelation. She stared back at him, telling herself it was useless to try to hide the startled expression from her face.

Something he had said to her when she had first woken up in the Land of the Dead, words that felt like they had been spoken so long ago, stirred in the catacombs of her mind.

"You are not a prisoner here, Sakura. Roam where you please. Find a path back to the surface, and you may leave."

He had just told her which direction the entrance to his Kingdom was. She was even more puzzled and thrown by the unexpected disclosure. When Sasuke's eyes held hers, she felt something flutter nervously inside her chest. Her heart had started pounding.

Pain stabbed through Karin at the exchange. The piercing manner in which Sasuke was looking at Sakura made her want to tear her hair out. She had never seen him look at anybody like that and for so long – but she was well versed in the arts of love and lust.

And the death deity's smouldering look bitterly conveyed to her all that she needed to know. He had eyes for nobody else – but only doe-eyed Sakura couldn't see it.

That little bitch, Karin internally vented. Playing the perfect prisoner and sucking up to Sasuke whilst plotting to stab him in the back! I can't let her get away with this!

Suigetsu had warned her about the consequences of betraying him and Sakura. But to Karin, it was far more dangerous to betray the Lord of Death. She wanted Sakura gone – what would happen if she informed Sasuke about the girl's intended plans? Would he eradicate Sakura's existence?

She already knew that wasn't likely. It was just wishful thinking on her part. Then what other choice did she have but to assist the idiot Suigetsu? How else could she get rid of ugly little Suckura?

She'll be in bigger trouble with Sasuke if she goes ahead with it, Karin acknowledged, smirking darkly to herself. If I tell him now, the little shrimp might deny it or just blame Suigetsu.

Sasuke's eyes had finally slipped away from the girl to inspect the souls trudging woefully in the lines. Sakura observed them for a moment, feeling a twinge of sadness. There was nothing glorious about death. It was a heart-wrenching process, and the only winners were the people who led righteous lives, who abstained from the tempting wickedness the world offered so readily.

Some of the souls were turning their frightened eyes up to Sasuke, gazing at him with a mixture of awe and terror. But the burly guards stationed with their weapons prevented any who tried from leaving their queues and approaching the death deity. Sakura shifted uncomfortably in her saddle when a cluster of spirit women in one of the lines looked her way. They looked fearful, uncertain. She glanced at Sasuke, to find his expression formidable, utterly unforgiving. She hesitated – before offering the semi-transparent women who were still watching her, a small, tentative smile. It was an automatic reaction, stemming from the humanitarian need to reassure them – even if their fates were beyond her control.

To Sakura's amazement, her smile had an effect. The spirits' eyes widened and they seemed to huddle closer together. One of the younger girls – a tiny thing with mousy brown locks, smiled tearfully back at her.

Sasuke, who had witnessed this interaction, glanced sharply at Sakura.

"What are you doing?" he demanded. But he sounded more incredulous and genuinely baffled by her choice of behaviour than angry.

Sakura instantly looked away from the souls. "I was just-" she fumbled. "They look so sad and afraid. I wanted to make them feel better."

The death deity stared at her as if he were looking at a brand new species of bird, with multiple heads and rainbow feathers.

"What?" she asked stiffly. Hadn't he figured out that he made her feel nervous whenever he gazed at her like that? Then, overwhelmed with the sudden urge to justify her actions, she went on, "Isn't this place scary enough without you scowling down at them, Sasuke?"

"Hn." He snorted at that – and so did his horse.

He was a realist – and she was a hopeless idealist. Making the dead feel better was a cruel thing to do – even when she had intended to be kind. In his opinion, it was better not to mislead the wretched souls who were on their way to being judged. Sakura, however, clearly viewed things differently.

Interesting, he thought to himself – before spurning Alastor around. They had spent enough time on the banks. Everything was clearly in order.

"Come," he ordered.

Sakura stared after him – before the sensation of being watched more intently directed her focus back in front of her. Her searching eyes met ruby red. Karin was glaring at her with such open hostility that it caught Sakura completely by surprise.

What's her problem…?

Aren't you a hypocrite? A snide voice demanded in her head resentfully, rudely breaking off her train of thought. It took a blinking Sakura a few seconds to place it, and to realise that Karin was communicating telepathically with her.

Excuse me? She sent back in alarm, nonplussed.

Eos pulled impatiently at the reins, clearly wanting to turn after Sasuke, who was listening to something Juugo was saying to him.

Sakura reached out, placing a hand gently on the horse's neck to calm her. "Wait," she whispered. Eos obeyed. Her gaze darted back to Karin. Something about the way the scarlet-haired woman was regarding her sent whispers of unease through Sakura.

You're going to stab him in the back, aren't you? Karin's voice reverberated acidly. She smiled sweetly, adjusting her spectacles – but there was nothing friendly about the gesture. Do you really think you can hide anything from his eyes, little idiot? Once he realises, you're dead.

Sakura swallowed and angrily closed her mind, shuttering the connection cleanly off. Karin blinked, surprised by the force at which she had been blocked. Without responding to her, Sakura tugged on the reins and followed after Sasuke.

---

The Fates despised him. They delighted in toying with him. It was their intention to humiliate and destroy him. If Sai had ever harboured doubts about their designs in the past, any lingering reservations had been blown cleanly out of the metaphorical water.

What else could explain how he managed to land himself into such precarious situations, over and over again? This time, however, he was certain Sasuke would finally choose to let the curtain fall over his pitiful existence. And any hopes of seeing his brother again would be dashed – forever.

Naruto's insistence that everything would 'work out' did little to soothe his internal agitation. Who had ever taken the goofball's words seriously? Sasuke would toss one withering look at his face and read everything. Then it would be the end. Sayonara Sai.

Of course, that didn't stop Naruto from continuing to profusely offer his reassurances.

"We've got your back, Sai," he nodded, punching a determined fist into the air.

Kakashi sighed tiredly. Blackmailing the God of Death was a fool's plan. Sasuke was a wild-card, utterly volatile – but they were short on options. He levelled his gaze at the dark-haired youth and tried to smooth over Sai's nerves.

"Remember. You're only doing your job. Get the message to Sasuke. We'll take it from there."

Sai, who was doing a remarkably brilliant job of keeping his expression completely blank considering that he was about to be sent on a death mission – quite literally - questioned, "And if I die before the message is delivered?"

"You won't," Naruto's eyes blazed blue flame. "He knows that we know you're down there. If you aren't back in the time we give you, we pull the plug on him."

"You do realise," Kakashi stated casually, "there is a risk that this may all backfire? That he may instead retaliate and harm Sakura?" His visible eye drooped. "We cannot afford that."

"If he wanted to harm her," exclaimed Naruto fiercely, "you think he'd have waited this long? It's been over two months since that bastard took her!" He shook his head and jabbed a finger into Sai's chest. "You just let me know when you find Sakura-chan – got it?"

"I may be stopped before that happens," Sai informed him. "I may not get the chance to make it to the palace."

"You'll make it." Naruto gripped his shoulder tightly. "We've got your back."

"If anything goes wrong, inform us straight away," Kakashi reminded him.

Sai's inky eyes moved from one man to the other. But he didn't feel any better.

"Alright," Naruto said the words that sent Sai's heart pounding to a slow, sickening rhythm. "Let's do this!"

The sound of a cell-phone ringing, however, caused them all to pause. Kakashi flipped his cell's cover, stared at the caller ID. His gaze then flicked to a wide-eyed Naruto.

"Eh? Who is it?"

"Tsunade," Kakashi answered. Lifting the cell to his ear, he swiped and answered.

"Yo."

"Kakashi," said the serious female voice on the other side of the line. "Where are you?"

"Ah," Kakashi's eye turned to the ceiling. "Lost on the road of life, as always," he replied evasively, as Sai and Naruto looked on.

"Well, reroute," Tsunade snapped. "Come to base right away. We've found something."

"I don't suppose you're going to tell me-" he broke off, as the line was abruptly severed. Sighing again, he met Naruto's anxious gaze.

"What did old granny want?" the blond demanded.

"She's called an urgent meeting at base." He paused for a moment, looking from Sai to Naruto, then back to the pale youth. "Don't do anything while I'm gone," he cautioned.

"But-!" Naruto began to protest. Kakashi held up a hand.

"I mean it, Naruto," he said, taking a tone he didn't often use. A tone that clearly conveyed he would not tolerate any kind of disobedience. "Wait for me to return from the meeting first. They might have information we could use before we send Sai down."

Sai remained silent, his face betraying nothing of his inner relief. Naruto scowled, clenching his hands into tight fists. But he swallowed, and stiffly nodded.

"Fine," he promised.

---

As they left the riverbank and continued along the silver path, Sakura, troubled by Karin's words and apprehensive of Suigetsu's choice to involve the woman in their schemes, fell into silence.

Sasuke, who rode beside her, noticed her go quiet and slid a surreptitious glance at her. She looked down, and he wondered whether the sight of the souls had dampened her mood. She had spent the way to the river bank asking endless questions. He found that he preferred her conversation, listening to the sweetness of her voice – no matter how much she rabbited on - to her silence.

Silence – that was something that did not suit her.

Sasuke, being Sasuke, did not know how to articulate this eloquently, however. And as the lengthy journey to their next destination pressed on in agitated wordlessness, he instead chose to snap at her.

"Sakura."

Her name was uttered sharply, and with an edge of irritation. She looked up in surprise from where she had been studiously examining the pretty floral designs engraved in the golden reins.

"Huh?" Shaken from her private musings, she blinked at him. "What?"

Sasuke blinked, but did not look at her. "Stop being annoying," he clipped.

She stared at him, offended and confused in equal measures. What in the world did he mean? She had just been innocently minding her own business!

"But I'm not even saying anything," she defended.

He tilted his head back slightly, keeping his vision directly firmly ahead. "Exactly," he retorted emphatically.

She gawped at him, open-mouthed, as understanding struck her in the face like a physical slap. To her frustration, he continued to make a point of not meeting her gaze. Sakura was glad that Eos seemed to know exactly where she was going, for she was far too busy frowning to concentrate on the route ahead. Of course, her sour expression had absolutely no effect on the death deity.

Her silence bothered him? Sakura couldn't believe it. She found that pretty ironic, given that Sasuke scarcely said more than a couple of words to her, unless it was to explain something about his world.

"You're quiet all the time," she argued. "I don't complain."

Only to myself, she added privately.

He did look at her, then - a brief, infuriatingly blank look that Sakura had absolutely no hope of deciphering. When he said nothing to her statement, she went on triumphantly, "See? I don't always have to feel like talking-"

"Race me," he interrupted abruptly, evidently bored of her choice of conversation.

"You- what?" Sakura said senselessly, displaced by the mercurial shift in topic.

Sasuke had never struck her as the type to engage in spontaneous behaviour of any sort. The little details she was starting to discover about him made her head spin. She couldn't figure him out.

"A race." He reiterated, with exasperated patience, tossing a condescending glance at her. "Do you need a definition?"

Sakura's jaw dropped. Oh, hell no. He's hurling the sarcastic teasing card on me, now?!

In fact, she was far too shocked to formulate an immediate response. He had done it before, of course – mocked her sarcastically many times during training – but this seemed different, somehow. They were out in the open of the Underworld's caverns and weren't caught up in the same smothering tension that plagued their sparring sessions.

When her brain eventually kicked back into motion and deployed a reply on the tip of her tongue, she fired it immediately, too caught up in the heat of the moment to consider its consequences. In a rare instance since she had woken up in the Underworld, Sakura consciously allowed her true personality to shine – deliberately choosing not to censor her words.

"I didn't know you were a talking dictionary, Sasuke."

The skewering look he shot her was positively murderous and would have sent any other person screaming for cover – but Sakura found herself deriving a most peculiar sense of satisfaction from it. Her words had actually connected, instead of bouncing harmlessly off impenetrable walls as they normally did. She hadn't missed the way his eyes had initially and fractionally widened in surprise to her bold retort, either.

Instead of being afraid, or cursing herself as she had in the past, Sakura felt something shift as a revelation washed over her. She could tease Sasuke back – and live to tell beyond it. It was a spectacular discovery – and one that surrounded her within a strange bubble of empowerment.

The question remained, however – how far did she dare to push?

Directing the subject back to Sasuke's suggestion, she said, "I'm not used to riding a horse." She wrinkled her nose and added in a mutter, "Knowing me, I'd fall off."

"You have little faith in Eos," Sasuke remarked.

Sakura shook her head. "I don't doubt the horse; just my control of her."

"Eos needs no directing."

Sakura pulled at the bridle, and Eos drew to a compliant stop. Sasuke, noticing this, halted also, turning Alastor fluidly around with a one-handed tug.

She couldn't help but think enviously to herself, at that very moment, how fetchingly dashing the death deity looked on horseback. In contrast, she supposed she looked like a pathetic joke – a clumsy girl masquerading as the elegant woman she was decidedly not.

Folding her arms unhappily across her chest, Sakura chewed her lower lip.

"What's the point? You'll easily win."

Sasuke circled her unhurriedly with his horse. Alastor seemed to be glaring molten fireballs at her and Eos. Sakura found this just a little bit disconcerting.

"Pessimistic, Sakura?"

"Realistic," she countered. "This is my first time on horseback and even if I don't need to steer Eos, I'll probably still lose my balance. A race wouldn't be fair."

Eos snorted, as if in indignation that she would not allow her passenger to go flying from the saddle. Sakura reached out to stroke her silky mane reassuringly. To Sasuke, she said, "I'd rather not race you."

"You're afraid," he taunted, narrowing his eyes disapprovingly at her.

Sakura bristled. If there was one thing she hated, it was being called a coward – even if bravery was something she definitely needed to work on. Sasuke seemed to know it, too and sought to manipulate her weakness.

"I'm not."

"Prove it," he pounced, drawing his steed to a halt directly before her, his eyes glittering with open challenge.

Her brows knotted together to form a frown.

"Why? Even if my horse outruns yours-" Alastor exhaled smoke contemptuously at that. Sakura ignored the arrogant stallion – and the sudden, maddening urge she had to throw something heavy at the conceited animal's head - and went on, "You'll just cheat like you did when we played human chess and turn the tables."

Sasuke appeared mildly affronted. "I did not," he clipped, "cheat."

"You didn't let me complete my final move," she reminded him.

"Hn," he scoffed dismissively. In his books, failing to complete a game was not the same thing as outwardly cheating. Then, with a finality that made it clear he wasn't going to give her a choice in the matter, he uttered, "We race to the end of this silver path."

Sakura was frustrated by his insistence."Why? So you can gloat when I lose?"

He tilted his head somewhat sardonically at her, but gave no reply. The action caused silky strands of midnight hair to fall into his eyes. The words 'sexy' and 'jerk' drifted in Sakura's mind. She promptly and crossly snuffed them out.

Fidgeting with the reins, she cast her gaze to the silver path. Following it seemed simple enough. But she remembered what it had felt like to ride in Sasuke's chariot as his horses had hurtled full speed. Could she really hang onto Eos for the duration of the race and come out unscathed and victorious?

What do you have to lose? A little voice whispered in her head. At least he hasn't named any winning stakes.

Sakura tried not to dwell too much on the disturbing knots her stomach formed when she considered what kinds of favours the God of Death might have liked to request from her, had he imposed winning rewards.

Maybe it'll be fun, she reassured herself. She lifted her gaze to Sasuke again, who had been watching her silently with those hawk-like eyes of his.

"Alright," she gave in. "Do I get a head start?"

He lifted a dark eyebrow at that. And she had accused him of being unfair?

"Your horse is faster than mine," she defended. "And I've never raced before."

Sasuke contemplated this. Then he conceded, "Thirty seconds."

"Forty," Sakura pushed her luck.

The death deity scowled at that. Narrowing his eyes, he reluctantly granted, "Fine." Then, angling Alastor out of her path, he uttered, "Go."

The starting command was so abrupt, that Sakura spluttered, "W-wait a minute! I'm not even ready-"

"Thirty-six seconds."

Damn it! She glowered. He was so unfair-!

The yelp of surprise caught in her throat as Eos released a loud neigh and abruptly bolted forward, at a pace so startling that Sakura had to lower herself in her saddle as she hung on for dear life.

Oh my God, she thought frantically. What have I gotten myself into-!?

She didn't see Sasuke, smirking smugly in his stationary position behind her. He had specifically selected Eos to be Sakura's mount for her impressive speed – but oblivious Sakura had no idea about that. Leaning forward slightly as he counted down the seconds, he murmured to Alastor, "Go easy."

Alastor, ready to race, exhaled a cloud of smoke in response.

Sasuke had been right. Eos required no steering. The angelic horse seemed to know precisely where she was heading, moving swiftly and lightly. Yet every time she veered to the left or right, Sakura's stomach rolled over itself and her heart jumped to her throat. She squeezed her eyes shut, quite certain that she was going to lose her grip at any moment, and threw a frantic glance over her shoulder. They'd taken a turn that had removed Sasuke and Alastor from sight – but Sakura knew it wouldn't be long before the death deity became visible again.

To her bewilderment and pleasant surprise, she soon found herself beginning to get used to riding at great speed. Slowly, she braved sitting up in her saddle, so that she could actually see where she was going. The cavern was passing in a head-spinning blur, and the only coherent thing she could focus on was the silver path, winding glimmeringly before her horse's thundering hooves.

The sensation of her hair being rippled by the air, the grace and beauty of her mount... Sakura began to smile, began to enjoy herself. There was something almost painfully familiar about riding on horseback – even when she knew she had never done it before.

Her long, pale tresses cascaded behind her like a river of rose-tinted silk. Atop Eos, she looked like a glowing angel, bright and glorious, a brilliant beacon warding back the shadows around her. As Sasuke drew up to her right, he saw that she was grinning – and the words he had prepared to direct to Alastor caught unexpectedly in his throat.

She was so achingly beautiful. For an awful moment he was entranced by the sight of her, so spirited, so care-free. Then he noted her posture. She was no longer stooping low in her seat and pressing herself protectively against the horse. She had straightened in her saddle, appeared almost confident in her command of the animal.

She was either an incredibly fast learner – or she had, at some point in her past, mounted a horse before.

Sakura blinked, her joyous bubble threatening to burst when she realised that Alastor and his master had almost caught up to them. She shot a hasty glance at Sasuke.

"Is this the part where you cheat?!" she called to him.

The smirk that played upon his lips was positively devious.

"This is where you lose," he retorted – and pushed his stallion onward. Alastor took the lead with a deafening, triumphant neigh, leaving a trail of smoke as he blazed ahead.

"Eos!" Sakura cried. "Keep going! We have to win!" She was fairly certain her mount was just as eager to claim victory over the pompous Alastor as Sakura was over Sasuke.

Eos careened forward, as if Sakura's commands had imbued her limbs with renewed vigour. She levelled with Alastor, releasing a nicker.

"Hn," Sasuke scoffed, the wind rendering his unruly hair all the wilder as it tossed raven strands into further disarray. "Not bad, Sakura."

"I'm going to win!" she told him.

Sasuke doubted it. He threw her another of his infuriatingly patronising looks – before murmuring something to his horse. Alastor instantly picked up pace, crossing straight in front of Eos's path, kicking up a storm of dust.

Sakura tugged to the right, trusting full faith to her horse. "Let's get off the path! There must be a short cut!"

Eos was already one step ahead. She left the silvery trail – prompting Sasuke to glance sharply their way – and took another route that fell into descent, allowing them to pick up further speed. When Eos took an abrupt left turn, Sakura lurched sideways with an alarmed gasp. The horse immediately veered right, allowing her passenger to quickly straighten. Sakura wound the reins tightly around her wrists as she urged her horse to move faster. Her heart was thumping with the electrifying surge of adrenaline coursing through her arteries. Surely the end of the silvery path wasn't much farther away!

A dark shadow suddenly leapt out from behind the rock-face they'd been following and cut directly in front of them, causing both Sakura and her mount to falter. Eos misplaced a hoof, nearly buckling from the unexpected change in momentum, but managed to recover at the last minute. Sakura yelped and clung on tightly.

"What are you doing?" Sasuke's hard voice demanded, drawing up from Sakura's left.

"Sasuke!" Sakura exclaimed, visibly shaken. "I almost collided into you-!"

"You cannot take this path. Turn her around," the death deity ordered.

"Why?" Sakura scowled. "Because I'm going to win?"

Sasuke glared. The foolish girl had no clue that she was diverging away from the silver route entirely – and was instead heading toward a different and much more unpleasant one – one that was dangerous. She was travelling far too fast to notice that the air had turned thicker and the cavern's rocks had become gradually darker, turning to ominous black.

"Stop. Turn her around," he repeated harshly. "Now."

Sakura, mistaking the agitation in his voice for the fact that she was on the verge of winning, struck the heels of her sandals eagerly against Eos's sides. "Don't stop!" she pressed, certain that victory was soon to be hers.

"Sakura-"

Eos galloped nimbly ahead. Sakura thought she heard Sasuke curse. As her mount hurtled unstoppably onwards like a runaway train, the death deity called out to her again.

"Sakura!" Her name sliced through the rushing air. "Stop!"

She looked back over her shoulder, confused by the urgency behind his command. That was funny. She had never heard him speak in such a tone before and hesitated. Maybe something was genuinely wrong with the route she was taking-?

That was the final, coherent thought that waded through her head before her horse released a blood-curdling neigh of terror and stopped dead in her tracks – only a split second after a hand had shot out and clamped around Sakura's right arm. Before she could even process what was happening, she had been yanked roughly from her horse and onto another. Steely arms wrapped around her, and she watched in stupor as something gold flew into the air at vicious momentum. Her saddle, her stumped brain finally registered – which landed several feet away from them – right into what could only be described as a sea of cracked, semi-set black tar. A blanket of heavy, yellow-black mist hung portentously in the horizon ahead. Just looking at it filled Sakura with an inexplicable sense of foreboding dread.

As the saddle landed atop the cracks, a plume of eye-watering, acidic smog erupted into the air. Sakura watched, horrified, as the cracks parted and the saddle connected with black liquid. With a hiss it sizzled, the precious gold melting as if it were mere butter.

That could have been me, Sakura registered dizzily, and only realised she was trembling when the hard arms enveloping her tightened – almost protectively, as if their owner was thinking exactly the same thing.

If Sasuke hadn't grabbed me in time, I would've been thrown right off with the saddle and fallen into- into that-

Into the burning, torturous pit of acid.

There was a long, stunned silence as they watched the remainder of the saddle evaporate into nothingness from their position atop higher ground. Alastor stood at the edge of a gently ascending rise overlooking the pungent sea. He had grown eerily still. Eos's head was lowered guiltily – but Sakura knew it wasn't the poor horse's fault she had accidentally taken a perilous path. It was Sakura who had told her to diverge from the initial route – and Sasuke had been the one to insist on racing.

"You didn't stop." Sasuke finally broke the tense quiet. There was something in his voice she couldn't quite identify. He had pulled her onto his saddle, in front of him, and was holding her close.

"I thought you were cheating again," Sakura answered truthfully, trying to stop her body shaking. She was almost grateful for Sasuke's warmth – but she knew that fear alone wasn't the only thing responsible for her pounding pulse. Her left arm was pressed against his chest – and she could feel that his heart was racing, too.

He exhaled – a strange sound between exasperation and something else, before muttering once again, "You're annoying."

Sakura, who had finally managed to get her quivering under control, said, "It wasn't Eos's fault; she needs more training – and I told you I didn't want to race. I told you I'd fly off, and-"

"Sakura."

She knew she was babbling. She couldn't help it. Shock, she supposed, or maybe it was the awareness of Sasuke's arms, still locked around her, that was responsible for her thought processes coming undone.

"Is that really a river of acid rock?"

"Yes."

This seemed to snap Alastor out of his uncharacteristic stillness. The stallion snorted – something Sakura had gathered he enjoyed doing often. Her eyes moved back to Eos, who had lifted her white head, as if fearful of looking toward Sasuke. And with the way the death deity was glowering at the unfortunate horse, Sakura couldn't blame her. But she had the feeling that Sasuke knew that Eos could not be held to account.

Trying to lighten the mood, Sakura said awkwardly, "Well. I guess I'll need a new saddle."

She snuck a glance at Sasuke, who was still scowling. When she spoke, his heavy-lashed gaze darted onto her. This close, she could see the lighter flecks of grey in his captivating irises.

Sakura watched, catching her breath as something flittering quite distressingly inside her, when the tense, displeased knot between his eyebrows loosened at her words.

Did my words really do that? Her gaze wandered over his features, before locking back onto his. He held her eyes, his stare so intense – when Alator chose that precise moment to move, causing Sakura to tilt unstably. Sasuke's arms, however, held her firmly in position.

"What's beyond that acid cloud?" Sakura questioned, twisting and lifting her right leg carefully, arranging her long skirt so that she could sit securely, facing forward again as Alastor turned away from the pit. Eos trotted behind them, unsuitable for riding without a saddle.

"Cocytus and Phlegethon," Sasuke answered, his clipped tone making it clear that he did not wish to disclose anything else. Telepathically commanding Eos to return back to the palace, he murmured to Sakura, "Hold on."

Sakura's next words caught in her throat as Alastor leapt forward with a deafening neigh, and she was treated to the true meaning of swiftness. The world careered by in a disorientating yet thrilling hurricane of darkness, broken occasionally by the flare of blue-fire torches and the reassuring glint of the silver path onto which Sasuke had returned them. They passed through luminous, enchanted forests and silent caves, over shallow pools of water and through open, midnight fields. Everything streamed by in an exhilarating blur. Sakura's eyes watered from the sheer velocity of Alastor's movements. The only thing keeping her grounded to reality was Sasuke's steady arms at her sides. She only realised she had been subconsciously gripping onto them instead of the saddle's grip in front of her when she glanced down.

Finally, after it seemed to her that they had been travelling for ages, Alastor began to slow to a canter. They trotted over a transparent, silvery bridge that Sasuke had summoned into existence, allowing passage over the wide, bottomless waters of Styx. They came to a stop on the other side, where Sakura found herself gazing out at what seemed to be a barren field.

"The Plains," Sasuke's voice spoke by her left ear, "of Judgement."

Sakura stared, wide-eyed. The ground was brown, lifeless, cracked in places, as if parched from thirst.

"Why does nothing grow here?" she whispered.

Alastor trotted leisurely forward.

"It is a place of judgement – nothing more," Sasuke stated.

The plains were vast, blurring to shadowy darkness at the horizons. Sakura turned her eyes up to the 'sky'. It was pitch black, but the same stars she had witnessed in other locations burned deceptively, providing the delusion of night. There wasn't a single cloud in sight.

Sakura shuddered. It was somehow even more ghostly than Asphodel had been in its silence, because it contained nothing but endless emptiness. Sasuke's index finger pressed gently against her right temple, and slowly she began to see the outlines of ghostly souls. They littered the place, but the immense area over which the plains spanned was so enormous, it gave the illusion that there were fewer souls than the countless numbers Sakura could see.

Some were lumbering forward, as if the journey was paining them. Others were running, smiling, eager to reach their destination.

"There lies Lethe, and beyond it, the Elysian Fields," Sasuke indicated, pointing to their far right.

"And ahead?"

"Asphodel."

Sakura looked to the left. "What's that way?"

"Another pathway to Tartarus. But souls do not enter through here."

Sakura watched as a young child skipped ahead. Her heart ached. How had the poor thing passed, so young? Tears stung at her eyes as she saw others – children, far too little to belong in the Land of the Dead. Most of them were walking with blissful expressions on their faces. Others were chillingly vacant.

Death did not discriminate. Sakura knew that now, more than ever before.

She noticed as they continued forward that the souls seemed to be dividing ahead. Some were drifting to the right, others continued forward. Their influx from the bank behind them was steady and continuous.

"But how do you judge all of these people at once?" The job seemed like an impossible one for one person to do alone. Even when Sakura reminded herself that the being seated behind her was a god, beyond all mortal capabilities, it seemed mind-boggling to try to comprehend.

Sasuke considered how best to explain it. He had never had to do so before and it felt strange – yet not unpleasant – to describe the process.

"Each human keeps a record of their actions."

"Where?"

"It is housed within their souls. The pure – their souls are brighter. Look," he gestured to a little boy who was running forward, and the older, phantom girl who was following after him.

Sakura gasped. Sasuke's words seemed to lift a veil from before her vision. Suddenly she could see it – with frightening clarity. The marked difference in each soul's consistency and character. Some were dull, monochrome. Others shone brightly, like exuberant lights, pulsating in a myriad of colours.

"The brighter ones know which path to take. The Elysian Fields call to them, and they are drawn to the vessel that will bear them there."

Sakura exhaled. It was so wondrously organised – like a clock that ticked accurately to every micro-second and never, ever faltered.

"And the others…" her focus turned to the duller spirits, who were moving much more slowly.

"They also know their path."

"But don't some try to cross over to the other one?" Sakura asked, recalling how the souls on the boarding isle had tried doing so.

"Yes. My subjects ensure they do not."

Sakura couldn't see any intimidating workers. "Where are they?"

Sasuke hesitated for only a moment - then passed a hand over her eyes – and Sakura gasped again, raising her palms to her cheeks in awe as something spectacular materialised into existence before her.

Hovering like radiant entities in the pitch-dark sky were slender beings of incredible, hallowed light. Protruding from their backs were two pairs of majestic, pure-white wings. They were glorious, heartbreakingly beautiful, with golden, softly curling hair and impaling eyes the colour of luminous, molten amber. Dressed in white robes, each one held a long, pointed spear in one hand and a large stone tablet in another. There were three of them in total, much superior to humans in size. They kept keen sentry over the plains, their glowing eyes accounting for each and every soul. Sakura could tell, just by looking at them, that no soul stood a chance of slipping through the net.

"Angels!" Sakura's eyes watered, blinded by the holy, golden light they emitted.

"Yes," said Sasuke quietly.

"Wow," she sighed, and one of the angels seemed to turn his searing gaze directly onto her. "They're so beautiful!"

As she held the angel's powerful stare, she felt her entire body fill with wonderful warmth – as if she were looking directly at the physical incarnation of the sun's rays. Her mind began to displace, and it was as if those strange, cat-tilted eyes were luring her in. They were the precise opposite to Sasuke's dark, enigmatic beauty and something about the angel's ensnaring gaze called to her soul, like the sweetest of serenades. Something inside her splintered and started to fracture. But she could not look away. Suddenly, she felt oddly breathless, as if she were falling from a great height.

Just as suddenly as she had been able to visualise them, the angels vanished from sight as Sasuke's hand closed protectively over her vision, shielding her from their mesmerising stares.

"Their brilliance is not intended for mortal eyes," he murmured. Sakura breathed slowly out, feeling her body cool again as his hand slipped away.

She shook her head in amazement. Sasuke commanded all of this? What an awful and weighty responsibility it had to be!

How did he rest? Did he ever even have the chance to relax? How did the Underworld uphold itself when he was not patrolling its boundaries? Or could he see things at all times, as surely as he could hear things always? What was that like? Sakura couldn't imagine never being able to switch off. It would drive a human's mind into lunacy.

Her head was swimming with fresh questions. Understanding what it was he did – the sheer magnitude of it - was starting to give way to a budding new respect and appreciation inside of her.

Sasuke controlled angels. Surely no evil deity could do such a thing. Sakura felt oddly reassured. He was not bad – his role just predisposed him to being interpreted as such. He had kidnapped her – a wrong thing to do, and certainly inexcusable – but he was not downright malicious. If beings as pure as angels answered to him, then he had to have some degree of goodness inside of him. It was buried away deeply beneath the complex, iron-constructed layers cocooned around him – but Sakura was suddenly convinced that it was there somewhere.

A strange feeling crawled over her at the realisation. Encouragement? Hope? She wasn't at all sure what she was experiencing.

"Sasuke…" she whispered.

There was a pause. When she did not continue, he prompted flatly, "What?"

She faltered, catching herself. Heat bloomed into her cheeks. What was it she wanted to say to him?

"Uh- I- I just wanted-" she fumbled. "To thank you," she finished lamely. "For letting me see the angels."

Sakura swallowed. Damn it. That hadn't been what she had wanted to communicate at all…

She could feel him staring at the back of her dusk-head. But he said nothing.

Her ears suddenly perked when she caught the remnants of a whisper in the air. The more she listened, the more she heard. Laments and moans; whispers and laughter.

"What is that?" she asked, turning her head curiously. "That sound?"

"The deepest and most secretive of memories fill this place," Sasuke answered. He was somewhat surprised that she could hear them at all. "Anything that was concealed is revealed here, ahead of judgement."

'I wish I had told him I loved him…' Sakura heard the air sigh.

'If only I'd had another hour…'

'My father never liked me going outside alone. I should have listened.'

'My brother will be glad to see me! Did he come this way, too?'

'Lucas my love, we'll be together at last!'

'Did my sacrifice pay off? Am I going the right way?'

Others were spoken in languages she could not understand. It was like a relentless hum. Sakura wondered if this was what it was like being a deity.

"You hear them all the time, don't you?" she said softly.

His silence confirmed it.

"That's why you listen to petitions in your throne room." Understanding dawned over her. "But they must appeal to you all the time. How do you choose who to listen to?"

"Only those who have repented are heard." He paused, before continuing, "But often, it is too late."

Sakura watched the souls, listening to the ones she could understand.

'I was a hard-working farmer. Everything I did, I did for my family.'

'Mother. Will she be alright without me?'

'I hope my husband can raise our child well enough on his own.'

'Why? Why couldn't I save him in time?'

She turned her head – just as Sasuke dismounted. "Stay there," he ordered both Sakura and Alastor firmly as he ventured forward, inspecting the plains. Alastor breathed out smoke, casting a contemptuous look back at the female, still seated in the saddle, making it clear that he was not happy about carrying her.

She folded her arms and scowled at him.

"What? Are you going to throw me off?" she demanded of the horse. "I don't think Sasuke would be too happy if you did-"

That was when something else drifted in Sakura's mind, causing her to ignore the indignant stallion entirely. The hum grew louder in her head.

'Kore,' a voice echoed. 'Kore…'

She looked around, trying to locate the source. But the words seemed to be coming from her own mind, rather than around her – a memory that was nobody else's but her own. Which was utterly absurd. She shook her head, trying to empty her thoughts. Every time she did, however, the hum returned, more insistently than before.

'Kore! Come on!'

"What?" she whispered. Alastor had turned his head and was watching her closely. But she paid him no heed.

'Before your mother comes back! Give me your hand, already!'

I don't- Sakura's thoughts were slurring, coalescing into something gooey and incoherent. Her body was prickling all over. Who is that? Who was speaking to her? Why did he sound so familiar? But the echo was so strong, she could not place it. Without warning, her vision began to blur. She blinked, alarmed and opened her mouth to call to Sasuke. The words lodged in her throat. Leaning forward, she reached out, gripping onto the only thing she could make out through the sudden haze of colours swarming across her sight. Alastor's black mane.

Her mind was throbbing. It seemed to be on fire, and she had broken out into a cold sweat. What was happening to her?

Don't be afraid, a foreign voice, as sweet as a flute, spoke fleetingly to her. It was like a far-off memory, one she was on the brink of remembering – but whenever she thought she had it, it slipped out of her grasp again like a flighty bird. Trying too hard to catch it caused blistering pain to pound at her skull.

You're just trying to remember me.

Who… are you…? Sakura's mind had turned into a bubbling, jumbled mess. She could barely keep herself awake and upright. Her limbs felt like jelly – paralysed and useless, beyond her control.

I am Kore, the same voice whispered. I am you.

What…? The world spun and she gasped at the frightening, crackling sensation of electricity coursing through her brain – like a fuse going cleanly out. Alastor's loud neigh was the last thing she heard before the world plunged into darkness.

Sasuke turned at the sound of his steed's call, ready to mentally snap at him to behave – just in time to see Sakura swaying dangerously to the right. His eyes widened in alarmed surprise when, an instant later, she toppled off Alastor. In a heartbeat he had flash-stepped forward and closed the gap between them, catching her just before she struck the barren earth. Lowering her to the ground and crouching beside her, he peered into her face.

She was pale. Her skin was clammy and her eyes, behind their closed lids, were rolling erratically, as if she was caught in a frenzied dream.

The air arrested in his lungs. He had witnessed this before.

"Sakura," he called to her, shaking her firmly but gently, knowing even as he did so, she would not respond. "Sakura."

Her shallow breathing was the only reply he received.

---

"Come on, Kore!"

Apollo's hand around hers was warm and reassuring. Kore stifled a half-terrified, half-enthralled giggle as they raced away from her mother's temple. It was midnight, and Demeter had been called to another of Zeus's secretive council meetings.

"One of these days, my mother will find out about this, and she will skin you alive!" she admonished, only half-serious.

He shot back a brilliant smile, as brilliant and glowing as the Sun itself. "Ah, who even cares? She's such a boring old bat, isn't she? Doesn't know how to have any fun!"

"That is my mother you are referring to!" Kore gasped, affronted, as they ran down a sloping hill.

"You agree with me."

"Shush! Apollo! I'll smack you!"

He chose that moment to lose his footing – whether deliberately or not – and with a shout pulled her down after him. They rolled down the slope, laughing hysterically, landing in a tangled mass of limbs and rich clothing. Apollo, who had made sure he fell at the bottom to bear the brunt of the impact, grinned deviously up at her, his beautiful blue eyes glittering mischievously.

"How about a little kiss for all my troubles?" He puckered up.

Kore blushed, and pushed herself off him. This time, she did hit him, an angry punch to his left shoulder. Apollo howled theatrically, mock hurt dancing across his tanned, handsome features.

"Kore! Endless is my love for you! Why won't Aphrodite answer my prayers?" he half-cackled, half cried.

Kore could never stay upset at him for too long. She clutched at her ribs, gasping with laughter.

"Because you are an idiot, and your heart already belongs to another!"

Apollo covered his face deplorably with his hands. "Never!" he vowed. "There is no beauty in this world like yours, Kore-"

"Hush! They shall hear us!" Kore pushed at him. "Run!"

Apollo dropped the act and grabbed her hand again. They tore through a forest, teasing and bantering, like brother and sister – or, to unknowing eyes who did not know the nature of their relationship – something much more.

"My mother will kill me!"

"Pfft. She can't. Without you there can be no Spring," Apollo helpfully reminded her.

"I must go back," Kore panicked, pressing an anxious hand to her amusement flushed cheeks.

"No!" Apollo grasped her arm again. "Let's run away to Poseidon's temple. How long do you think it will take your grumpy old mother to find us?"

"Apollo-!"

"Imagine the look on her face. Imagine if we didn't tell Poseidon," Apollo's eyes lit up with excitement. "Imagine what she would do to him!"

"She would turn him into a frog!" Kore exclaimed, grinning. "Oh, Apollo, you mustn't do that!"

"Do not worry. I'll just get my smooth old man to charm her back into a good mood – or better yet – call Dionysus to do it for us!"

Kore was laughing so hard, she could barely catch her breath.

Such was how Hades, who had been quietly minding his own business and taking an uneventful stroll in the forest, came upon them in a clearing – clutching hands and sniggering in glee.

He froze. Apollo and Kore froze, too.

Then Apollo, blinking in disbelief, hooted, "Hades! You bastard!" He pointed. "What are you doing walking in a forest alone?"

Hades scowled at him. "Your racket is loud enough to wake the dead."

This only seemed to send the Sun God into further hysterics. "Oh! That's good! Kore! See what he just did there? Hahahahaha! Who knew you had a sense of humour, Hades?!"

But Kore's smile had vanished. She met Hades's eyes almost fearfully, the memory of their previous, tense encounter flashing through her mind. When Hades had gotten a glimpse of who she was – and had provided her with a sample of his terrifying power, also.

Hades's narrowed eyes flicked involuntarily to their entwined fingers. He looked back to Kore – before glaring murderously at Apollo.

"Moron," he muttered, voice dripping with disgust.

"Ah, shut up," Apollo waved his insult off. "Are you in? We're going to get Poseidon changed into a frog!"

"Apollo!" Kore struggled to muffle her laughter with her free hand.

Hades stared at him as if he had sprouted another head – or two.

A sudden, enraged shout filled the air. "APOLLO!"

Kore bristled, clutching onto him. "Hestia!" she gasped. "She knows!"

Apollo looked unconcerned. He simply shrugged and said, "Hades, you stay here. That way, Hestia can blame you for running off with Kore, while we disappear."

"What?" Hades hissed – but Apollo did not give him a chance to say anything else. He took off, with Kore in tow.

The goddess threw an almost apologetic glance back at Hades, before disappearing into the undergrowth.

Hades never gaped – although he came precariously close to doing so at that precise moment. Then he looked to his right. Someone was coming.

"Better keep up, Hades!" Apollo's voice taunted. "Unless you want Hestia to turn you into a weasel!"

Hades cursed, wondering how the idiotic lunatic of a Sun God always managed to drag him into such insane situations – before wisely turning to follow after the pair. They ran, and Hades swiftly caught up to them. Without warning, he cut between Apollo and Kore, yanking the goddess out of Apollo's grasp with a smug smirk.

Kore's heart leapt to her throat as Hades's cool hand closed in a vice-like hold around her slender wrist.

"What are you-!" she began in shock.

"We have unfinished business, goddess," Hades murmured over the rushing of wind around them, and the pointed look he flashed at her caused a tremor of something to shoot down her spine.

"HADES!" Apollo roared, shaking with rage.

Kore frowned. Hades was so forceful – but she would not allow him to intimidate her – not this time. She dug her feet into the earth, forcing him to an abrupt stop.

He turned to glower at her, conscious that Apollo would catch up in a matter of seconds.

"Come with me," he hissed.

"No," she answered, holding his dark gaze. "You want to kidnap me."

"What?" he looked incredulous. Then he scowled, and snapped, "Don't flatter yourself."

She hesitated despite herself. "Then what do you want?"

Before he could answer, Apollo leapt between them, shoving Hades back.

"Don't touch her!" he sneered, holding an arm protectively in front of Kore. "I told you before! This one is off limits!"

"So you speak for her?" Hades pounced. He met Kore's green-gold eyes and added quietly, "Hn. You really are a child."

Kore felt indignant heat assault her cheeks. "I am not-" she began. "We are not-"

Apollo threw an arm around her, pulling her close as he smiled slyly. "What's this? The great Hades, jealous that I have a pretty girl?" He snickered. "I know it hurts. If you were anywhere near as charming as I am, then maybe-"

Hades snorted. Charming? More like stupid. But something glinted dangerously in his dark grey eyes.

Kore punched Apollo in the stomach. He doubled over, losing all credit. "Ouch! Kore-!"

"Stop it!" she frowned at Apollo.

Hades folded his arms, smirking darkly.

"Apollo!" Hestia's voice sounded even closer - and angrier.

"Do you have to ruin everything all the time?" Apollo snarled at Hades. "Stay out of my way, and stay away from Kore! You hear me?!" With that, he grabbed Kore's wrist. "Let's go!"

Her eyes lingered on Hades – before she allowed herself to be pulled – almost reluctantly - away.

Hades's eyes narrowed after them. Then he sneered disdainfully. He had never listened to the mindless fool before - and he was not about to ruin a perfect record. He had absolutely no intention of doing what Apollo had said.

---

The dream faded and in its place, slipped consciousness. Someone was shaking her persistently, calling her name.

'Sakura'.

Kore. Her lethargic mind corrected. It is Kore… isn't it?

Her only answer was the hum in her ears.

"Sakura. Open your eyes."

The voice seemed familiar. It merged with the remnants of her dream, which were slipping rapidly out of her recollection. But one thing lingered. Something she clung desperately onto.

H-Hades…?

Her eyes fluttered open. The first thing she saw was a dark sky – then her blurry gaze panned onto something else. She blinked through the haze, her vision finally clearing to find Sasuke staring down at her. There was a look of concern on his face – it made him seem younger - almost vulnerable. But surely she had imagined it, for when she blinked again, his face wore its usual mask of indifference.

He was holding her in his arms, supporting her as she half lay, half sat on the cracked ground.

"Ugh," her head fell back, pain throbbing through her mind. She closed her eyes briefly, fighting back a smothering wave of nausea.

"What happened?" the death deity demanded, his voice low.

I don't… Sakura's mind was still disorientated. I can't remember.

But dark eyes flashed across her vision. A smug smirk, a hand clasping her wrist. A jubilant race through a leafy forest.

Her eyes flew open again. She gasped as a whirl of memories, memories that could not possibly belong to her, made the world lurch violently on its axis again.

Sasuke, alarmed, gripped her more tightly. "What is it?" The frustration in his voice was palpable. "Sakura-"

"Hades…" she croaked. Her eyes were glassy, unseeing. As if she was looking at something far away.

Sasuke tensed. "What are you?" he hissed. "You cannot know that name, not unless you-" he broke off abruptly, stunned into quiet by the words she whispered next.

"You…" she reached up with a trembling hand, as if she wanted to touch his left cheek – but did not. Instead her fingers hovered, just shy of connecting. "You look… just like him…"

He stared at her, aghast. Their surroundings had vanished, and all he could see were her eyes. All he could hear was the riotous rushing of blood in his ears. His heart was thundering in his chest, to a rhythm so sickening he half wanted to tear the treacherous organ out.

"Sakura," his throat felt oddly parched, and he could not understand it. "I-"

Before he could finish, she stiffened, hand dropping limply to her side. Her eyes rolled back in her head, as without warning, she fell into unconsciousness once again, leaving the death deity gazing in silent consternation at her.

---

Author's note

Please leave your thoughts, if you like. Thanks for reading!