Chapter Two: Uchiha lad meets his Princess to protect--- Soul mate?! J

And so morning came again. Sakura had her first night in Sasuke's _residence_ , but it seems that he hasn't yet adjusted in living with her. He is still quite irritated and even Sakura hasn't adjusted too. But still they managed to cope up, for each other's sake.

Sakura was the first one who was awakened by her senses. She _almost_ shrieked like a freak once more for when she opened her eyes, and Sasuke was by her side--- about few _inches_ near her. It's the first time she is beside _someone_, not a mere _someone_ but with a _guy_. She pondered at these, and finally stared at his _angelic_ face besides the fact that he could actually _kill_ and his tranquil face, while sleeping.

She seems to like him already, for he is really _handsome_. She wonders what his life was, about many years ago. She's even curious why his clan stopped working for their clan, and what had happened to his family. Of course, because he is living _alone_. Another thought came to her: his _love life_. She blushed at this, and she doesn't even want to get up.

Now he was awake, he looked around him. Ceiling, chair, table--- blanket, _GIRL_? He looked at her for awhile, and blinked his eyes. He recalled that he met a certain girl named Sakura Haruno by the forest, and he _made_ her stay… now they share the same bed, blanket-- uh oh, he never had been in a situation like this! Anyway, he managed himself to stay calm, and thinks it is a simple _part_ of his _normal_ life. Her curious emerald eyes took most of his attention, and they even stayed awake for half an hour-- at bed. Sasuke motioned to get off the bed, and told her that they'll be out for breakfast. And Sakura followed.

The city is quiet in the morning compared to last night. Everyone's busy with something, and finally he didn't ate that RAMEN again. Sakura _treated_ him to a Japanese Restaurant and they ate Sakura's _favorite_, the bean dumpling sweet soup she wishes to eat at the palace before she left. They also ordered lots of common Japanese foods [sushi, sukiyaki--- but not RAMEN anymore!] and feasted happily. But they _both_ don't like this food: anything spicy.

Unyielding, Sasuke decided to leave the restaurant immediately, but Sakura asked him to go with _her_ to a department store to buy her new clothes for disguise.

"Hmmm… I am not really fashion-oriented because I have my own designer at the palace," she told Sasuke "but I think this is soo cute,"

She holds onto her hands a usual dress for a country girl, a plain and simple dress. Sasuke won't even think that the thought of wearing _such_ clothing enters her mind. She knew princesses are _quite_ stubborn, especially one who is the only heir. He maybe is spoiled, but she knows her _limitations_. In short, she is _different_.

"Now I'll be in a _makeover_." She replied, and then went into a dressing room and changed, put off her unnecessary jewels [but except for the locket] and then went out.

"What do you think? Do I look different now?"

Sasuke looked at her straight, and his eyes fixed to the girl. He liked her much more and the blush that was building up in _both_ their faces were obvious.

"Yeah," he grunted, smirking. "That's actually-- better,"

"Okay," she said. "But we're not yet done. I'm changing my hairstyle."

He followed her again and entered a salon, for _women_. Sasuke was quite _disgusted_ when he saw _several_ of her classmates at the ninja academy…

"Hey! Isn't that Uchiha-kun?" one exclaimed. Sakura saw the sudden reaction of the girls and they all yelled… she looked at him directly, with his face not looking at the girls.

"Uchiha-kun! Long time!!!" a blonde yelled out. "Why are you _here_?"

He just pointed to the _real_ reason he was _around_ a place for _women_. And no other than Sakura who wanted a new hairdo.


"What do you want, we'll _cut_ it or--" the stylist began.

"NOOO!!!" she shrieked, which suddenly alarmed Sasuke, "please! Don't cut it!"

"Calm down, young lady," the stylist continued. "I think you look pretty when it's just pony-tailed."

Then she combed her hair soothingly and lifted it up, tying a ribbon in it. Sasuke's attention was again caught, for the truth is, he admires women with long hair.

"There,"

"Oh, better," she said "Arigatou! How much is the charge?"

"Don't mind it," she said and smiled. Sakura bowed down and when she raised her head once more, the eye-catching movement of her hair caught Sasuke's eyes, and attracted him. So, her new look explains it all. The other girls envied her having that attention she gained.

"Let's go now, Sasuke!" she finally said and they left. Every girl looked at the _couple_ moving away.

"Is she her _girlfriend_?" they asked. "She's so lucky!!!"

Sakura had a scarf tied onto her head down to the nape of her neck to prevent other bangs from pricking her eyes. Sasuke had _been_ staring at her and staring all over again. He is somewhat attracted by her new outlook, but that doesn't mean he really had fallen in love. Of course that persistent attitude still has remnants--- that _cold_ and snobbish character. Sakura still keeps her eye around everything and everyone. Maybe their maids are just around that city or the ninjas too. She is really careful in her doings especially because she's _WANTED_.

"Where are we going now?" Sasuke asked, knowing that she still wants to go anywhere-- for she told him it is _freedom_ for her.

"I don't know, maybe you can suggest someplace to go," she said "I don't know the ins and outs of the city. I haven't got here for more than once."

Sakura saw a streamer with the words "Konoha Jamboree". She got curious about it and asked a man about that said event. But he was too busy to answer her, and so her lips twitched. Anyway, Sasuke moved and he was saying something about the Konoha Jamboree for that night.

"That's a feast where girls wear kimono and the stuff…" he began "those girls we saw at the salon used to invite me there every year, but I refuse to go with them…"

"Kimono? I have my pretty kimono, but it's at the palace."

"Do you want _me_ to get it for _you_?" he suddenly said. She smiled at him.

"No need, I'll just buy another," she said. "c'mon! _We're_ going to that Jamboree!"

"We?!" he exclaimed "I never---"

"And so do I Sasuke! I have _never_ went to a Jamboree!" so she tag him along with her to a store of clothing.

"Oh, this _changes_ my _tradition_..." he thought as he goes with her, still holding her hands…

Her warm hands still are held by his, they hit the store and they find a _perfect_ kimono for her. Even Sasuke was involved at that search. Anyways, he still kept his sight among the people around them, for maybe one of those are her dad's ninjas set to capture her and let her marry to a _guy_ he _don't_ want her to be with. Well, as if he actually involved himself. But it seems that he wants her to stay with him _forever_. They were still friends of course at this point of time, but, who knows?

Sasuke didn't avert his sight on a green and white kimono displayed on the rear corner, hanged there properly and still. Sakura calls him for another she has chosen [as if he is a _fashionist_] and noticed that he still looks at the kimono.

"What's in there?" she asked "whoa, Sasuke! You're really a _fashion-genius_!"

Sakura ran to the kimono.

"I would want to be called genius-NINJA than FASHION," he thought to himself.

"This is it!" she exclaimed. "Ms, I want this!"

Then she pointed out to the kimono.

"How much is it?"

Then they bought it, and they knew its time for lunch. Sasuke didn't feel so tired [but he actually _is_] rather than his past days, for he only train and train. Well, she really made him stop doing a _hobby_ of his. He always wanted to be alone and to be strong, but this day is quite _unusual_.

"Oh great, this is life, Sasuke!" she exclaimed "I have never felt such happiness since I was a child! I am locked in the 4 corners of the Imperial Palace and I don't know the beauty outside it,"

"So, you don't _intend_ to go back, _right_?" He suddenly said, "Or you missed that kind of living?"

"I guess, I don't want to go back first… and enjoy!" she said as she tagged him again. "Let's go eat!"

She never bored him with her gestures. His coldness to girls seems to be ended through her. After eating they strolled the whole area, the plaza too. They ate ice cream, which Sasuke had _never_ tasted once more since childhood… sat at the benches, but still Sasuke is somewhat _silent_. He's really that type, but Sakura is _somewhat_ boisterous. Sasuke had some few questions in their conversation, but she never asked him once about his family. Maybe he'll just get hurt. Anyway, one of the futile questions Sasuke thought he asked was this:

"What does your _fiancé_ look like?"

"Hell yeah!" Sakura's inner self shouted "I don't really like him!!!"

"Well?"

"Um--- he has _THICK_ oh, not just thick but _SUPER THICK_ eyebrows." She began. "His hair is like a coconut husk too! Wahhh! If you'll only see him then you'll get disgusted and couldn't even eat 3 meals a day even you're hungry!"

"I think I can-- visualize him now," he said.

"You know why I fainted the afternoon we met? I haven't eaten any food for I saw his face!" she ended. "You are really far better than him… as in the farthest planet to the sun! Of course your handsomeness is that strong for he has NONE---"

She paused, "Did I mention handsomeness?" she thought…

"And?" he began, with a little blush building up.

"And I can just say in total he's not for me." She said. "I have lots of dreams, Sasuke. Not included there is a monster to destroy me and my prince charming. They say that every princess has her own prince charming, but what did they give me? A monster!"

She almost ended in a sob, "Well I shouldn't have told you so much, Sasuke-kun…" For the first time, she added the -Kun into his name, and it really means that they are _somewhat_ close. "I'm really talkative and tactless,"

He just smiled at her and looked up at the skies. Sakura took the chance to look at him, and she blushed. He is really cute. And no doubt those girls want him to be with them, and she thinks she's really a lucky girl to have him tonight. But what she thinks is why he goes with her? Is this responsibility once more?

She only waits for the time he'll say to her, "I swear to protect you with my life, princess…" she blushed at that thought. That would be hell nice! She finished her ice cream and then thought of the words she said-- every princess has her own prince charming: isn't it _he_ that was sent for _her_?