Illuminated

Where eternal daylight brushes against eternal night


Warm air dances across the illuminated skin of outstretched arms, carrying the sound of festive music. The constant sunlight pools around a lithe body, bouncing off the radiant silver of the leaves. The girl in the tree could stay this way forever, basking in the warmth of her world. Everything is light, calming, uplifting, even the bark of the branch she lies upon is smooth.

"Sakura!" A voice calls.

Eyelids flutter open, gently, squinting at the bright world around her. Hanging high in the sky, the golden light of the sun rains down around her.

"I know you're up there," the voice teases, prompting her to peer down from her perch. She's met with a blinding smile and brilliant blue eyes visible despite the great distance between where he stands and her height in the great tree.

"Very informal of you, Guardian Naruto," Sakura responds, faking a pretentious tone. She sees her guardian's body shake with a chuckle at her jest.

"My apologies," he bends down in a mock bow, his shining blonde hair falling in his eyes "Princess."

Rolling her eyes, Sakura returns her head to its previous position, staring up at the intricate network of white branches. A giggle escapes the content girl as a pleasant breeze makes the glowing leaves dance around her. The wispy fabric of her dress lifts around her body, creating a beautiful illusion of looking through a gauzy veil.

"Come back to the festival, Sakura," Naruto calls up. "It's tradition for the royal princesses and their chosen guardians to share the last dance."

"Celebrating the entrapment of our people does not appease me," she responds, not looking back down at the man sworn to protect her. "Besides, you're a horrible dancer."

"Aw, no need to be rude," his words sound hurt, but the princess of light knows that her young companion is just teasing. "And the establishment of the walls is not an entrapment, it's a gift, allowing us to be protected from the beasts on the other side."

She does not need a history lesson; she's heard the story a million times. It begins with a past, so war-torn and bloody that the creatures of light were forced to live in hiding. The fear was so great, her people could not even trust their shadows, for the enemy embodied them, so her ancestors did what they thought best and fled to the safety of the wall.

Sakura has never seen the monsters that inhabit the other side, but she's heard of their imposing presence. The darkness clothes them, snuffing out the glow of her shining people. Their eyes glow red as a consequence of living in the shadows, allowing them to silently sneak up and ravage their enemies. They are a force to be reckoned with. The drawings of such creatures within her dwelling's ancient library gave the young princess nightmares for a week. Only the building of the barrier could spare her world from such horrors. Of course, that occurred long ago, sparing her from ever having to witness the much talked about enemy.

She stares up at the imposing wall directly beside her beloved tree. The shiny gold surface taunts her, practically begging her to peer over its great height. Perhaps that is why she loves this tree, it fuels her curiosity, bringing her almost close enough to see what's on the other side. She's been coming here almost every day for as long as she can remember, climbing as high as she dares numerous times, but it's never been quite high enough to peer into the other world. It's not like she's discontent with her current life, quite the opposite. She loves this place she calls home, with its luminescent people, eternal sunlight, and constant warmth, however, something about the unknown has always tempted her to peek at the darkness.

"You can't stay up there all night!" Naruto calls out to her once again.

Little did he know that she's done it plenty of times before, he's not the most observant guardian at times. However, the eagerness in his voice causes her to surrender her stubbornness and stand. Though the sun maintains its permanent place in the center of the sky, she knows that the day has been long, and her people will be retiring to their beds the moment the festivities have ceased. Taking a minute to fix her wind-ruffled hair, she gazes up at the tree one more time. As she begins to position herself to climb down, something unusual catches her eye.

There, towards the very top of the looming vegetation is a branch that had never been there before. It's longer than the other branches, protruding towards the wall. No, it doesn't just reach towards the wall, but it is high enough that it surpasses it.

This is it, this is what she has always wanted, a glimpse at the unknown. Before her brain even processes what's happening, she's climbing. Higher and higher she goes, bare feet and fingers finding holds in the natural knots on the smooth white wood.

"Sakura, you're going too high!" She hears her companion exclaim. Tuning him out, she continues her ascension. She's so close she can almost feel it. The gold bangles around her wrists and ankles jangle with her rapid movements and the ground drops further away as the top of the wall comes into view.

Naruto, having caught on to what the young girl is planning, begins his own attempt at scrambling up the tree. "Sakura, stop!" he cries, but his sense of balance is not as good as hers. He struggles to heave himself up and missteps on a limb, causing him to tumble back to the beginning. "You don't want to do this! It's dangerous!" His panic at the situation prompts him to attempt the treacherous climb once again.

Being higher than she's ever been before, the young princess should have some sense of fear as she reaches the mysterious branch, however, her sense of accomplishment is stronger and quells all other emotions. The branch is smooth and sturdy, reaching impossibly far. One golden foot passes in front of the other and soon enough, the top of the wall is underneath the princess. The top of the blockade is thicker than she thought possible, comparable to the width of a large house. The tree is so great though, the branch passes this expanse and more.

Sakura hesitates, if she takes one step further, she'll be standing over the darkness, the unknown. Perhaps she should turn back, however, she considers this only a moment before her curiosity gets the better of her. A few more inches are all that stands between her and the biggest mystery of her life, what her ancestors so long ago wanted to hide from. She hears Naruto calling at her to turn around, but she can't be bothered by his distraction, she's so close.

Mind made up, she takes another step. However, as her foot comes down to land on the branch, it slips. Green eyes widen at the realization of what's happening. Her guardian screams her name, but it's drowned out by the rushing of wind as her glowing body plummets into the darkness.


The traveler wraps the dark furs around his body as the cold wind whips brutally around him. Though he is thankful for the time away from the main village, Sasuke is looking forward to finishing his rounds and warming by the fire. Wanting time to himself, he had sent the rest of the party back that morning, claiming he could finish the inspection of this span of the wall on his own. After all, in his years of traveling the distance of the hulking barricade, nothing has ever changed.

Despite his large load, he moves silently over the snow. Survival instinct and the reliance on hunting for food forced him to hone skills such as this early on in his life. As he passes the expanse of solid grey stone, his head roves over the turmoil waiting for him back at the council. With the outskirt villages beginning to fight, everybody is on edge, though Sasuke can't blame them for their desperate attempts; there is not much else to do when people start running out of food.

He begins to turn away from the wall, ready to start the four-day long journey back to his home when something strange catches his eye. There, peeking out from behind a snowdrift is a hint of pink. Not entirely sure of what this could be, Sasuke moves cautiously around the mound of white. He wonders if it could be the flowers of some plant that braved through the snow. Of course, the idea of anything other than evergreens growing this near to the wall is ridiculous, but no other reasoning seems probable.

What greets him on the other side of the drifted snow surprises him, causing dark eyebrows to pitch up in confusion; a woman lying face up. However, she does not look like any of the villagers or tribesmen in the area. The source of the pink is the great lengths of hair that fan out around her face messily while a purple jewel rests between closed eyes. Though it is obvious the girl is unconscious, her body wracks with shivers unsurprisingly due to her thin clothing. Other than the flimsy wisps of white that rest from the top of her chest to just below her hip bones, the only items covering her skin are delicate golden chains around her ankles and those that loop from her middle finger to her dainty wrists. However, the most striking feature that designates her as not from this world is the way her skin glows, casting a golden light in the otherwise darkened world. He blinks, wondering if the long week in the outskirts is causing his brain to play tricks on him, but no, the illumination remains.

Glancing up, Sasuke wonders how this creature of light happened to tumble into the darkness. Nobody has ever passed over the wall from either side. He would know, after all, a crucial part of his job is to inspect the wall for any possible means of penetration. Inspecting the stagnant smooth grey, he finds no break in the unforgiving stone. She must have fallen from the top, but how did she get up there?

Making a split decision, Sasuke gathers the shaking girl in his arms and begins walking, the council must know of her presence.


Consciousness begins to slowly ebb at Sakura's mind as her eyelashes flutter open. At least she thinks they flutter open… Why is it so dark? Trying to remember what had happened before she fell asleep, she cycles through the day: the festival, the tree, the wall… Her eyes widen as she remembers slipping.

Jolting upright she realizes she's in a small canvas tent with some sort of softness covering her body.

No, no, no, no, she thinks to herself. This is impossible.

Starting to panic, she searches blindly for some sort of escape from the tiny structure and manages to find a slit making up a crude entryway. She had never experienced such darkness in her life, the architecture of the castle always displaying the sun's brightness and the constant warm weather. Bursting from the tent, she starts running, barely taking in her surroundings. Tall spiny trees, strange white stuff everywhere, the wall… where's the wall? Adrenaline rushes through her veins as panic sets in her heart. She turns her body every which way until she finally locates an area where the endless trees grow thin. Running towards it, an expansive structure begins to take form.

Knees fall to the ground at what lies ahead. Confusion washes over Sakura as she takes in the sight of the wall made of dull grey stone. This isn't right. Where is the gold? As her rush of energy leaves her, she notices her body shivering uncontrollably. What's happening to her? What is this strange stuff on the ground? It resembles the soft down on young birds yet makes her legs tingle uncomfortably.

The feeling of a hand grasping her shoulder causes a renewed sense of panic to fill her body. Slowly she turns and is met with a tall creature covered with dark fur. Her eyes travel up the strange being. It stands like a human, however, the sight of its face causes a scream to erupt from Sakura's throat. Instead of a mouth or nose, there is a great shadow of darkness, and its eyes, oh its eyes, they practically glow a deep crimson.

"Stop that," a muffled voice instructs, but her cries of fear drown it out. A hand comes up and removes what must have been some type of covering to reveal a perfectly normal mouth and nose. "I said stop yelling."

Sakura silences, staring peculiarly up at her companion.

"What's happening?" she gasps out, panic welling up within her. This isn't right, this can't be real.

Taking in her surroundings, she realizes there is so much more wrong with this world than she originally realized. Her hands grasp onto the strange feathers littering the ground. No, wait, it isn't like feathers at all. It's something that crunches when she moves her hand over it and causes her body to shiver. Her eyelids flutter upward only to be met with something she's never witnessed before, darkness. The sky above her is discolored, not the typical light blue that reminds her of Naruto's eyes, but a deep sapphire, so dark it appears black. The sun also looks different, almost as if it's sick. Rather than the golden color that usually shines down, it's much less bright, dimmed by a pale pallor.

"Here," the man, at least she believes he's a man, removes the fur from his body and places it around her shoulders. The sight is discomforting, after all, she's never seen the skin of another creature used as a covering. She doesn't let it bother her too much though as her body instantly stills the little convulsions as the heat envelopes her.

Staring up at the strange person, she takes in his shocking appearance. Hair that matches the strange sky above them frames his face while the rest frays out behind him. His eyes are that same disconcerting red color, with strange symbols lazily spinning inside them, but what she finds most jarring is his skin. It's pale as if the darkness of this world has prevented the shine that adorns her own. It's staggering and gives him a disconcerting aura as if she has no business even being in his presence.

"How did you get here?" he asks gruffly, hoisting her up by the arm he still grasps in a gloved hand.

She hesitates. This man is so foreign to her and obviously not from the shining world of Konoha, the queen would not approve of her speaking to him. However, she feels as if there's no choice, given her current situation.

"I fell."

Crimson eyes narrow at this response as if not sure whether to believe her words or not. "The wall is hundreds of feet high, how did you survive?"

Her frustration grows, not taking kindly to being accused of lying. "Perhaps this strange substance provided a cushion." She picks up some of the interesting white stuff to show him. Though it's unlikely that this action was necessary due to the fact that it's covering every visible surface.

"Snow," he mutters, seeming baffled by her ignorance. "It's called snow."

"Well, sir," Sakura begins as she rises from her knees. Her bare feet rest upon the "snow," as this strange man calls it, causing an uncomfortable numbness in them. "This has been very enlightening, but I wish to return to the palace now."

He just stares at her blankly, the strange swirls in his eyes continuing their hypnotic dance.

"Palace?" she repeats, curious if he doesn't understand her.

Shockingly, the figure simply turns around without a word. Following the indents her feet left in the snow during her panicked run.

"Hello? Where are you going?" she questions, fear beginning to nag at her. How could she have ended up in this situation? She should have just listened to Naruto and gotten down from the tree.

"Home," he grunts as if she's not worth the effort of stringing together an entire sentence.

"But I need to go back to the palace," she states plainly. When the man keeps walking away, she chases after him, careful to keep the fur pulled tightly around her shoulders. "Sir!" she shouts in a feeble attempt to stop him. "I need- oof!"

Her shout cuts off as she collapses onto the ground. Her bare feet are too cold to support her and tingle painfully due to the lack of blood flowing through them. The sensation is odd, sharp and unfamiliar just like the land of darkness she finds herself in. A tear begins to run down her cheek, but halts as it freezes upon its descent. Before she can spill any more, she finds herself being lifted off the ground. At first she wants to protest, but when her body is tucked beneath more layers of her companion's clothing, she can't help but snuggle into the heat. "Where are we going?" she questions, thankful for the return of circulation in her feet.

"North," the man responds curtly.

"You're not taking me over the wall, are you?" She asks but deep in her heart she already knows the answer.

The man stops walking and looks down at her, his crimson eyes gravely serious. "There is no way over the wall," he gestures to the looming structure now at their backs. "My people have been searching for some way to do that for centuries."

"So where are you taking me then?" She questions, her green eyes welling with tears at the realization that returning to the palace is not a possibility.

"We are going to the elders of Evernight," he states as if she should know what that means. "They will know what to do about you."

Sleep suddenly pulls at her, despite the fact that she had just awoken. She stifles a yawn. "Just one more question," she says, determined to get it out before the loss of consciousness. "What's your name? Mine is Sakura"

The man locks eyes with her again and the uncontrollable urge to sleep nearly pulls her under before she hears him respond, "Sasuke."


"What about scaling the wall with rope?" Sakura asks, her words jostled by the bouncing of being on horseback. Her hips are sore from the extended periods of time straddling the black animal and despite being bundled in an assortment of Sasuke's clothes and blankets, the chill of the wind whips her face. At the palace, Sakura had ridden horses plenty of times, but never at the breakneck speed that Sasuke insists upon.

"The outskirts are dangerous lands," he had said on their first day of riding, "Many tribes out here are at war with each other and we don't want to get caught in the crossfire." They had seen evidence of this all along their journey, red splattered snow and trees embedded with all manner of weapons served as landmarks along the winding trail they paved.

"The surface is too smooth to climb even if it weren't covered in ice," Sasuke responds. He seems to have grown tired of this game of Sakura's where she asks about ways over the wall and out of Evernight. All of them have been attempted and failed by either himself or others born in the darkness, but Sakura can't give up hope of going home so easily. "And like I said about burrowing through, the stone is too hard to penetrate with any type of tools."

Sakura huffs, turning to face forward once again, trying to think of other ways to get back home, to the Light Lands as Sasuke calls it. "What about building a scaffolding next to it?"

"The snow at the base of the wall is unusually soft, which you may have discovered upon your landing," he bites out, obviously annoyed as he urges the horse onward to a small clearing. "It can't support the foundation of any type of construction, the structure would just collapse."

"What about-" she begins but is cut off.

"Sakura, I told you already," he interrupts, his tone as cold as the ice surrounding them. "Anything you suggest we've thought of, we've tried, and we've failed." He dismounts effortlessly, frustration growing at the mentions of failure attempts into the Light Lands. The strange girl had yet to realize the anguish behind the attempts through the walls.

Sasuke lifts her from the tall horse. Despite her unlikely survival of falling from the wall, he didn't trust her coordination to dismount properly while wrapped in layers of furs. Even just walking in the make-shift shoes she stumbles.

"I'm still not used to wearing so many clothes," she mutters, tripping over the long wool blanket that she keeps wrapped around herself. Her riding companion doesn't respond, instead he simply attends to the horse. "Are we camping here?" she questions.

"Yes," Sasuke responds, swinging packs down into the snow. "You start gathering wood, I'm going to get the tent pitched."

Sakura nods sleepily, this is night three of traveling with her unlikely rescuer but she's still not used to having to do so much just to rest in the harsh climate. She's tired enough to fall asleep as she is right upon the cold ground.

She watches Sasuke for a moment. His actions are just like his words, deliberate, efficient, and to the point. He doesn't waste time fiddling around and keeps them on a tight schedule. Because of this Sakura doesn't know much about him apart from the fact that he scouts the wall each year even though his people have never found a way through or over it. Also, he has a temper and she's too tired to be on the receiving end of it right now.

Re-adjusting her blanket, Sakura begins searching the ground for stray branches to burn. The snow through here isn't nearly as deep as by the wall, so digging the pieces of wood from beneath it doesn't take very much effort despite wearing Sasuke's spare pair of gloves that are entirely too big for her. Her eyes are beginning to grow accustomed to the darkness of this world, using the dim light from the moon to make out dark shapes on the ground.

She has a decent pile going and absentmindedly reaches for another piece when she notices it doesn't budge. Glancing up, the color drains from her face as she immediately realizes why. Rather than a broken piece of lumber, an emaciated arm is grasped in her gloved hands.

She can't stop the scream that escapes her as she eyes not one, but tens of bodies piled upon each other in the snow. All are thin beyond belief and stripped of any clothing. They don't even look human anymore with the ice clinging to them.

Sasuke bursts from behind her, a knife poised in a defensive position in his hand. It takes him mere seconds to analyze the scene and realize there's no immediate threat. By now the girl has sunk to her knees, her form trembling at the grim discovery.

"What happened to them?" she questions, her voice a barely audible whisper.

"Starvation," he states plainly, "Out here, resources are scarce and the ground is too frozen in most places to bury our dead." As if to prove a point, he kicks the packed dirt with his boot. "It's not uncommon for tribes to make piles like these," he gestures to the small mountain of bodies. "If they're lucky, somebody will return to burn them."

He doesn't voice the thought, but Sasuke knows that if their loved ones were going to have a ceremonial burning they would have done it long before the ice set in. Either they are nomadic and had to move along quickly, not uncommon due to the scarcity of food in these areas, or they didn't have the energy to spare, also not unlikely.

"Come on," he assists Sakura in standing up and turns her away from the sight. "The horse can make it a little further."

Shaken would be the best way to describe the strange girl after this encounter. How fortunate the land of light must be to have never witnessed starvation before, or the chaos it brings. Men, women, and children fighting over mere scraps to tame the radiating hunger within them. Sasuke was fortunate enough to only feel these effects a handful of times, having joined the scouts at a young age, but that comes with its own set of hardships.

He had heard the stories about the lands beyond the wall, green and fertile, food growing out of every square inch of grass. He assumes that's a bit of an exaggeration, but maybe not by much. He knew the history, that long ago that land was a part of this darker one, where those of royalty and wealth dwelled. But when the snow started falling and the crops in Evernight started dying, those in the Light Lands sealed the wall to prevent being overrun with the hungry people on the outskirts. Ever since then the people in Evernight have been trying to get through the wall, their panic growing each year as the ground becomes more barren and devoid of life.

As they ride away from the makeshift gravesite and throughout the rest of the night, Sakura doesn't say another word, her eyes settling on staring up at the moon instead.

That night as she's curled up on her side of the tent, she has nightmares of bodies so thin and pale, they blow away with the snow. She sits up, her body trembling, not from the cold. A hand moves aside the fur that splits down the middle of the cramp tent, "for privacy," he had told her the first night when he hung it.

"I'm sorry," she whispers, when she sees red eyes peeking at her. While she's tired, Sasuke must be absolutely exhausted having to guide the horse and set camp each night, not to mention the hunting.

"Sleep," he whispers, the dark symbols in his eyes spinning lazily.

Sakura's eyes flutter shut, the dreams remaining at bay until morning.


"It's a form of magic," Sasuke finally yields when Sakura asks for the fifth time how he made her fall asleep. "The Sharingan, it allows a channeling of magic when eye contact is made." He tries to keep the description vague, only the scouts truly know all of the secrets of the ocular spell.

"Are you born with it, or do you learn it in time," she questions. Sasuke rolls his eyes, he should've known that if he answered one, another would follow.

"Born with it," but he doesn't mention the Awakening. She turns her head as if preparing to ask another question, but Sasuke cuts her off.

"We are nearing the city," he states from behind her on the horse as their pace slows to a walking pace. "Keep your body hidden, should people notice your…" he searches for the proper word, "unique appearance…" he trails off, allowing Sakura to fill in the blanks herself. Nodding in understanding, she wraps the scarf around her face so only her bright green eyes are visible, keeping it snug to cover up the purple jewel on her forehead. The glowing viridian of her eyes could rouse suspicion, but thanks to the Sharingan the inhabitants of the woods tend to not make it a habit of looking anyone in the face. Due to the frigid temperatures, the rest of her body is already covered in all manners of furs and cloth, not a single sliver of bright skin is visible.

No sooner has she covered her face that a group of children runs out to meet the horse.

"Please mister!" a little boy cries out, his dirty hands cupped as he hopes for some form of alms.

A girl no older than ten nudges him out of the way to put her own hands in his place. "My baby sister is starving, please help."

The chain continues as all six children take their own turn to ask. Their grubby faces and scraps for coats indicating their meager backgrounds. One in particular makes Sakura's heart ache, a young girl barely older than a toddler without any gloves. She doesn't say anything, but holds her hands out like the rest of the children. Her tiny fingers are not chubby like a child's should be and are tipped blue from the cold. Before Sasuke can stop her, Sakura has removed the borrowed pair of gloves she wears and tosses them down from the horse into her little hands. The girl stares in awe, eying the golden skin Sakura has now revealed, too distracted to even thank her for the small kindness.

"Hide your hands," Sasuke barks, he has slowed the horse to a halt.

Sakura rushes to place them within the sleeves of her coat, but the other children didn't notice her blunder, too busy with Sasuke. When she looks closer, she realizes that he's giving them all of the leftover food from their journey: berries, jerky, and even some game that he caught that morning. He's careful to divide it evenly, giving an extra portion to the girl that said she had a sister.

Satisfied, the children run off all except for the little girl Sakura had given the gloves to. She stays silent, still gaping up at Sakura. Sasuke presses a finger to his lips as he hands her a bundle of food and a blanket. She smiles and nods, accepting the gift.

"That was kind of you," Sakura states, still surprised by her companion's generosity.

"Despite what you think," he responds in a severe tone, "Giving them those things is not a mercy, we've only prolonged their suffering."

"Do you think she will tell anybody?" she asks, trying to ignore Sasuke's grim words.

"No," he responds, much to Sakura's relief. "At least not until we make it to the elders."

"What will they do with me?" Sakura asks, her voice little more than a whisper. The further away from the wall they go the deeper the pit in her stomach grows. From what she's seen of this land, it's cruel and harsh; she can't imagine the leaders of it will be much different. From the sounds of it, they harbor much resentment against her people and that worries her.

Sasuke doesn't respond, just continues to urge the horse through the city gates and down winding paths.


Sasuke looks around his modest living quarters looking forward to a decent night of sleep. Due to the small capacity of his tent, he had been practically pressed up against the side of the cold canvas each night to accommodate his travel partner. Not to mention her luminescence caused a strange brightness in the confined quarters that made it difficult to sleep, the makeshift partition helped slightly, but he just wasn't used to sleeping in anything other than utter darkness. He watches the girl examine the various trinkets that rest on shelves.

"It is cozy," she states, "much roomier than the tent."

She is correct on that account. When he first joined the scouts he lived in the dormitory, a cold stone building with rows of bunk beds for each of the young men. As he moved up in ranks and took on more runs he had earned himself a private set of rooms attached to the compound of the elders. It came with a bed, a fireplace, and a private washing area. He also couldn't argue with the convenience of accessing the dining hall without stepping foot outside.

Sasuke sighs, "What are your living arrangements like over the wall?"

Sakura hesitates at first, "As it's much warmer there, our rooms are open. Many don't have walls surrounding them and settle for sleeping beneath the sun every night."

"And you?" he asks before he can stop himself. "Do you sleep beneath the sun?"

Sakura hesitates a moment, thinking of her palace rooms. Marble flooring, wispy drapes hanging from stone archways, and a small stream that circles the outside patio that houses her bed. Every night she falls asleep among the numerous flowers of her garden, skin warmed by the sun, and the tinkling sound of running water surrounding her. She has yet to tell Sasuke about her status in Konoha. As one of many princesses handpicked by the queen she is training to be selected as next in line. While she is not the front running candidate, she has been declared the queen's favorite.

"Yes, you see I-"

Sakura is cut off as a knock comes on the door opposite the one on the side they had used to access Sasuke's living quarters. She had been told that this is the one that leads to the rest of the compound.

Before Sasuke can open it, the wood swings open to reveal another man standing there, his eyes lack the deep crimson of Sasuke's, which surprises Sakura.

"The elders have gathered as you requested," His pale hair matches the color of the snow outside and falls down to his shoulders. "You better-"

This time it's the new arrivals turn to be cut off as his eyes finally land upon Sakura.

"Suigetsu, please tell them we'll be there in a moment," Sasuke orders him, locking eyes in a threatening manner. "Not a word."

Suigetsu nods before slamming the door shut.

"Here," Sasuke hands Sakura her clothing from the day she fell, along with the abundance of jewelry she had removed for easier traveling. "The compound is warm and these will fit you much better than my spares. I'll find some more suitable clothes for you later tonight." He gestures to a fabric of deep blue folded on top of the little desk chair. "Put this on top for the walk over."

Sakura accepts her belongings, hugging them to her chest. They still smell slightly of the sap from the summer tree that put her in this predicament. A small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth as she finally has something familiar, even if it is her own clothing.

"I will wait outside until you are finished," Sasuke states before exiting through the doorway Suigetsu had been standing in moments before.

Without hesitating, she begins pulling the thick furs over her head, enjoying the lightness of not being weighed down by their heft. She pulls on her dress, loving the feeling of the sheer layers as she wraps them around her. It's softly colored and hugs her breasts together with a gauzy skirt that falls to her knees. When she walks, her glowing legs peak from the slits in the fabric. She slips on her anklets and fastens her numerous bracelets, attaching the dainty chain to the ring on her finger.

Grabbing the blue cloak, she swings it over her shoulders and goes to join Sasuke in the darkened hallway. She wishes he had this piece out in the wilderness with him. The material is soft yet light and pools at her feet. The sleeves fall over her hands and the hood is large enough to hide almost the entirety of her face.

"I'm not going to let them hurt her," Sasuke's voice says angrily. His tone is quiet, yet holds a threatening menace.

Sakura sinks back, using the door as a shield so she can eavesdrop.

"You might not have a choice," Suigetsu states, causing Sakura's heart to drop. What if he's right and these elders do want to do something horrible to her. Here she is, walking right into this trap.

She eyes the other door, the one she knows leads back out into the snow. It's a long shot, but she could find a horse and head back to the wall. By now Naruto has to be on his way to rescue her, she would surely intercept him and they could go home together. It would take Sasuke some time before he realizes she's not there anymore, that should be enough of a headstart for her.

Mind made up, Sakura pulls the handle and finds herself back in the snow and darkness. She pulls the hood closer to her face and begins trying to retrace the steps Sasuke had taken from the stables. Torches line the streets, causing dark shadows to dance at the edge of her vision. The princess jumps with a start more than once thinking they're actually somebody following her.

Soon enough she stumbles upon the stables and searches for a horse that looks sturdy enough for the four day trip. Ideally she'd like to use the horse that had brought her here since it'd be familiar with her, however, she knows that there's no way it could make another long journey without recuperating. She eyes another stallion with a coat that's pure white and makes a split decision that this is the one.

She moves to open the gate, hoping it doesn't squeak.

"Hey you!"

Without thinking, she bolts the opposite way and runs, not daring to glance back. She curses herself for not grabbing shoes as her bare feet hit the cold stone. She turns a corner and before she realizes what's happening, a set of strong arms are restraining her. Her hood is pulled off and she finds herself face to face with Sasuke.

"What have we here," a deep voice lulls.

No, not Sasuke. In the fire light she realizes her mistake. While this man definitely resembled her traveling companion, he's older and his long hair, the familiar dark shade, peeks from beneath his hood.

"So you're who my young brother is searching so intently for," he states his tone flat and lacking any emotion. "Come now, let's not make the elders wait any longer."

Continuing to grasp her arm, he leads her down a series of passageways before coming to a stop in front of large double doors. Shoving one open, he tugs Sakura through.

She's not ready for the uneven surface and finds herself falling face first into stone. Her cloak falls off with the sudden movement as she splays out like a rag doll. Hearing a gasp, she sits up, hugging her arms around herself in an effort to hide her glowing skin. The room she finds herself in is warm, too warm as a large hearth dances with large flames. An imposing table stretches the length of the room, multiple men of varying ages sit behind it, all sets of crimson eyes on her.

"Well, well, well…" the man at the center begins to say. His dark hair is long and wavy, his gaze sharp and threatening. While he doesn't appear to be any older than the rest, the presence he gives off is ancient. It's obvious that he is the one in charge. "Where did you find her, Itachi?"

Sakura turns back to look at the one that captured her, here in the brightness of the room, she can definitely see the resemblance to Sasuke. Brother, he had said. "She was attempting to steal a horse, it seems that this is the young woman Sasuke was seen with earlier today."

The leader rises from behind the table and stalks towards Sakura. He grasps her chin with his fingers, forcing her to look up into his crimson eyes. "So beautiful," he touches the purple gem that rests on the center of her forehead and Sakura can feel her body roll with revulsion. "How did you come to be here, little light?"

The way he says it makes Sakura feel as if she's an animal on display. She's not sure what to say, so she remains silent. This angers the man and before she realizes what's happened he backhands her, stinging radiates from her cheek at the impact. The metallic tang of blood coats her lips.

"Surely this isn't necessary," Itachi suggests, his tone still flat.

"Well look at that," the man that hit her observes, "Even your blood is different from ours."

Sakura wipes the back of her hand over her mouth to see the golden smear from his actions. She remains silent though, refusing to give these cruel men anything.

"Now will you speak with me?" She grasps her chin roughly between his fingers, causing her jaw to ache. Fear makes her heart pound and stills her tongue. The leader pulls his arm back as if to hit her again, but the door behind them bursts open, stopping him.

"Madara," Sasuke bites out as he enters, a warning. Without hesitating, he kneels in front of Sakura, wrapping her fallen cloak back around her. His eyes lock with hers as if searching for something and his fingers linger on her arm just a moment longer than necessary before he stands, acting as a barrier between her and the man he called Madara.

"Sasuke, how nice of you to join us. I was just beginning to interrogate the prisoner you so kindly brought us," his eyes flash, challenging Sasuke to defy him.

"Come now Madara," Sasuke responds cooly. "Surely you've realized from her jewels and clothing that she is of high ranking beyond the wall." His fingers brush a lock of hair behind her ear gently. Her body tingles in response, completely different from the revulsion she felt when Madara touched her.

"Why of course!" Madara calls out, a twisted smile curling on his lip. "She shall be an honored guest." He snaps his fingers, summoning servants from an unseen place. "Bring a place setting for our new friend. We shall feast in her honor."

Sakura can hear the sarcasm dripping from his words, but she rises and sits where the hunched servants placed a new chair. Sasuke takes the spot next to her, placing his hand around her wrist beneath the table, a silent warning as well as a sign that he was going to get her through this.

"So, little light, what is your name and title among your people?" He says the last words with a sneer, as if any title granted by her people was a mockery.

She debates his question for a moment as plates of food are brought out. Steaming dishes of stew, hardy slabs of meat, and warm bread with a crust that crackles when you rip it. Her mouth waters slightly, having grown used to the strange crumbly rations and scrawny rabbits Sasuke split with her on the journey.

Obviously she doesn't trust this man one bit so she needs to craft a persona for herself. A position low enough that he wouldn't expect her to be able to reveal too much information on her home, but not so lowly for him to dispose of her.

"Sakura, sir," she lowers her head demurely, her lip still stinging where it had split at his contact. "I'm a handmaiden to one of the princesses in the palace."

"Palace? Princesses? Sounds like a life of luxury on the other side of the wall." He fills the plate in front of him, piling on the variety of foods. "Once the wall was sealed, those of us on the wrong side of it were left to fight for scraps. Forced to fight for the scarce resources we were left with. All while you lounge in your warm sun palaces."

Sasuke's grip tightens, almost as if restraining himself from lashing out.

"We have our own hardships as well, my lord," she bows her head, picking at a piece of poultry.

"What? Is it hard to enjoy your riches over the guilt you feel for sentencing those of us in Evernight to death?"

Sakura rises from her spot, staring into those crimson eyes. Unlike Sasuke's that grow with warmth this man's glow with wrath.

"You blame my people for your misfortune, yet here you sit, feasting while your people starve. You have yourself to blame for the suffering outside the walls you have constructed."

She expects his anger to explode, to feel that strong hand on her face again. Instead, the blood in her veins chill as he barks out a harsh laugh. "You sunkissed handmaidens have quite the mouth on you." He pauses a moment, "Finish your meal and rest up, I have many more questions for you tomorrow. Sasuke, I'm sure you can continue providing the best hospitality this wasteland can offer."

Sakura does not dare say another word, settling for pushing the remaining food on her plate around in circles. What few bites she manages feel like ash in her mouth as the direness of her situation sinks in.


"There are extra blankets down here," Sasuke gestures towards the bottom drawer of the wardrobe. They had returned to his rooms with few words exchanged between them, both of their moods having turned dark after the scene in the council chamber.

She stands awkwardly within the room and Sasuke begins sorting through his things.

"I'm the only one with keys to this room," Sasuke continues, "but I think it would be wise if you barricaded the doors once I leave."

"Leave?" Sakura questions, anxiety beginning to bloom in her chest at the thought of being alone in this dark and desolate place.

"I'll go sleep in the dorms," he gestures to the singular bed. "To give you… privacy." He says the last word lamely, as if he's not quite sure how to navigate this situation. "I'll be back in the morning, try not to leave the room until then."

Sakura nods in agreement, but the idea of him, the only person who seems to be on her side, so far away worries her.

Having finished gathering what he'll need for the night, Sasuke moves towards the inner door. A bag he had been carrying since the council chamber is slung loosely over his back as he braces a hand on the doorknob.

"Sasuke," his name on her lips causes him to pause. "I'm sorry for running away." She whispers, embarrassment flushing her cheeks.

Crimson eyes meet glowing green ones, the small candle on a nightstand the only illumination in this dark world.

"I would have done the same," he says quietly. "I promise I will do what I can to protect you, but you will have to trust me."

Sakura nods, knowing her voice would tremble should she attempt to speak under that piercing gaze. After one more moment of pause, Sasuke exits the room leaving only the click of a lock in his place.


Knock! Knock!

Sakura starts from the bed, his bed, at the sound from one of the doors. Rather than answering, she lingers in the quiet, listening.

"It's me," the familiar voice muffles from behind the wood that leads into the keep. Sakura quickly pushes away the chest she had dragged in front of the door and unclicks the latch.

"I thought you have a key," she questions when she sees Sasuke standing in the hall.

"I figured you won't appreciate me barging in unannounced," he responds, handing her a plate of food consisting of bread and a small hunk of cheese.

"Thank you for the consideration," she states, poking the bread with her finger. She's thankful that he thought of her, but the idea of facing his elders again immediately takes away any appetite she had. She sets aside the plate and looks up to see dark eyes studying her face. She gasps slightly, surprised at the lack of crimson.

Sasuke blinks and the red returns, leaving Sakura wondering if she imagined it. He reaches a hand towards her and Sakura holds her breath as his fingers linger just a breath away from her lips. A stirring awakens within her at the thought of what he might do. Last night he had held on to her and given her passing brushes of his fingers and she aches to feel the strange electricity that sparked through her with each of them. However, Sasuke drops his hand and Sakura tries to ignore the nagging feeling of disappointment.

"Your lip is healed," he mutters, his voice strained.

"Oh," Sakura replies awkwardly, trying to hide how hopeful she had been to feel his warmth again. "Yes, it wasn't that bad."

"I won't let him touch you like that again," Sasuke promised, his voice so quietly Sakura almost missed it. "Madara is a snake," he continues, "he will manipulate and weasel his way around a conversation to find out what he wants. He's not above taking things by force." His tone is a hiss of anger and it's easy to see that there is hatred between the men.

"I can't answer his questions," Sakura states.

"You'll have to try your best," he responds, almost pleading with her.

"I don't even fully know how I got here, Sasuke," emerald eyes plead with him to understand. "Nobody from my land has ever crossed the wall. It's forbidden to even touch it in my world." She shakes her head. "I didn't know the history, all I was ever told was that monsters dwell over here. I had this favorite tree I would climb because it was so close to the top. Naruto was always furious with me-"

"Naruto?" Sasuke questions, the masculine name forcing his brows to pinch together.

"My guardian," she clarifies, "he was assigned to protect me once I became-"

"A handmaiden?" he questions, obvious disbelief lacing his tone.

She pauses, Sasuke had asked her to trust him and she does, but whether he disagrees with Madara or not, he's still his countryman and revealing her royal status could cause him to press for information about her people. When she doesn't correct him, she sees Sasuke's face fall slightly before he slides an emotionless mask into place.

"Come," he orders, jerking his head towards the door. "We must go."

Sakura nods in response and rises to follow him. While she had traveled back to the room through the inner chambers last night, she was too shaken and exhausted to really take in the winding stone passageways but now she sees the attempts to warm the grey stones with periodic fireplaces and woven tapestries. Due to the higher temperatures, she lowers the blue hood of her cloak from her face and rolls up the sleeves. More than one passerby oogles at her, but a stern look from Sasuke quickly sends prying eyes turning elsewhere.

Sakura halts as a particularly woven art piece catches her eye. A golden sun glows warmly in the center of the piece, people woven in golden thread raise their hands in reverence as all manner of crops are stitched around them.

Home.

"When I was young, I cleaned these halls." Sasuke begins, having come to stand beside her. "I used to stand in front of this tapestry and imagine a world where it was warm and food was plentiful." He doesn't voice it out loud, but he had been starving at the time, living off of discarded kitchen scraps and the occasional kindness of a returning scout.

Sakura's fingers rise to the tapestry and she traces the golden thread making up a small girl.

"Come," Sasuke urges her onward. "We've been keeping them waiting too long already."