Dedication

To all my LOYAL readers. Thank you.

Beta-d by: IkiIki

Chapter 5: I…Love you.

It's been six months since Sakura first arrived at the Uchiha palace. She made friends with Tamiko, Hinata, Naruto, and Sasuke. Tsunade was so much like her mother, it scared her. She moved up the levels of medic-nins faster than everyone there. She was now currently at level 8 with Hinata, and Tamiko was a level higher than her. Her life as a slave was going great compared to the other slaves at the palace.

No, they weren't chained and beat, but she didn't have to clean, cook, and do yard work like the others. More than likely it was because she was Sasuke's "bedmate", but who cares?

She was walking to her/Sasuke's room. The palace was beautifully decorated with Christmas decorations. She couldn't believe Christmas was just two days from now.

"I need to get some gifts for the others," Sakura thought

She sort of cringed at the word gifts, when she realized she was still Sasuke's gift. That then reminded her she could not leave the palace without written consent or without being with a royal.

"Hmm. I wonder if Tamiko would let me go shopping with her? I really want to get something for Sasuke. I mean he didn't take my innocence, even though his father told him to," she thought to herself.

It has also been six months of pretending to have sex. No one suspected a thing, well, no one except Tamiko. She's too smart for her age. It's been six months of routine acting, but also six months of getting to know Sasuke.

Sakura spent most of her free time just thinking about him. They talked all the time and she found out a few interesting things about him. His favorite color is dark blue. His favorite food is tomatoes. He hates sweets. He loves fighting and no one can beat him, but Naruto and him constantly end up in a draw in their spars. He has an AB blood type. He doesn't really care for animals. He can actually dance pretty well (Royals are required to take dance lessons). He has his face on the official currency. He even— wait! Why would she even know all this? Because they are friends, right? Nothing more…right?

Sakura contemplated on why she knew all of this.

"Cause he's my friend. I mean, so what if he "legally" owns me. It's not like he tells me what to do. Yeah, he's great looking, nice, a noble and his hair smell nice after he bathes. He was always there to comfort me whenever I broke down. He trusts me with his darkest secret. He even saved me from drunken Neji," she thought, contemplating.

Flashback

Sakura once again,

"Damn it! How do I keep getting lost? It's been four months already," she thought out loud.

"Maybe I could be of ssome sservice. My (chuckle) derest cherries bossom. W-wait. I mean sherries blossom. Wait. That can't be right eter," slurred an obviously drunken Neji.

"Oh, god! He's…drunk?" thought Sakura to herself.

That was so unlike him. The usually well-groomed boy was a complete mess. His perfect chocolate hair was out of its tie and was all over the place. His shirt was wrinkled and dirty. And he absolutely reeked of alcohol, when he suddenly threw his arm over her shoulders.

"N-no. Thanks, but I'll be okay, Neji," she stuttered.

This Neji was scary. Sakura was scared.

"You's know that you remind me's of my ex-fiancé? She like weapons, you's know? Always got lost. No sense of di…di… direction!" he shouted into Sakura's ears, causing her to wince.

Neji then pushed Sakura against a wall. Sakura was afraid of this drunk and POWERFUL Neji.

"She broke off the enragement. No that's not right. Ah!" he breathed into Sakura's face.

"His breath is killing me! How much did he drink?" she thought, while trying to keep her dinner down.

"Tentens broke off the engagement, cause she thought I was a cheater. Cans you's be-lieve it!?" he shouted once again.

For a second, she thought he sounded like Naruto screaming 'Believe it!'. God this was scaring her to fucking bits.

"Umm… Neji? I'm sorry and all, but I've got to go," she said while trying to get away from the drunken mess.

Neji threw her against the wall again, causing her to yell out in pain.

A guard walked past, not bothering to help her. She was a slave and he was Neji Hyuuga. The most gifted to emerge from the Hyuuga dynasty. Not someone you'd want to mess with.

"No you's wont pinky. You know's Tentens break it off because she think I sleep with you. She saw me's help you when you's get lost. I tells her no. Your Sasuke's. You know you looks like Tentens. But pink hairs," he slurred while advancing towards her mouth.

He never made it because Sasuke came out of nowhere and threw him down.

"Stay away from what's mine, Hyuuga!" he yelled with the Sharingan flaring. That's when he realized what a mess his cousin was.

"Itai!" the raven yelled, when he felt a bonk on his head.

"How many times do I have to tell you? I'M NOT YOUR TOY!" she yelled, but was quickly grabbed by the guard who recently passed her.

"Oh NOW, he comes," she thought bitterly.

"It's okay. Take my cousin to his room," he told the guard.

"Hai." said the guard and grabbed hold of the Hyuuga, who just threw up all over the guard all of a sudden

Sakura let out a small giggle.

"That's what you get for not helping me," she thought to herself.

Sasuke and Sakura turned around and headed for their room.

"How did you know I was in trouble?"

"My Sakura senses were tingling." (Sorry peoples)

She gave him a chakra infused flick into his shoulder. She heard a low 'Itai'.

"No, really. How did you know where I was?" she asked the prince.

"I heard you scream. I thought you were in trouble, so I came running."

"Oh… Thank you," she said quietly.

"…Hn," he said.

End of Flashback

Well, what happened to Neji, you may ask. Well, him and Tenten got back together the day after. She was worried when she heard that he was ill. Nobody knows what went on inside the room, but when Tenten came out, she announced that she and Neji would continue the engagement. She was also sporting a silk scarf, that wasn't there before I might add.

Tamiko guessed (but was probably right) that Neji explained the situation and probably seduced her to get back with him, in the most Hyuuga way possible:

"Please continue the engagement. It was our destiny to meet, love and be wedded."

Or something along those lines, as Tamiko "guessed".

It was also then that she realized that Sasuke actually cared about what happened to her and vice versa. She frowned at the thought.

"Of course I care. I mean…I think about him when he's not with me. I always know when he's hurt. He tells me everything about his meetings and missions that him, Naruto and their sensei go on. I love hearing his voice whenever he talks about his mission. The way he moves his hands trying to explain the jutsus he used. Or the way his eyes light up when he explains how many asses he kicked. I mean, I care 'cause he's like my best friend," she thought out load.

"No. You care because you love him," said a voice.

"I can't believe I said that out loud," she thought, turning to the owner of the voice.

There, standing in an orange medic uniform (She dyed all of her white ones different colors), was the last person she'd want to see. Tamiko-hime.

"Oh, hi, Tamiko. What brings you here, Tee-hime?" she asked. Then she realized that she had no idea where she was. She was lost. Again.

"Well, my room for one, but that doesn't matter right now. I can't believe you love Sasuke!" she squealed.

Sakura's eyes widened, then she tried to deny it.

"I do NOT love Sasuke. He's just my best friend."

Tamiko's eyes saddened.

"You mean, I'm not your best friend?"

"No! That's not what I mea—" but was cut off by Tamiko's laughter.

"You should have seen your face," she said through her laughter.

Sakura glared.

"What kind of normal person fake-cries? But then again, this is Tee-hime," she thought.

"Well, back to the subject. I can't believe you love Sasuke. Well I can believe it, but I would never even imagine it would happen before you guys even had sex. I mean, it wasn't—"

"I don't love Sasuke!" Sakura yelled, interrupting Tamiko from her ranting.

"Oh please. " Oh I love the way his hands move" and "I love the way his eyes light up". "His eyes are as black as night." Please, you're in LOVE with my brother," she said, getting out of her mimicking. Even though it might have been over exaggerated when she emphasized the love part. But who noticed, other than Sakura, who was fuming at the impression.

"I DO NOT sound like that. And how long were you listening to me?!" she asked/yelled.

"Long enough to realize you love Sasuke," she replied.

Sakura was getting frustrated.

"How many times do I have to tell you? I don'—" but was cut off.

"And how many times do I have to tell you that you do, Sakura?" she said in a serious voice that made Sakura's eyes widen and her suddenly stop to listen to the younger girl before her.

"Why are you trying to convince yourself that you don't? Why can't you accept that you love him? Sakura, you DO love him." And she left without another word.

Sakura regained her composure a few minutes after Tamiko left.

"Tamiko-hime doesn't know what she's talking about. I… I… I love Sasuke," she thought.

"Argh!" she yelled out in frustration.

Then she realized something.

"Damn it! I'm lost! Again!"

Sasuke and Naruto were sitting against a tree.

"Naruto?"

"What?" panted Naruto. For you see, Sasuke and him had just taken part in a spar and, as usual, it ended in a draw.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Huh?" asked Naruto in confusion. Sasuke never asked Naruto anything.

"It's either him or no one. Tamiko will just blackmail me later. Itachi will just make fun of it. Kakashi will get all perverted and stuff."

"How did you know you were attracted to Hinata? As in more than just how she looked?" asked Sasuke before he lost his nerve.

This took Naruto by complete surprise.

"Umm… What do you mean?"

A few minutes of silence passed.

Sasuke was thinking of way to word it just right.

"…I mean as in you think about her all the time. She's constantly on your mind. You wonder how she is all the time. You show and feel emotions that only she could bring out. It's like—"

"It's like she's the only person that matters and you'd die if anything ever happened her. She's like the air you need to breath or the light that brightens your day," Naruto finished off.

"…Yeah," replied Sasuke.

Silence.

"Well teme, I don't actually know who this girl is, but it sounds to me as though you're in love with her."

More silence.

Sasuke got up and muttered a farewell. He had some thinking to do.

He began walking to his room. He got there to see that Sakura wasn't there, which he was grateful for.

"Love… I love her… I love my slave? I can't love her. It won't be accepted. I can't love a slave. I can't love a…slave," he thought.

He realized something. He can't love a slave, but that may not be a problem for long.

He was interrupted from his thoughts when the door opened to reveal his… love?

Sakura walked into the room to see Sasuke look up from his desk.

"You know the palace should really have maps. I've gotten lost too many damn times. Maybe you all could--" but stopped when she realized Sasuke was staring at her with the weirdest look in his eyes.

They stayed like that for a good 2 minutes. Sakura started blushing.

"Get it together Sakura! You can do this."

"Well, how—" but was cut off by surprise.

Sasuke was sitting at his desk. She blinked and he was right in front of her face.

"Sakura I need to tell you something." Sasuke said in a serious tone. She could feel the hot breath because of the closeness. She blushed.

"Umm…Okay?"

Sasuke had to say this before he lost his nerve.

"Over the past six months, I've grown closer to you than any other girl I've ever known, well except for Tamiko, but this is different. I love our conversations and the way you listen. I can be myself around you. You've become like my best friend but deeper somehow. I don't really know but I think… I… I think I'm falling in love with you," he confessed.

Sakura's eyes widened.

"He's falling for me?"

"I…I—" but was cut off when lips were crushed onto her own.

Sasuke kissed her. Sakura was still numb from the fact that the one she supposedly loved was falling in love with her.

"Wait! Focus at the task at hand," her conscious was screaming at her.

It was then that she realized that Sasuke was nipping at her bottom lip. She moaned at the kiss and it gave Sasuke access to ravish her mouth.

The raven slipped his tongue in the girl's mouth. His tongue swept all throughout her mouth.

Exploring.

Tasting.

Memorizing.

Sakura gave up fighting for dominance because she was in bliss just from the kiss. Sasuke pulled away from the passionate kiss for some much needed air.

He looked at Sakura straight in the eyes. He wanted to go further, but wouldn't unless Sakura was ready. And boy, did a certain "member" of his anatomy want Sakura to say yes.

After what felt like an eternity, Sakura finally voiced her opinion in the matter. More like shook her yes. For there were no words to describe anything. All she knew consciously was that she wanted this to continue.

Sasuke lead her to the bed and pushed her down lightly. He captured her lips and began nipping at her bottom lip. She moaned and this allowed Sasuke into her mouth once again. The familiar taste was slowly becoming addictive.

He slowly worked on unbuttoning and untying that blasted medic uniform. When everything was loose, he broke the kiss to remove her fabric and to take off his shirt. He then started attacking Sakura's neck.

Sasuke loved the sounds that Sakura was emitting. He wanted to hear more, but cursed himself for not reading past chapter 8 in Kakashi's perverted book (birthday present and what he was reading at his desk earlier). He only learnt the basics, not so much the art of pleasuring.

He fumbled with the hook to Sakura's chest bindings but eventually got it off. He then started slipping off her lower undergarments. She lifted her waist to help the raven remove her underwear. Sasuke unlatched himself from Sakura's neck, earning a whimper from the disappointed Sakura. He took the time to glance over Sakura's naked form. When Sakura realized what he was doing she turned her head and blushed. Sasuke took her chin to face him and said, "You're beautiful."

He removed his pants and boxers to reveal a good eight inches of erected manhood. Sakura struggled to see what was probing at her inner thigh. Sasuke smirked at Sakura and said, "It's all me."

She settled down and blushed even deeper.

"Sakura? Are you sure" asked Sasuke huskily. He wanted to take the girl right then but would back down if she said no. No matter how much he wanted it.

"Sasuke, I want you because-I need you-I love you too," she said.

"She loves me" was the last thing his mind comprehended before he slipped his weeping member into her heated core. He struggled against her hymen but finally pushed through until he reached his hilt and stopped when he saw her let out a few tears.

"Do you want me to pull out?" he asked.

"The heat is so good. Please say no," he thought.

"No. Let me get used to it," she said.

Sasuke started nibbling on her neck trying to relax her.

"God this hurts. I never thought it would hurt this bad."

"M-move," she rasped.

Sasuke stopped marking her to ask a question.

"You sure?"

"Oh god, be sure," his mind was yelling.

"Y-yes. M-move."

Sasuke started at a slow pace.

"F-faster," Sakura panted out. She was in pure bliss right now.

Sasuke's self control flew out the window. He thrusted as fast as he could. He was pleased at the moans coming from Sakura's mouth.

Due to the fact that they were both new at this, they didn't last long.

Sakura was the first to reach her climax.

"Sasuke. You're really heavy."

"Hn," he said and removed himself from in and off of Sakura. He wrapped her in her arms and pulled the blanket to cover them.

"Sasuke, do you really love me?" Sakura said with tiredness evident in her voice.

"I've just showed you how much I do," he answered back.

"Okay." And with that, she went to sleep.

Sasuke took this time to look at his sleeping angel.

"I can't love a slave. I just can't love a…slave." He thought with a smile on his face when he remembered just then his plan before. He then fell asleep.

Sakura awoke to see that Sasuke had already left. She frowned at this.

Then she felt that her lower half hurt. Last night's events came streaming through her mind. She giggled and sighed.

"Nothing a little healing can fix," she said out loud and then started getting ready for her job.

It was currently noon and the clinic was dead all day long. Apparently nobody likes to get sick on Christmas Eve.

Sakura was smiling contently to herself while eating her salad. Tamiko cocked an eyebrow at her (Well, at least tried to).

"I don't see how salad can make you that happy," Tamiko said, while popping a sweet potato fry(4) in her mouth.

Sakura snapped back to reality to give Tamiko an answer.

"Oh. It's not the salad. Just something from last night," she said and resumed back to eating her salad.

Tamiko absorbed the information she had just received.

3…

2…

1…

"You…Oh Snap! You and Sasuke finally did it!" Tamiko exclaimed, pointing a finger at Sakura.

"Shut up!" she said, while looking around to see if anyone heard Tamiko's outburst. Thank goodness they were alone.

"Fine. It's just shocking. I mean after the incident, I would have never expected Sasuke to go all the way, not unless… Oh Snap! Sasuke loves you too!" she cried out again.

"SHUT UP!" screamed Sakura.

"Okay, okay, okay. Give me the details. Not about the sex thing because eww (shivers because it's her brother). How did he say "I love you". I would have so killed to see him say it and mean it. I me--"

"Okay! Just calm down. I'll tell you." Sakura said as she recounted the love confession.

Shikamaru finished drawing out the papers. He was the royal record keeper. He loved the job because he could finish everything at his own pace, which was incredibly slow by the way.

"Why are you doing this again?" he asked Sasuke.

"Because a prince can't love a slave," he said

"Tch. So troublesome," Shikamaru said, stating his infamous words of laziness.

"Hn," Sasuke said, getting up and taking the papers with him as he left.

Sakura was too engulfed in her thoughts that she got lost. Again.

"What the hell. How can I be lost?" she said out loud.

"Maybe I can be of some ssservice," said a voice.

Sakura jumped at the sound of the voice. She turned around to see Itachi.

"Oh it's you Itachi-sama," she said relived and with a little bow.

"I got lost again. Can you help me find Sasuke's room? I'm supposed to be there in 20 minutes. He came by the clinic and said he had something important to tell me," she said.

"Oh, 20 minutesss is enough time to get you to Sasuke's room," he said while advancing towards her.

Sasuke looked up from his "educational" book Kakashi gave him when he heard his door open. He saw Sakura avoid his eye contact. He just shrugged it off thinking it was because of embarrassment from last night. He smirked at the thought because he got through the pleasuring chapter.

Within a blink of an eye Sasuke was in front of Sakura.

"Sakura, I have something to tell you," he said in a serious tone.

Sakura looked at him in confusion.

"I can't love you," he said.

Sakura's world just came crashing down at the statement.

"He doesn't love me? No! He told me last night he did. He even showed me," she thought.

"I don't believe you," she voiced out loud.

"Sakura—" but was cut off when Sakura gave him a chakra infused punch.

Normally he would have been able to block it, but he never expected Sakura to punch him. Especially not with chakra.

It sent him to the ground. Hard.

"What the hell, Sakura!" Sasuke yelled at her with his Sharingan flared.

"You lied to me. You told me you loved me. You even showed me. How coul—" but was cut off when she was pinned to the wall and silenced by a fierce kiss, form the raven.

Sakura was overpowered and couldn't get out of Sasuke's grip. She had tears coming out of her eyes. She gave in because even though he didn't love her she still loved him.

After two minutes, they broke apart for the much needed air.

Sakura was devastated but she had to know.

"Why?" she asked looking into the dark eyes.

Sasuke stared at the beautiful green eyes that belonged to the woman he fell in love with.

"I can't love you because you're a slave," he said.

That completely destroyed her. She was speechless. Her mind was not functioning at all. She just stayed there, with her mouth open.

Sasuke sighed and decided to continue his explanation.

"Sakura. I'm a prince and you're a slave. I can't love you because of the difference in class."

He dug into his pocket and pulled out some papers.

"So I got this made. It states that I have given you the Nano land that was mine, and that you are the official Lady of the land. You're not a slave anymore. I've just freed you," he said while giving Sakura the paper.

Sakura was still mute so Sasuke continued.

"Sakura I wasn't supposed to love you because of the class system and I couldn't live with the fact you're here because I own you. But now since you're a lady starting at midnight, I can officially love you," he finished.

Sakura's mind just absorbed all the information.

"I'm… free. I'm free and he loves me!" her mind screamed.

Sasuke let go and Sakura punched him again. Once again, Sasuke did not see that coming, but he didn't fall this time.

"What the hell?! I just gave you your freedom and you punch me." He said with his Sharingan flared once again.

Sakura glared.

"You broke my heart, saying you couldn't love me!" she screamed.

Sasuke felt guilty.

"I guess I should have worded it better," he said.

"You think?!" she yelled.

Sasuke laughed. Sakura couldn't see what was so funny, but then started laughing too. A clock rung throughout the palace. It was officially Christmas. And Sakura was officially free.

There was a deadly silence that fell throughout the room, while the clock stroked twelve times.

"Thank you. It means a lot to me, to have my freedom," Sakura said.

"Merry Christmas," He said.

That reminded Sakura of something. She dug into her uniform looking for her gift. She finally found it and handed it over to the Uchiha.

Sasuke cocked an eyebrow and opened the sack to see a silver pendent on a chain. It had a sort of glass covering and inside was something pink.

"What's this?" he asked, confused.

"It was my family symbol. The pink stuff inside the pendant is my hair," she said.

"Oh. Thank you," He said while placing it on his neck.

Silence. An awkward silence.

"So what do we do now?" Sakura asked, breaking the silence.

"Well, I can think of one thing I'd love to do," he said against her ear and then started nibbling on it.

"You-- pervert," she said while blushing

Sasuke stopped and smirked.

"You know you want it."

"You're so lucky I love you," she said in defense.

"I love you," he said.

Sakura smiled and replied, "I love you too."

And then they went into a passionate kiss that lead to a repeat of the night before, but even better for Sakura, because Sasuke got past chapter eight.