There we go, Chapter 2 is up. Hurrah.
'Chapter 2 - A Most Unpleasant Walk'
After what seemed to be five decades, the dinner ended and all the guests were ushered into the dance hall to be amused by dancers and music. My father bid me to skip the entertainment and show my fiancé around the palace gardens. Naturally, I obliged.
Sasuke walked over to me and offered me his arm, just like a proper gentleman would do. Blushing, I gingerly rested my hand in the crevice of his elbow and allowed him to walk me towards the dance hall exit. Tenten, ever the dutiful maid, took up her position behind us as it would be very inappropriate for a princess to go about sans escort.
As we stepped out onto the terrace, the music started up and the quiet chatter of people died down.
Crickets chirped from within the safety of the foliage and fireflies drifted along the air. I hated to admit it, but the night was romantic. As romantic as one could hope for.
We walked in silence along the cobbled pathways, following the light of the many lanterns stationed across the vast garden.
The silence was by now becoming oppressive. I knew that my father would want me to say something and to somehow strike up a conversation with my future husband. But how? What could I possibly say to somebody who I just met an hour ago?
I would just have to blurt out something random.
"H-how is your k-kingdom, S-Sasuke-ouji?" I asked, not daring to look him in the eyes.
"Hn. Everything's fine." He answered without much emotion.
There was a long pause before he decided to ask me something in turn. However, I did not expect him to ask me such an unsuitable question.
"Do you have someone already?" His voice was level and this time he turned his head to look at me.
My eyes widened and my face reddened to the color of a tomato. "P-pardon? W-what d-d-do you m-mean?" I squeaked, losing all control over my stuttering. Behind us, Tenten uttered the quietest of coughs.
"Someone you have feelings for." Sasuke shrugged his shoulders. "I'm aware of the fact that you don't wish to marry me. I share the exact same outlook, but this marriage is meant to forge an alliance between our kingdoms."
I nibbled on my lip and dared to look at him from the corner of my eyes. "Well, y-yes. I d-do have someone I h-have feelings f-for." Tears brimmed in my eyes and I had to bite down hard on my tongue to keep myself from crying. "This m-m-morning, he t-t-told me t-that he loved m-me."
"What's his name?" Sasuke asked, showing the slightest hint of sympathy in his voice.
"N-naruto-kun." I whispered as I forced the pain back down into myself. "How about y-you, Sasuke-ouji?" It was only fair that he was asked the same question…but I had to confess that I was curious of who it was that he held dear to his heart.
He said nothing for a while, which gave me the opportunity to take my first good look at his face. His bone structure was almost feminine, but maybe that was due to the shadows cast by the pathway lamps. Still, he was roguishly handsome.
It was then that he spoke.
"For about two years, I had what you may call a 'companion'. She wanted to marry me, but my advisors would not allow it. She wasn't royalty and they said that she would only bring more disgrace to the kingdom." He smirked ruefully. "I can't say that I loved her, but I did care for her. Her name is Sakura; she worked as a medic in the palace."
I looked away from his face. It must have been horrible for him, loving someone for two years and then being forced to break all bonds with them because of someone else. To my great shame, that someone else was me.
"I-I'm sorry." I mumbled, turning my head away once more. My finger went and found its usual place against my lips, helping me cope with my rising anxiety. I did not want this marriage. I did not want any of this. I wanted to run as far from this place as I could.
"It's not your fault." Sasuke replied as he steered me to the left and unto a different path. This one led out of the garden and down to the beach. The sea had calmed down by now and the waves barely moved from their watery beds. It was as if they were resting themselves for the night.
The cobbled steps ended at a small gate which was carelessly pushed open by Sasuke. It swung open with a gently creak and permitted the three of us to step onto the cool sand of the beach. The small grains instantly invaded my shoes and a few even penetrated through the fabric of my socks, making my feet itch with discomfort. Nevertheless, the beach's loveliness smoothed away all the aches and worries from my brow. It brought a smile to my face, and even Sasuke looked a little brighter.
In the distance I could see the beginning of the port and the boats that were moored to it. From where we walked, I glimpsed the white canvas of the sails and the tall masts reaching up into the sky. On the inside I wondered what it would be like to sail the ocean. Would it be peaceful? Terrifying? Exciting? I could only wonder.
We kept walking through the sand and soon progressed into a much more rocky part of the beach. Large boulders lay to our left, a part of a small cliff that once used to be there. The jagged edges reached out to us, as if wanting to scratch at our skin and rip our clothes. It was quiet here, almost unnaturally so. The ocean itself was near inaudible and not a single critter scrambled through the sand.
A cold sweat formed along my spine. Not a single breath of wind came our way. The world stopped moving completely as it held its breath and waited for something to happen.
I felt Sasuke tense beside me, he could feel it too. Behind us, Tenten's step grew more cautious.
My breath caught in my throats as craned my head from side to side. There was something exceedingly off beam with this whole picture. The beach was never this hushed. Never had I in my many times being here ever been in such stillness.
That was when they attacked.
That's all for now, folks.