The following day, Sakura rose before the sun. After a restless night she decided it was no use trying to get any more sleep and got up and left the room.

Outside the world was dim and grey. She had hoped to catch a glimmer or light once she leaned against the railing on the opposite wall that lead to an interior courtyard, but found the sky depressingly dull.

After the Uchiha Lord had announced that she was to pose as his concubine Sakura had avoided thinking about what she'd tell Lady Yui and her fellow ladies-in-waiting (for she still thought of herself as one). She wanted to put it off forever, but it was better to get this over with as soon as possible. She just wished the weather wouldn't make her feel like staying in her room all day.

With a last glance at the clouds, she pushed herself off the railing and proceeded down the hallway. She hadn't bothered trying to memorize the way to her new room, but she'd do so now. On the chance she got lost, though, she could ask Shisui or Hikaku for help. She hadn't seen them, but she knew they couldn't be too far.

'Like two shadows.' She thought grimly 'Two shadows I never asked for, watching me like hawks.'

Getting to a place she was familiar with was easy. Perhaps it should've been worrying that the room belonging to the head of the clan was connected to so many of the main passages around the building, but maybe that was the genius of it. Hidden in plain sight.

It was when she was walking to Yui's quarters that Sakura realized that the women there would still be asleep. That gave her more time to ponder over her explanation, something she neither wanted nor needed.

Sakura was caught in a paradox. On one hand, she hoped to clear the situation with Yui and be done with it; on the other she just wanted to curl up under a blanket and stay there forever. She couldn't remember when and if she'd last felt this anxious, but she thought it was best to get used to the feeling. So long as her home province was surrounded she'd have something to fear.

Taking a deep breath she readjusted her course to the garden. She didn't want to think about the situation in Tōtomi, or what she'd tell Lady Yui, because there was not much she could do in either case, and some fresh air sounded lovely right about then.

Sakura had always known she had little power when compared to people around her, but only now she felt the real brunt of her insignificance.

She wasn't pretty or charming or wealthy like Ino. She didn't come from an influential family, and couldn't hold a candle to Lady Yui when it came to grace or arts. She didn't exceed in any particular skill as the other ladies-in-waiting did. She wasn't a brilliant, talented, beautiful warrior like Lord Sasuke. And she most certainly didn't have an entire clan at her beck and call like the Uchiha Lord.

What exactly did she have in her favor? She was perceptive and better read than most people, true, but that mattered little when one didn't have the means to influence others. Most concubines had some power, but most concubines weren't involved in a ploy to take down an enemy clan. She was certain that the Uchiha Lord would want her to play the part by demanding inconsequential things like clothes and excursions, but he'd repress any and all attempts she made to get some political leverage.

She couldn't stand worrying about her family and the people of her lands and being unable to do anything for them.

Once she reached the gardens she looked for things to distract herself with. A lower three branch, a particular tall patch of grass, and a budding flower were all targets of her attention, but they only had a limited potential for entertainment, and she found herself looking for more diversions soon enough. She thought of going back to her new quarters, but she wasn't surprised when she realized she simply didn't want to.

It was when she was overturning stones in search of bugs that she heard a familiar bark.

"Shiro!" She exclaimed, turning around to meet a small orange dog, who ran up to her when he heard his name, wagging his curled tail happily.

Sakura grinned, furiously scratching the animal on top of his head and behind his ears, as he barked and panted excitedly. He was so cute!

She giggled when he turned on his back, offering his tummy to her, which she began patting.

"Hold on!" She told Shiro, standing up and sprinting towards a nearby tree. The dog obediently stood in the same spot as he watched her break off a branch, but when Sakura waved the stick in the air he began jumping in anticipation.

Sakura smiled, endeared. Lord Sasuke had trained him well, but not so much to be able to suppress those urges.

She remembered that it had been precisely because of Shiro that they started interacting.

Lady Yui was busy with the clan ladies and Ino was in bed because of a migraine, so she took some time to wander the gardens, where she first met Shiro. It wasn't long before Lord Sasuke showed up after his dog. He was also very reserved back then, but whenever she'd ask something about Shiro his eyes would light up and he'd answer with something akin to pride.

She tossed the branch and watched as the dog bolted after it, catching it on its way down and bringing it back to her.

"Really, you are too cute!" She said, taking the stick from his mouth and petting his head affectionately.

They went for a few more rounds of fetch, and Sakura poured all her energies and concerns into playing with the dog so that all her worries now seemed something small and insignificant. That was just the sort of distraction she had been looking for.

"Shiro." A cold voice called from behind her and Sakura froze when she heard him, in contrast with the dog, which pranced to his master upon hearing his name.

On the occasions when he wasn't perfectly reserved Lord Sasuke could be haughty, grumpy, stern, impatient and on occasion even genuinely pleasant, but he never exhibited this much hostility, certainly not towards her.

But there were just the three of them outside, and he never got mad at Shiro.

Sakura slowly turned around to gaze into a pair of eyes, making hers widen. There was no mistaking it; she was the target of his ire.

Raking her mind for ways to placate him, Sakura bowed her head. Why was he so angry, anyway? Had word of the Uchiha Lord's decision already gotten around? Thinking that his expression could be fruit of jealousy was both unlikely and a very small comfort. Even if he had feelings for her they wouldn't be enough to ignore her situation. Compromised women shouldn't be wives; it was just the style of things. No, he was most likely just disappointed that she would be a social climber, taking whichever opportunity to improve her status regardless of how disgraceful.

'But I'm not!' She wanted to protest. No matter how much she wished it wasn't like this, she was deeply affected by other's opinions of her and if they were someone she cared about, doubly so. Having Sasuke look at her with such disgust physically hurt.

The man didn't make any effort to return the gesture, merely turning away as if he deemed her unworthy of his attention. He had begun walking away when her mouth opened without her mind's authorization and called out to him. She had no plan, only the sudden need to erase that look from off his face.

To her surprise he looked at her from over his shoulder, his expression slightly softened but still nowhere near appeased. Sakura thought she was ready for dealing with Lady Yui, but she wasn't prepared for this.

Losing his patience, he clicked his tongue and turned around to leave again, and this time she knew he wouldn't face her again for just anything.

"I'm sorry!" She cried out, falling to her knees and bowing as low as she could, at a loss of what else to say. She did feel sorry, but it was so strange to say that when she didn't really owe him any explanations. She hadn't betrayed him, but it still felt like she had "Please, forgive me!"

Seconds ticked by without any reply, but Sakura didn't dare raise her head to check if he was even still there. If he left her like that for as long as she could stand it, she'd consider it suitable penance.

"For what?" He finally responded and his venomous tone, in stark contrast with the yipping dog at his feet, didn't go unnoticed.

"For…" She paused. She was certainly sorry about a couple of things. She was sorry she hadn't been able to stand up to the Uchiha Lord when he purposed the plan, sorry she hadn't thought of an excuse as to why she could have the information she had, sorry she hadn't fought his advances as hard as she should've, sorry a part of her had enjoyedthem, and most of all she was sorry she had disappointed Lord Sasuke "I'm sorry I… I've been such a bad recipient of your friendship."

There was the briefest moment of silence before Sakura heard the sound of rustling grass and a dog's bark growing quieter and quieter.

She only stood up once she was sure he had left.

Grimacing, Sakura wiped away the grass that had stuck to her clothes with one hand and the humidity in her eyes with the other. Her "protectors" had undoubtedly witnessed the whole exchange, and while she wasn't worried about them telling the Uchiha Lord about it (it was to pathetic to bother), she hated that her feelings were not just hers anymore. She couldn't keep a single secret.

It was still early, but since trying to occupy her time hadn't worked as well as she had hoped, she decided to just wait outside Lady Yui's chamber.

Sakura marched to her old quarters, and the pace she set was merely a token sign of protest. She didn't care to hide that she was angry, and maybe it was better that way. If she didn't seem upset her guards could start suspecting she was up to something, and being caught before even being able to start any schemes would be shameful.

She didn't have much of a plan, other than using her father's strategy to its intended purpose. The Uchiha Lord was only interested in those exchanges as far as they benefitted him, but that didn't mean the things she wrote couldn't have more than one meaning. There were certain words or expressions that only had significance to her father, and while someone who knew him well could venture a guess the Uchiha Lord wouldn't be able to understand their importance.

She didn't know where she'd take that yet, but having a way to communicate with someone who had her best interest at heart was a good first step. It made her situation seem a little bit brighter, but as Sakura approached Lady Yui's chamber, she realized this knowledge didn't make her feel less alone.

She leaned against the wall opposite to the door and slid down to the ground, fidgeting as she waited for the women inside to emerge for the day, and she didn't have to wait long for the door to be slid open, revealing a group of four ladies.

She stood up and was about to bow to them when the faces of the women paralyzed her. The ladies-in-waiting looked at her with varying degrees of worry, but the face of the woman at the head was horrible, having been twisted into an uncharacteristic grimace, and Sakura knew deep in her bones that her mistress would not forgive her.

"My Lady" Sakura began, foregoing the bow altogether "I understand you mus-"

"Please spare me; I'm not in the mood to hear your excuses." Yui interrupted, trying to move past her.

"I've no excuses." She shook replied quickly, almost desperately, and blocked the other's passage with her body "I'm not looking for forgiveness, I just don't want to be misunderstood."

"Are you deaf?" The woman questioned "I don't want to hear anything you have to say, get out of my way."

Sakura was shocked into silence for a moment, and when her senses came back to her she stepped aside to let the group through.

Yui and two of the ladies-in-waiting walked by her, but the last one remained affixed to the same spot, her faced etched with concern.

"Sakura." Ino muttered, grabbing her arm firmly but not painfully, and Sakura could see the question hidden in her eyes. "What did they-"

"Ino." Lady Yui called out, in a voice both loud and perfectly controlled. "We are leaving."

"I think I should talk to Lady Sakura." Ino insisted, her hold on her friend's arm tightening.

"Is this why you became a lady-in-waiting?" The woman scowled "Did you leave your home for this? To talk to her?"

The threat in her voice was obvious to anyone paying attention. If you dare keep being her friend I'll send you back.

Ino was clearly torn between supporting her and protecting her own position, so, even though Sakura didn't want to, she squeezed the hand that held her and nodded in reassurance. The blond frowned, but let go and backed away until she caught up with the other women.

As the steps behind her became quieter and quieter her breathing only became harsher. Sakura didn't want to cry, she had done enough of it in the past few days. Besides, she really had nothing to cry about. So long as she didn't remind herself that she was now alone, and she'd remain alone for as long as she had to live in the Uchiha compound, she had nothing to cry about. If she ignored the fact that she was alone, lost, and her family was most likely going to die, then-

"Hey." Shisui's voice called from behind her, and Sakura looked over her shoulder to find him looking at her with an unreadable expression "Are you okay?"

"Yes." She answered quickly.

"Are you sure there's nothing I can do for you?" He didn't sound like he believed her.

As if he could help. There wasn't anything he or anyone else could do. She was just a pawn in other people's games, she knew that, and she'd rather he didn't pretend there was any changing that.

"I'm bored." She spoke at last.

Shisui perused her face in search of something, perhaps honesty, and at last, nodded.

"Want to play Shōji?" He offered.

"Yes, please." She replied after some deliberation and smiled tentatively. She liked Shōji.


Sakura frowned. She had beat Shisui once and by the look of things she was about to beat him again, but the first match was too easy, and even though she had given him many opportunities to turn the game around in the second round he was still losing. There was no doubt in her mind that he was letting her win.

"Are you normally this bad at Shōji?" She questioned.

"Not really." He answered, scratching the back of his neck "But I know when I find a superior man… or woman."

"I see." She nodded and was silent again, until an idea came to her "Can I incentive you to play better?"

"How will you do that?" He seemed to be paying only half attention, his eyes lazily travelling to his fallen pieces to the girl's Silver General, which had taken down more than half of them.

"We can make a deal." She began, and that seemed to pique his interest "Whoever wins the next round can cash in a favor from the loser, whenever and wherever."

"That's interesting." He grinned "But that doesn't do much for me. What can you give me that I could possibly need?"

Sakura shrugged.

"I don't know. The favor doesn't expire; who knows where I'll be in five years? And I'll have to give you anything you ask of me. If you win, that is."

Shisui seemed to consider the proposition for a moment, and at last he nodded.

"That seems fun."

"Too bad I don't have a way of making you keep your end of the deal." She muttered bitterly.

"I'll have you know I'm a man of my word." He puffed out his chest in a comical display of pride, and Sakura smiled.

"Whoever wins definitely gets a favor, then? No going back on it?"

"Agreed." His grin widened.

Sakura ignored the bad feeling in the pit of her stomach, and pushed the pieces in the board aside so they could start on their new match. He might not have given his best in their previous match, but she hadn't either. Besides, she didn't have a lot to lose.

"Now that I think about it, this is a clear case of two retainers forming an alliance without the daimyō's consent." Shisui mused out loud "It could get us killed!"

He seemed amused by the prospect.

"I won't tell if you don't." Sakura said, starting to put her pieces back in their respective places "Ready?"


I'm so done with having to go back and replace all instances of "Madara" with "Uchiha Lord" in Sakura's PoV. I can't wait for her to learn his name. I also did not like the end of this chapter, like I rushed to finish it.

I finally did a magical thing known as: outlining the plot. It's not set in stone or anything, but now I have a timeline for the first section of the story (It should be a little over 20 chapters in total). I've also outlined the smut scenes lol

Raise your hands if you can't wait for more smut! *raises hand*(I'm serious, there will either be a smut scene or an almost-smut scene on chapter six)

Also, the dog was a filler character. The nest filler character, because he's a doge.

Answers to people who commented last chapter but weren't logged in.

Sometimeschill: Thank you! I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well.

Kaleigh: JSADGASDGASGI You guys definitely got my number! xD Thank you so much! Well, you know, it wasn't exactly uncommon for the daughters of samurais to learn a thing or two about combat back then *wink wink nudge nudge*