Hello everyone. I know that an apology is in order. Henceforth, I am sorry for not immediately updating. I was busy moving to different place, and of course a series of problems occurred in my life. And the major reason why I was not able to post this immediately was I lacked the confidence to do so. Although I must admit, I had already finished this one like around November, although it was not yet edited then. However, I don't think this chapter was thoroughly edited. Anyway, I have to give it a shot. So it's now or never. Do enjoy reading.

Chapter 6

While she was deep in her slumber, someone gently nudged her to wake up. She was too immersed in dreamland that the intrusion irritated her. She knew that she must wake up soon for numerous duties in the temple awaits her however she still wanted to luxuriate in her bed just for a few more minutes yet duty calls. So she willed herself to overcome her laziness. As she slowly opened her sleepy lids, she could feel the terrible throbbing in many parts of her body.

Little by little, she tried to raise herself and to sit on the bed so that she will get over her lethargic feeling. As consciousness slowly entered her, she realized the unfamiliar surrounding.

She scanned the room she was currently at, and it dawned on her that this was not the simple room that she had in the temple. This was far too grand and splendid to be a priestess' room whom was pledged to the life of poverty and obedience.

She grasped at its magnificence and stateliness that it exudes. The room emanates masculine aura. And slowly, reality sank into her consciousness; this was the room of her ruthless captor. Hence after, the dreadful occurrence yesterday was slowly replayed into her memory once again, along with the fear and horror that came with the awful experience she had.

And as she scrutinized the room, she saw a girl standing timidly and hesitantly beside the bed.

"Milady," the said girl began. "I was tasked to assist you in your bath."

She observed the said girl, and as she did, she presumed that she must be a servant. And at the same time, as was mentioned by the girl, she became curious on whether it was her cruel captor that ordered the servant to assist her bath.

Considering that she can always sense a person's aura, her captor, showed the aura of extreme darkness, one that can be sense even without her clairsentience ability. It is for this very reason that fear immediately clawed into her being once she could sense him near her. At the same time, she felt sad that all she could sense within him was nothing but resentment and antagonism.

It is rather heartbreaking that such a man who is blessed in so many things would harbor such tremendous negative aura. Something tragic must have happened to him. And she silently prayed that someday, he will be cured of the pain that he is suffering.

Yet as blessed as she was with the art of healing, both in body and soul, she will dare not venture into her captor's affliction. His troubled heart was submerged into a darkness that she was afraid to endeavor. There will be others who can try and press their luck into healing his heart but not her. That is no longer her business; she had great matters she had to attend to. A promise, one that she had sworn to fulfill no matter how dire the circumstances would become.

"I'll show you the way to the bathroom," the girl interrupted her thoughts.

She slowly stood from the bed, and as she did, sharp pangs of pain shoot towards her body. It was so severe that in every step that she took, she felt like she was being ripped apart. She knew that she had to heal herself however; at the state she was, she can neither heal a single scratch from her body. Yes, rest she must have first, and later once her energy has returned, she will most certainly be able to heal her body then.

The servant girl opened a certain door. She gestured her hand towards Sakura, beckoning her to enter. Sakura deduced that beyond that door is the bathroom.

When she entered the bathroom, she was impressed with its splendor just as everything that she had seen so far in this stronghold. And yes, even in this trivial bathroom, the magnificence of the Fire Kingdom's ruling clan is rendered.

At the side near the door is the granite counter with the vessel sink and mahogany vanity. The floor and walls are made out of travertine white marble with a hint of gray colors.

She noticed that the tub was already filled with water and that there were rose petals in the water. The prepared bath was simply enticing. Although she was in enemy's territory, her longing for a refreshing bath let her defenses to be unguarded. The bath, in a way would ease some of her burdens for the time being.

"Milady, do you want me to assist you in your bath," the servant asked her gently.

Too tired and weary to speak, she just nodded her head. And the servant rushed towards her and helped her in removing the outer haori that her captor begrudgingly gave her. Then she went over the tub and dipped herself into the hot water.

A feeling of relief washed over her once she lay in the tub. She was glad that this bath had in a way helped sooth the aches and pains she experienced throughout the ordeal although it might not completely wipe away the horror that her captor put her through.

As she lay in the tub, she just gazed at the water and observed the rose petals as they lazily glided in the water.

"May I scrub your back, milady?" the girl asked her.

She just shook her head in acknowledgement to the girl's question while still staring at the petals in the water.

"But milady, I was asked to assist you," the girl pleadingly interceded.

Thus, this time she looked at her and noticed the uneasiness of the girl. Sakura knew that if she did not permit her, she would be in trouble for not following the order that she was given to. But at the same time, she was worried that she would be contradicting Sakura's comfort, the very person she was given order to be made comfortable.

Sakura showing sympathy towards the kind girl acquiesced by slowly nodding her head.

The servant was mildly surprised by the lady she was charged to take care. When she was initially ordered to do so, she had a lot of trepidations for she knew that high – born ladies like her were for most, were haughty and conceited.

It is true that she, or most of them knew nothing of this girl, other than the fact that their prince had taken an interest towards her was already a testament of her status. And it is for this reason alone that made the servants like her conclude that this beautiful woman certainly came from the upper class.

Hence, once she entered the room and she saw her. She was taken aback by the said lady's appearance. And truly her suspicion about her status was immediately confirmed, she is nothing but an aristocrat through and through How could she not be? Her hair was lustrous, shiny, and silky to touch. Something that only those blessed in life can afford to maintain as such they have all the luxury of time to preserve their outer beauty.

And even more so, by the conclusion that the young maid had reached, made her even more hesitant to approach her, as it is common to most everyone, that ladies of noble birth are known to be petty and very demanding.

But of course, an order is an order. Hence she must wake this beautiful lady. At first she was hesitant to touch her.

And when she woke up, she saw her face; she was overwhelmed by how lovely this female is. Clearly her doubts about her were increasing. Could this person be even a human? Could she be an angel? She could remember the stories that were told to her by her grandmother about the heavenly creatures and how magnificent they are.

And looking at the sleepy lady in front of her, she could certainly proclaim right there and then that she is clearly an otherworldly creature.

As she assisted her towards her bath, she was clearly astounded by how this lovely lady could not be that demanding. After all she was used to the haughtiness of the likes of the lady of her station. But this one, she was so different. And this made her genuinely like her.

Well for the time being, she thought. Probably she is just getting used to the surrounding and once she does she would give out impossible orders just like her kind does.

But when Sakura silently acquiesced to her plea of dilemma, she was slightly surprised of her generous nature.

So she proceeded in helping her. She made sure that she was comfortable. And throughout the whole time that she was assisting her, she was quiet.

Mikoto knew that rumors were circulating all over the palace about the lady that her son had brought yesterday. The news made her feel elated. As such, she was so eager to meet the said lady. After, this might be the opportunity that she was looking for.

She even asked her trusted handmaidens to gather enough information about her. And most surprisingly, her reliable handmaidens were so far, not able to gather the appropriate information that she needed.

Now, that is certainly a first. Usually, they were so good at collecting hearsays and information about almost everything. And what is so amazing about her hand maidens or what her husband calls them as her "intelligence" were that they were not only able to gather the information as swiftly as the eagle's flight, but they were also able to decipher which is fact from falsehood.

Hence, with their seemingly perfect record of information gathering, this is certainly an utter surprise that at they were not able to find any valuable news about her son's new lady.

According to their meager bits of news, they were only able to find out that the lady in question was heartbreakingly beautiful as was described my her son's men. Thus, she has the hair of unusual color which is pink. Now, thinking about it, how on earth would one who has the hair color of pink be beautiful? Or for that matter, is there really ever a woman in the Fire Kingdom who has a hair with this kind of hue?

Furthermore, it is said that her face is one that would surely enthrall anyone, both female and male. If this is true, could this certain female have indeed mesmerized her callous son? Sasuke might surely admire this female, that might be true. Her two sons were lover of beautiful things both in art and nature. They were in fact collectors of all beautiful things from around the world. And surely, this female would be added to Sasuke's collection.

However, Mikoto had decided that lady would be of better use to a different role. Yes, she will find a better part for her in her son's life. Just maybe, she might be just the person that she was looking for.

But first things first, if she is to play matchmaker and meddle in her son's personal affairs, which will not be taken lightly by her son in question, if she would be found out, she has to know first the character of this lady.

Surely any mother who meddles in her son's business of love can be forgiven if her reason for doing so is just for trying to protect her son from future heartaches and most certainly, her action is borne out of love. Henceforth, for Mikoto, the queen of this land, anything done out of love is to be forgiven.

Thus she decided then that it's time to initiate the revelry herself.

So she summoned one of the servants to assist the female whom she clearly believed to have enamored her son. And sensing that her bath must have already been done by now. Then, it's time to meet and assess the lady herself.

As she was taking a bath, she can't help but be at ease even if she knew that she is at her unfeeling captor's territory. The bath that was given to her really soothed all the physical aches and pains that she was experiencing.

She realized that she must rinse her self now for fear that her captor might be already in the room. Having to face him naked, leaves her at a disadvantage. Just picturing the ruthlessness of the said man, beckoned her to stand up immediately.

Thankfully, the servant who had assisted her earlier was still at hand. And immediately she gave the towel towards her to douse the droplets of water from her bath.

It came as a shock to her when she found out that the hand that reached towards her was not the same as that of the servant girl earlier.

The hands were feminine, one that she knew belonged to a lady who was never subjected to a life of a commoner whose everyday existence was tasked to toil and labor, works that will certainly robbed one a dainty hand. Furthermore, these hands were encased with precious stones, stones that were very rare and expensive, which most assuredly were coveted by many high born ladies.

Too alarmed and at the same time curious of who this lady is, she immediately reached out for the towel and cover her naked self with it. The she spun around to gaze at who this lady is.

"Hello," the figure saluted her.

Clarifications:

This chapter is indeed short. Don't worry the succeeding chapter will unveil a lot.

Thank you so much and I certainly wish that you enjoyed reading it. I would really love to hear your comments. Please review. And most of the chapters in this story were already done but I need to brush it of with a lot of major editing. And I certainly wish that I have a beta. If you think that you're fit for the job, and you work throughly in reasonable time (what I mean by this is FAST) do send me a message and I'll tell you if you're shortlisted.

I want this story to have it's conclusion already. But I won't sacrifice the plot, I will do it properly. I owe it to you, readers. God bless.