Chapter 4: Revealed

Disclaimer: Naruto and all its characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto. The story is based on the fairytale Cap O' Rushes by Joseph Jacobs.

Author's note: Thank you to Our-seventh-heaven for following my story and to Aquarian Charm for leaving a review again. I am not sure if this is what you mean by "more sasusaku interactions" but I hope you enjoy it anyway. Sorry if it is not what you are expecting! Also, the following chapters will be updated a few days later than normal, as I am busy at the moment, so this is a longer chapter to make up for it. Sorry!


"Rise and shine, Sakura! I've got heaps to tell you from yesterday's ball! Prince Sasuke was actually dancing with a girl! And he hates girls, I tell you. But the weird thing about the girl is that she has pink hair. Can you believe it? Pink! I don't know if it is natural or if it is…" Sakura droned her out. Pink hair? The Prince? I was actually dancing with the prince!

"You absolutely have to see her! Come tonight?"

"Maybe," Sakura answered vaguely.


Come the time and Sakura gave Ino the same excuse, to which Ino made a promise to personally drag her to the ball tomorrow.

This time, however, Sakura had actually contemplated to really not attend. But thinking of the promise she made him, she found herself hesitantly revealing herself again, and dancing with the prince.

"You came," he said softly while taking her hand.

"Yes, I did," she smiled, slightly unsure. Luckily, he didn't seem to notice.

And they danced. They danced and danced and she had so much fun that she forgot about the rest of the world. Forgot about their status. Forgot about the two very different paths that they were on. In that time, they were just two people, slowly but surely falling in love. Well, she was falling.

Someone like him will never set his sights so low. A voice whispered in her head.

That voice is right.

Suddenly, she was shaken back to the cruel reality. Her inner fairy tale had vanished. Well, it never even existed in the first place. And it never will. The voice said again.

He noticed her sudden down expression.

"Is something wrong?" he asked in a worried tone.

"Huh?" she quickly looked up at the sudden question, breaking her trance. Once the question sank in, she replied, "Oh, no, no, it's nothing. It doesn't concern you." It does. Very much so.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She shook her head.

"But it might make you feel better."

Sakura contemplated for a moment and replied, "Have you ever wanted something that you know you can never have?"

He looked thoughtful for a while.

"No." He said finally.

"Then you wouldn't understand."

"You don't know that," he insisted, "And I read a lot."

Seeing the determined expression on his face, she finally caved, "You don't give people much of a choice, do you?"

He shrugged. "I guess not."

And then she let out a chuckle. It is a small one, but nonetheless, a chuckle. Its soft and somehow calming sound made the prince's cheeks heat up slightly. He tried to lower his head to hide it, but his older brother, Prince Itachi, managed to notice with the help of his sharp eyes.

"Is my foolish little brother actually blushing?"

Queen Mikoto heard the comment, and craned her neck, "Really? Oh!" She had to bit her lip to stop an unladylike squeal from escaping.

All King Fugaku did was let out a noise that suddenly suspiciously like a "tch".

"So," Prince Sasuke continued after composing himself, "You were about to tell me about your problem."

"Oh, it's nothing important. It is just as I said—there is something that is out of my reach. Yet, I still can't help but want it." Even the normally dense prince could tell that she wouldn't say anymore, so he left the conversation at that.

After a moment of comfortable silence, the prince decided to break it, "Now that I think of it, I don't know your name yet," he said, as they glided across the dance floor.

"I don't know yours either," she countered, trying to delay saying her name as much as possible.

The expression he gave her was clearly one of utter surprise, "Do you really not know who I am?"

"No," she lied.

He gave a short chuckle, "Sorry, I guess I'm just so used to everyone knowing me, that I never thought about those who lived in another kingdom. My name is Sasuke."

"And you can call me, um…"

Right on time, the first stroke of midnight rang out.

Saved by the bell.

"I am so, so sorry, but I really have to go. Bye!" and she disappeared before the prince could react.

"But I don't even know your name…"


"Gosh, Sakura, you really should've seen what happened last night! The mystery girl ran off at midnight again! And this time, I heard that it was just before she was about to say her name! We were so close to learning who she is. Can you believe it? It's like Cinderella come true!" Sakura could only nod and agree to what she was saying.

That evening, true to her word, Ino had managed to convince Sakura to attend the ball. Sakura didn't even put up a fight as she agreed on one condition—that her cape stays on. Ino looked slightly disappointed but agreed nonetheless.


"The girl is late! Where is she?"

"Look at the prince!"

Sakura turned her head towards where Prince Sasuke sat. He looked lonely and was forlornly scanning the ballroom over and over again. Finally, Sakura's resolve fell, and she dragged Ino back to her room.

"What are you doing, Sakura, let me go!"

Sakura ignored her.

"Listen Ino, there… there is something that I think you deserve to know. The girl that Prince Sasuke danced with was actually… me."

There was a moment of silence. Sakura fidgeted, nervous as to what Ino's response could be.

"Okay, so you are the mystery girl. Wait, you are the mystery girl? You are the mystery girl?"

Sakura looked extremely uncomfortable at this point, fiddling with the hem of her cape at such strength that some parts of it were starting to unthread.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"I didn't want to stand out because of my unusual appearance. I wanted to keep a low profile." Sakura answered, cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"And you thought that you would do that by dancing with Prince Sasuke?" Ino rose a brow.

"I didn't even know who he was at first!" Sakura protested.

"Ah, right. I forgot about that." After a period of time, she added, "So, what do you want to do now?"

Sakura sighed, "I really don't know, Ino."

"I think that you should go back to the ball. Without your cape."

Sakura's eyes widened, "Why?"

"Look, I know you think that the prince doesn't deserve someone like you, but you are wrong. You are an amazing person, Sakura, better than most of the rich girls out there. So, just give it a chance, okay? If it doesn't work out tonight, I don't mind if you give up then. So, will you?"

Sakura gave her a small smile, "If you put if like that, it doesn't look like I have a choice, right?"


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