4 years later...at the age of sixteen...

Sasuke yawned, covering his mouth. He was at the port with Naruto and both were in deep boredom. "I still don't see the point in meeting with her," Sasuke complained, "The whole kingdom knows I don't like her!"

"Maybe they're hoping you'll change your mind," Naruto shrugged.

"As if."

"Ahem," Takeshi interrupted the boys, "The Princess has arrived." He stepped back as the ship made its arrival. The teens looked on with much boredom as a small, dainty foot took its first step on land. When the mysterious figure revealed itself, their eyes widened.

"Nice to see you two again," Sakura said, not turning around to look at them yet.

"Oh my goodness..." Sasuke awed.

Sakura began to turn around.

"It can't be her! She...she's..." Naruto's eyes widened as his words faded.

Sakura finally faced them, flashing a bright and beautiful smile. "Greetings!"

"UGLY!!" Sasuke and Naruto punched knuckles and laughed hysterically, rolling on the ground. "Ahahahahahahahaha!!!"

"Immature jerks. I thought you guys had changed for once! I guess I was wrong."

Sasuke wiped a tear away from the corner of his eye and sniffed. He took one good look at Sakura and didn't respond. She's gotten curvier... What?! No! I hate her! Hate! Hate! Hate! Oh those big rosy lips.. NO!! He hid a blush and looked down at Naruto. "Dork, get up!"

Naruto sat up, still holding back laughs. "Haha.. That was a good one!"

"Oh, c'mon!" Sakura pouted and bent down. Smiling, she took Sasuke's chin in her slender fingers and purred, "You have to admit. I've grown up a lot. AND I look very beautiful."

"Where?" Sasuke asked, his expression showing no interest in her words. "Lala World?" He earned himself a slap and placed his hand on the red mark on his pale cheek. "Ow! Hey!"

"Hmph!" Sakura stood up and went on ahead to the castle. "You're just like your old self! I'm ashamed of myself in thinking that you had actually grown to be a better person!"

"Now just wait amoment!" Sasuke marched over to her and held her firmly in front of him. He stooped to eye-level and clearly stated, "I HAVE grown up. But have you?"

Sakura frowned. "Don't you lecture me!"

Naruto ran over to them. "Hey, you guys, wait up!" Clumsy as he was, he tripped on a rock and flew towards Sasuke. "Ahhh!" His hand shoved Sasuke forward.

"Gah!" Sasuke felt a great pressure on his back and fell forward, helpless. Oh, CRAP! He could only look on as his lips met with the Princess's own. He gasped mentally, blushing like crazy.

Sakura staggered back, frozen in shock. Her emerald eyes widened and her face went deep red. Oh, my-

The passing peasants gasped at the sight. "Goodness gracious!!"

Naruto stood up and dusted his clothes off. "Oops!" he chuckled, "My bad. Hehe... I should really watch my step." He saw the 'kissing couple' and frowned. "Get a room you two, will ya?"

The Prince and Princess stayed like that for some time, both staring into each other's eyes awkwardly. To them, time had stopped and so had their heartbeats. Sasuke shuddered, still holding onto Sakura's shoulders. W-what's wrong with me? Why can't I pull away? It's not like this is the first time she's kissed me. Or more like I kissed her. But- Why now? What is this feeling? It's...different. What the heck??

Sakura's legs quivered at the given weight. So...heavy... Gonna.. Uh-oh! Her feet gave way and they fell into a mud puddle behind her. "OW!!"

Naruto went over to them and blinked. "Geez. You guys need practice."

Sasuke crawled off of Sakura and sat up, glaring at his companion. "Naruto, you dope!" He grabbed his collar and began wrestling with him.

Sakura stood up and stepped aside, looking down at her ruined dress in digust. "Ew!" she cried.

Sasuke and Naruto let go of each other and looked up at her, eyebrows risen in curiosity. "What?" Sasuke asked casually, "You're still not used to being tortured by us, little Princess?"

Sakura blushed, in embarassment and shame. "You really are a jerk, Sasuke!" she shrieked and threw mud at the boys. "I hate you! BOTH of you!" She gave them one last glare and ran off crying.

"Shame on you, Master Sasuke," Takeshi scolded the young Prince lightly and went after the Princess.

"Ooooh," Naruto accused the Uchiha, "You really have done it this time, Sasuke!"

"Nah." Sasuke stood up and brushed some mud off of him. "Sakura will get over it. She always does. Trust me. By the end of the day, she'll be yelling at you and me to no end."

Two weeks later...

"Man!" Sasuke groaned, "She's still mad at me!" He watched as Sakura walked past him without acknowledging his presence. "Sakura, get over it!"

"I'm sorry," Sakura replied, her tone cold. "But I don't speak to apes."

"Fat pig."

"I will NOT start this."

"Billboard brow."

"Sasuke..."

Sasuke smirked. Time for a payback. "Crossdresser."

That did it. Sakura popped a vein and picked up a vase from one of the stands nearby. Gritting her teeth, she threw it at the dark-haired teen. "Die, you bastard!"

Sasuke ducked, the vase missing its mark. "Missed me!" he sneered.

"You are so childish!"

"Yeah, I know."

"Grrrrr..."

"Dinner time, Master Sasuke and Princess Sakura!" twin maids informed the teens and led them down the stairs. "You two mustn't be late! Queen Mikoto will be very upset."

"B-but-" Sakura protested.

"Itachi's down there!" Sasuke growled, "I don't want to go! Release me at once!"

Sakura's ears perked at the name. Itachi's still here?! A small smile lit up her face and she became more willing to get down to the dining room.

"Princess," a deep voice toned from behind. "Welcome back."

Everyone froze and the maids ran off in a panic. Sasuke looked at his older brother and rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Itachi, here you are," he grumbled. "What a surprise."

"It's nice to see you, too," Itachi replied with a smile.

"Rmmmmphhffffgglluunnnntttppfftttt..." came Sasuke's other grumbles.

"Hello, Itachi!" Sakura greeted happily, walking over to him and giggling a bit. "It's been a while. But it seemed like FOREVER." She glanced at Sasuke and then back at Itachi once more. "So, how are you?"

Itachi, enjoying torturing his brother's heart, took Sakura's hand and, instead of kissing it, he pulled her forward. She fell on his well-toned chest and he gave her a soft kiss on the cheek. "I'm well...now that YOU'RE here." He smirked and stroked her pink locks lovingly. "Will you stay longer this time?"

"Same amount of time as always..." Sakura murmured dreamily, her face getting redder each second. He's so sweet. Why can't HE be my prince? She then shot Sasuke a sharp glare. Instead of HIM!

Sasuke gave her a questioning look, but then went back to scowling at his brother. "Itachi," he started a bit angrily, "I was in the middle of something with her."

"You were not!" Sakura squeaked, but she was held tightly by Itachi's protective arms.

"Jealous, are we?" Itachi teased. Letting out a soft chuckle, he let the young Princess go and went off his way. "I'm bored here. I'll be going to the garden. If you need me, come. But do me a favor little brother." He turned to Sasuke and mumbled, "DON'T NEED ME." He nodded in approval and finally left.

Sakura stared after him with wonder. He's so exotic! She then noticed Sasuke's presence once again and stared at him. She blinked and blushed when she saw him from a different view. His body has taken figure and firmness! And he looks so...so... She gulped, guilty of her mental confession. HANDSOME!

Sasuke felt her intense stare on him and looked at her with a confused look. "What are you staring at?" he asked.

Sakura snapped out of her trance and shook her head furiously. Turning away, she lied, "N-nothing. I just think you look worse than before!"

"Really?" Sasuke smirked. "Because... I think you're pretty."

Sakura's blush deepened and she looked at him again, a bit shyly. "R-really? You think so?"

"Yeah. Pretty ugly!" Sasuke's smirk grew wider as he jumped onto the railing of the stairs and slid down. "Billboard brow!"

Sakura popped a vein, her teeth gritted in rage and humiliation. That...that...JERK! She forgot about her newfound 'feelings' and ran after him. "Get back here, emo-person!"As she made her way down the stairs, she ended up tripping on her skirt and fell forward. "Oh noooo!"

A blonde teenage girl, about her age, was walking by and saw her coming. "Princess!" she gasped and held her arms out to catch her.

THUD! The two girls fell on the floor, both groaning in pain. "Ohhh..."

"Are you alright?" the blonde female asked, standing up. She held out her hand. "That looked like a pretty nasty fall."

Sakura smiled and took her hand. She was hoisted up and she said, "I'm okay. I just- Wait... INO?!"

Ino, as the girl was now known to be, sighed and laughed. "About time, fishhead! Geez!"

"When did you get here?!" Sakura asked excitedly, "I-I mean...like... You're back in the other Kingdom! How...what...Huh??"

Ino laughed again. "Well, my mom's opening a shop in this Kingdom, too. And I'm her little helper."

"Yo." Sasuke intruded the two and glared at Sakura. "You give up yet, idiot?"

"If you haven't noticed, I'm talking to my friend INO here!" Sakura snapped, "So go bug someone else! I'm tired of chasing you."

Sasuke looked at Ino curiously. "Ino? Like the pig?"

"Shut it!" Sakura shouted, kicking the Prince in the shin, earning herself a yelp from him. "She's my best friend! Don't insult her!"

Ino, on the other hand, didn't seem to mind at all. She blushed faintly at the Prince's appearance. "Oh-oh. Pleased to meet you, Prince Sasuke. I'm Ino Yamanaka of the Cherry Blossom Kingdom."

Sasuke didn't seem to notice her growing affections and asked a bit rudely, "So what're you doing here?"

Ino was too surprised in talking with him and gasped a bit. "W-well...I..uh...you see...hehehe... Hi."

Sasuke sweatdropped. She's babbling. He finally noticed her intense blushing and slight shaking. Her small giggles added to the two clues he had found. He sighed and gave her a bored look. Oh, great. She's infatuated with me. Geez. Curse these good looks!

Sakura noticed her friend's strange behavior as well and got the 'crush hint'. And for some odd reason, she felt...irritated and annoyed. "Umm...Ino!" she piped and went over to the blonde, motioning her to the door across the hall, "Don't you have some flowers to arrange? After all, you're a great botanist!"

Sasuke looked at Sakura strangely. Peculiar. Why is she making haste in sending Ino out?

"But-" Ino tried to fight back. "I don't want to go yet!"

"Wait."

The girls stopped their fidgetting and looked at Sasuke. "Huh?"

"Ino," Sasuke said a bit softly, "I wish for you to stay a bit longer. I want to know you a little more better." He flashed her a dashing smile.

Ino's face turned crimson red and she brought her hand to her mouth. "I...I... Sure! I'd love to!"

Sakura looked at her best friend, shocked. "WHAT?!" she blurted.

Sasuke smirked at her reaction and asked slyly, "Is there something wrong, SAKURA?"

A faint blush appeared on Sakura's cheeks and she looked down at her feet. "Well, no...but-"

"Good," Sasuke interrupted her and took Ino's hand. "If you don't mind, I'll be showing your friend Ino around the castle. This way, if you please."

"Okay..." Ino sighed and followed his lead to the East Wing.

Sakura felt something strange surge inside her. They were dark feelings. A mixture of anger, sadness, disappointment...isolation. She gasped when it dawned on her. Am I...JEALOUS? No! It can't be! It's Sasuke for crying out loud! She frowned and followed the pair secretly. "There's only one way to find out," she told herself.

Again, thnx for the reviews!! Haha, Sakura gets jealous! What will happen? You'll have to find out next chappy! Pls review this one 2! Ja-ne!