So easy to write… But I'm still sick. Being sick, while detrimental to one's health, is great for one's writing time.
Disclaimer: Hiss.
Dedication: My darling Caitlin (ugh, FF IS SO STUPID. I'll PM you back in a bit, once it stops being stupid). ILYILYILY. And Xena. ILYILYILY.
P.S.: "So, uh, H. kind of has this unconventional-love type feeling for Riley." "Wait, what?!?" "But I'm not supposed to know…" -Eleni, to herself. … I am not even kidding.

---

Sakura urged her horse forward, through a patch of vibrantly red and orange oak leaves, and cantered after the hunting party. Her father was leading the party that day - gilt in warm brown velvet and gold, his booming laugh reached far and wide, deep into the hearts of all the party.

Of course, as much as Sakura adored her father, going hunting was not her favourite pastime. But it was better then needlework.

Sakura shuddered to herself. Needlework was her personal summertime boogeyman; it was utterly the most boring thing in the world. It kept her inside when the sun was shining, and took away time that was simply meant for fun. And it was just so boring.

It was the farthest thing from adventure, and that was what Sakura wanted. She wanted adventure, and romance, to ride far, far away, and save the princess from a dragon, and kill the witch who gave the princess away.

Because, in truth, Sakura would have much preferred to have been a gypsy, selling stories and fortunes to make her living, then a princess, standing atop a tower, waiting for someone else to save her.

Sakura thought that she may have been a princess, but if it came down to it, she would certainly be able to save herself.

And that was her saving grace.

Sakura looked up, and saw Hinata and the others waiting for her. Apparently, the party had moved on without her knowledge. Something about that fact made her just a little bit sad, although Sakura knew not why.

"Lady Sa-ku-ra, are you co-ming?" Ino called blithely, and Sakura wished to race towards them. Her horse, however -a beautiful mare by the name of Snowdrop- seemed more inclined to simply munch on the browning grass where she was standing, and Sakura almost laughed.

"I'm coming, Ino, once Snowdrop has her lunch!" she called back, and stuck her nose into the wind, to taste the air, of things to come.

There was a scent of autumn in the air; that crisp scent of pre-winter that lingers at the back of the minds of those who know it, always. It is a nice scent, thought Sakura decidedly, and finally forced Snowdrop forward.

"C'mon, Snow, you'll have supper when we get back, yes?"

Snowdrop nickered in annoyance, and Sakura simply smiled.

The colours of autumn exploded in her eyes, just as laughter from the hunting party rung in her ears; and Sakura was left wondering how on earth life could ever be better then how it was right then.

---

The hunt was a success. One of the younger knights brought down a boar, and Sakura's father himself had gotten a fat deer, quite ready for winter.

"There will be a feast, tonight!" the King said to his Court, and the Court was pleased. On nights that there were feasts, life was merry, and no one went hungry. No one went sober, either, because the King would bring out his best ale, on such occasions.

All would have a good time, tonight.

But, of course, a feast would require that the princess would be there. And should the princess be there, her companions ought to be there, as well.

And so Hinata raced to the North Tower, Sakura tagging along, a step and a half behind her. The Lady-in-Waiting needed to find that dress - there were two new families coming to Court, that night, and it was only right and proper that the Princess should shine.

Hinata smiled to herself. Yes, the Princess ought to shine, because -here, Hinata almost giggled out loud-, it was rather likely that tonight, yes, tonight would be another night where the Princess would- would- would probably end up kicking someone.

Hinata mentally sighed, just a little, and wondered why on earth she put up with such an unruly princess.

There the pretty-pretty dress was; soft and clean, the colour of the ealiest, palest sunrise –a quiet, golden pink that would make Sakura glow-, as soft as down. Sakura did look lovely in pale colours; she always had, Hinata thought quietly, with a smile, and proffered the simple gown to Sakura to take.

When the princess didn't take it from her, a look of horror etching itself onto her face, Hinata got determined. She did not want to fight, today.

"Sakura, put the dress on. Please."

Sakura looked absolutely horrified. "But- Hinata, it's not like anyone important is coming-"

Hinata set her jaw, carefully tucked one of the long strands of hair behind her ear, and quite literally dragged the reluctant princess into the North Tower. She said "Sakura, there are new families coming to Court, tonight. Please, make a good impression. For me."

Sakura stared at Hinata, quietly contemplative. Hinata did not ask for much; she almost never, never made personal requests of the maids; almost never, never asked her parents to let her do what she wished; and never, never, in the history of their world, asked Sakura for anything.

Hinata stood there, holding the dress, tiredness radiation from her body. "Please, Sakura. I don't want to fight about this."

Sakura almost sighed aloud, in defeat. Hinata never really asked for anything, and so when she did, it was hard to deny her whatever it was she was asking for. "Who's coming, tonight?"

Hinata dared not hope. "The Uchiha family, and the Uzumaki family, I think. Your mother may have said something about a Lady Mikoto?"

Sakura paled. "Oh, no, she didn't…"

Hinata looked slightly confused. "I'm… sorry, I don't really understand."

"My mother and Lady Mikoto are best friends. They're the reason-" here, Sakura broke off, and winced, momentarily, like she was remembering something entirely painful "-They're the reason I was engaged at all, in the first place."

Hinata, too, winced slightly. That time was legend – Hinata, personally, had not seen it; her family had not yet gone to Court, at that time, but… some of the older cooks and guards still eyed Sakura warily.

Apparently, human beings had a long, unforgiving memory, and Hinata was no different. But she was not going to give in to Sakura's pleading; not this time. She offered the sunrise-dress again. She asked again "Please?"

Sakura, this time, did sigh in defeat. "Fine," she said. "But – but just this once. Okay?"

Hinata smiled. "Sure. Just this once."

Sakura smiled back, grateful, in a sense. Yes, she was to be a ruler; yes, she would have preferred to have been a boy; and yes, she was not perfect. She was easily swayed by those she cared about; she was rash and reckless and sometimes spoiled; she was childish and petulant, most of the time. It didn't make her any less human.

But she could learn, and, to an extent, Hinata was greatest aid. At least, she was when it came to this growing up thing that Sakura clearly thought she was not ready to do.

And while Sakura stood there, and let Hinata lace up the last vestiges of Sakura's broken pride (the dress was dreadfully tight around the waist; Sakura despaired), the roseate princess realized that she still had much growing up to do.

This, however, did not stop her from strapping her sword around her hips, in place of a jeweled belt, or the like. The familiar leather felt warm against her side, and the weight of sword and scabbard was comforting.

Sakura held her head up high; dressed like the princess she was, a blade at her side, she felt ready to take on the entire world.

Even if that meant beating Sasuke Uchiha into the ground, again.

Sakura turned, and look at Hinata. "Lady Hinata," she said, "You ought to get ready as well, you know. Your parents want you to marry soon, to provide heirs for the line, correct?"

"Yes, Mi'lady," Hinata murmured, a sparkle of laughter in her eyes. It was always entertaining to the pale-moon eyed girl when Sakura went all 'royal' on her; it was entirely amusing on every level.

"Well," Sakura said decisively, "You ought to choose a pretty dress, too. It isn't fair that I be the only one to glow tonight, you know."

Hinata continued to play the subservient maid. "Of course, Mi'lady. Which dress shall I wear tonight? I would never want to outshine you, of course!"

Sakura smiled. It was almost a grimace of sorts; there was revenge written there, clear as black and white. "Oh, I think you should wear… Hm, this purple one!"

Hinata turned faintly red, and her stutter almost returned for a moment. "S-Sakura, that's-"

Sakura just smiled, the look in her eyes going from evil, to simply wanting the best for her friend. She carefully pulled the luxurious silk dress out from its spot in her wardrobe. It was the most beautiful dress Sakura owned - one that the princess hoped never to wear.

But the pale lilac of the dress would simply make Hinata look like a dark-haired, fallen angel, and Sakura knew it. She also knew that Hinata's blood was almost as blue as her own true-blue blood was; it was only fitting, Sakura thought, that the truly royal girls were the most beautiful beings in the room, that night.

Ino, of course, would be the loveliest thing in the room (she was forever-beautiful - that kind of beauty that just shines, no matter where one was, one could not help but notice it); Ino was almost always the loveliest thing in the room. And if Sakura knew her friend at all, Ino would be dressed in sky blue; low bust line, shoulders bared, hair wound up in the latest fashion, as always.

Tenten would be disgustedly trying to get away from all the men in the room - Sakura knew that Tenten, also the last possible heir to an almost-royal line, was high on the list of prospective marriage proposals. She was also fairly close to the throne; and in the real world, power was power, no matter where it came from. Sakura also knew that Tenten rather loved the colour orange; perhaps burnt gold for the brunette, then.

Temari would, of course, be laughing. Given that she was not completely royal, she didn't actually really have to show up at all. But her father was among Sakura's father's closest friends, and so, this was unlikely. Temari would probably put up a fight, and end up at the feast in something warm, and dark-green-ish.

And Lady Karin would stay close to Sakura all night, to try to prevent her relation from doing anything that was violent, crazy, or stupid (Hinata would be a great help to Karin, in this; Sakura did stupid things often). Sakura knew her cousin better then anyone; she also knew that Karin would be deciding between black, and crimson. The crimson would win out; crimson always won out, with Karin.

Sakura nodded to herself, as she thought of the picture they would make. Yes, a lovely, lovely group of girls. That's what they were. A lovely group of royal girls.

And if Sakura was lucky, they would all escape the feasting hall before the end of the night, and hide in the North Tower, or perhaps the jousting yards.

Being with her friends was so much more fun then playing princess all night.

Sakura sighed.

But playing princess was what she was born to do; and do it well, she would.

---

The feasting hall was again lit with firelight and candlelight; it glistened and hung in the air like droplets of light. The air was thick with the scents of Court - too many people crammed into such a small space; roasted deer; thyme and other seasonings; smoke, too, and that odd, inviting scent that was the happy, not-dangerous kind of fire.

There was also the sweet scent that spoke of happiness; it dripped off the laughing faces of the Court nobles, colouring the air around them a special shade of laughter. It was a strange kind of night; the music lingering in the air was an orchestra of voices, violins, and mirth. It seemed the kind of night that was simply made for magic.

Lady Sakura surveyed her Court, from the shadows in one of the corners, where she had hidden. Her friends were, mostly, being danced around the room, by the many different nobles their age, and a little older.

Sakura's bright-bright green eyes searched through the faces, and found Ino (in a sky blue dress that emphasized every curve the girl possessed, exactly as Sakura had predicted). She was in the circle of a man's arms, one that Sakura didn't know, smiling brightly. He was faceless and nameless, to Sakura, and she was not inclined to make his acquaintance.

Her eyes went back to searching through the Court, for her friends. She was so utterly absorbed in this venture that she didn't notice the man that was slowly approaching her.

"Lady Sakura?"

The voice that curled into Sakura's ears was low, warm, and smoother then satin. Her head jerked up, and her jaw almost dropped.

Standing before her was the most striking being she had ever laid eyes on. He didn't look much older then she was; but he could have been anywhere from sixteen, to eighteen. Dressed in black velvet and silver, he was tall - broad-shouldered. In possession of dark hair, pale skin, and long fingers, he was beautiful.

But his eyes were what caught Sakura's attention. They were wells of bottomless onyx. Her mind screamed; she knew those eyes - but she couldn't place them. And they made her shiver a little, her dress rustling slightly at the miniscule movement.

She almost forgot to respond, as well. "Er-, yes?"

The warm-silk voice trickled into her ears again, as his hand was extended for her to take. "May I ask your hand for this next dance?"

Sakura's instincts rebelled. The sense of familiarity that lingered about him was revolting, but he was just so attractive…

And Sakura was a Lady. And it was so ungracious for a Lady to refuse a man a dance, especially when he had asked so politely. She laid her fingers lightly against his palm, smiled courteously, and said "Of course, my lord."

He led her out to the dance floor, and assumed the position of the lead. A waltz sprung up, and Sakura found her self being whisked around the room.

He's a wonderful dancer, Sakura thought, approvingly, and smiled brightly up at him.

A dark, amused chuckle left his lips. "Lady Sakura, I've heard you aren't often seen dancing."

Sakura shook her head, the smile fixed in place to hide her annoyance. So what, she simply thought dancing was a pointless waste of time. "No, not often. I-"

She broke off, as he spun her out, only to whisk her back to his chest, a moment later. The couples around then sent the dark young man admiring looks - it was not often that the princess was caught dancing.

Sakura was slightly dizzy, but continued with her previous train of thought. "I prefer to fence; I'm sure you've heard about my little strategy."

This surprised another dark chuckle out of him, and Sakura felt her cheeks turning a bit redder then they should have been.

He said "You mean the way you challenge all your suitors to a match?"

Sakura smiled darkly. "And if they don't win, I don't marry them. It works rather well, don't you think?"

He smirked. "You're still not married, so yes, I'd say that it works."

He spun her out again, and Sakura watched the whole world swirl around her. It was quite nice - this bantering thing that had sprung up between them. But the song was almost over, and she still didn't know his name.

When she was back against his chest, and the world had stopped spinning, she asked "I'm sorry; I still don't know your name."

He smirked, and the sense of familiarity hit Sakura harder then it had before. "You know me, lovely Princess Sakura."

"Do I?

He dipped her to floor, just as the last notes of the song chimed through the air. His mouth was at her ear, when he said "You can call me Sasuke, and husband, Princess."

Sakura's jaw clenched, as she finally realized who she was dancing with. Oh, no, no, no, she thought; and her eyes danced, lit with an annoyed fire.

"You wish, you asshole," she hissed back through clenched teeth, the smile on her lips fixed and foreign.

He just smirked again, without letting her up. "You will, Princess. I can promise you that." And then he pulled her up, and disappeared into the rest of the Court.

Sakura stood there, a Princess frozen on the dance floor, while her Court swirled around her.