Chapter II: The Devil You Know

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Recap: "It's fine, I'm sure will be seeing them plenty from here on out." Sakura reassured. As she saw Karin hugging a tall figure, she caught a glimpse of raven hair. "Hmm…"

"Sakura! Hinata!" Karin hollered at them, fury apparent in her voice as she stomped up to them. The figure Sakura had spotted earlier had left in a hurry without hesitation, and it seemed that the sudden action ruined the princess's mood. "Dammit! You two were supposed to put the horses in their stables and then come back right away! Can't you follow a simple order?" She raved, venom seeping into every word. Tenten was behind her, glaring off to the side while gritting her teeth and clenching her fists tightly. Oh, if looks could kill.

"Our humblest apologies, Lady Karin," Sakura apologized and tried to sound as sympathetic as possible while resisting the urge to do any rash or violent action. What a brat! She thought to herself, huffing inwardly.

"Hinata, come with me so I can look around the castle. Tenten, help the other servants get the trunks and other belongings inside. Sakura, you go find a room for me and set it up how I like it," All of the girls quickly bowed and slipped away to their assigned destinations and jobs.

Sakura entered the castle and was immediately freaked out. Even though it was still sunny and light outside, the stone walls were nearly black as the long hallways didn't seem to end. It was dark, gloomy and cold, much to her displeasure, and the fact that the mood mixed in with the atmosphere had her feeling paranoid. Shivering, she rubbed her arms even though it wasn't cold. She found the stairs and tried her best to find the perfect room for Karin that the redhead wouldn't complain about or punish her for choosing. After several rooms, she finally found one. It was probably the brightest room in the palace.

The chosen room had dark red curtains draped around the large window, which gave a hawk's eye view of the castle grounds, and a circular, king-sized bed. There was a bouquet sitting on the bed. Sakura narrowed her eyes. Red roses, huh? "Better find a vase for those," Sakura said, making a note to herself before leaving the room.

As she was walking down the hall, she heard nearly inaudible footsteps behind her. Quickly turning around, the figure didn't seem to notice her as he strolled towards her. Sakura actually didn't know what direction she was going, and not wanting to get lost and possibly yelled at by Karin, she thought it would be wise to ask the person. "Um… excuse me. Are you heading downstairs?"

As the figure came closer, Sakura made out his appearance and halted. He had raven hair that spiked almost dangerously at the back, and his long bangs caressing his face. The hair even shaded his eyes, which were a dark black that were empty and cold. His complexion was impressively pale, telling her that he either didn't go outside often or didn't like the sun, and as far as she was concerned, he was devilishly handsome.

"Why do you want to know?" His voice was sharp and discourteous, although his emotionless expression gave nothing away. Sakura pouted at his rude tone, and her hand twitched as she itched to slap him straight across the face at how disrespectful he was to the queen's attendant. As if reading her mind, the young man's eyes bled red while his lips curled into a snarl. "You would dare slap a prince?" Sakura's face paled, and she immediately bowed.

"I'm terribly sorry, Prince Sasuke," She really didn't know if that was him or Prince Naruto, but she had heard that Sasuke had black hair. "I was out of line for thinking of such actions."

"I'll be sure to tell the princess." The pink-haired maiden almost gaped and snapped right then and there. Was he threatening her? What the hell! Sakura was so screwed if Prince Sasuke told the redheaded princess. Karin was so obsessed with him that there was no way that she would get by with a regular excuse.

"Please don't," She pleaded.

"It's not your place to ask me not to. I'll be sure to tell her about her rude servant." Sasuke said, his tone serious.

"You can't be serious!" Sakura's fiery attitude got the best of her as she snapped her flaming, emerald eyes towards his form. This guy has already made himself an enemy in her book.

Quietly, she noticed that Sasuke had a sword strapped to his side as his face twisted in annoyance. She wasn't sure how or when—she didn't even see him move—but the next thing she knew, she was on her back on the stone floor, the tip of his sword right between her eyes. She screamed, surprise mixing with fear. "Ah!"

"You should learn your place." Sakura let go of the breath she was holding and inhaled deeply out of relief when Sasuke slipped his weapon back into its sheath. "Luckily for you, I'm letting you live despite your rude attitude. But the next time you decide to talk out of place, your limbs will be the first to be cut by my sword," Sasuke threatened without even thinking about the horror that was written all over the pinkette's face. Sighing heavily, the dark-haired prince sauntered past her with a controlled expression, as if what had occurred just moments ago never even happened, while hearing small whimpers come from her.

Sakura was terrified and was still stuck in her spot on the floor. Not of Karin, no, but this prince. She had heard that people who crossed him never lived to see the next day, and here he was, promising the same fate for her. She was scared out of her mind.

She was trying to hold back the tears forming and came back to reality, but all she could see were dark, empty, soulless eyes. She didn't realize Sasuke had stopped in his track and was staring at her frozen form from behind. "Downstairs is this way, Miss… What's your name?"

"Sakura…" She said, picking herself off the floor, brushing off the dust from her clothes and trying not to look at him. She didn't want anyone to think she was fresh meat that could be easily pushed around, especially him.

"You won't last. They're going to eat you up and spit you out." He ruthlessly stated. When he saw her eyes trailing everywhere except towards him, the Prince narrowed his eyes, grabbed her arm in a wrenching grasp and yanked her to him. He nearly grounded out hiss words as she simpered in protest, shoving his face near hers. "Don't let you're stupid pride get you killed."

"I could say the same for you, you arrogant bastard," Sakura whispered, loud enough for only Sasuke and her to hear. His onyx eyes flashed crimson once again, and Sakura felt drawn to them, but it wasn't enough for her to ignore their proximity. Pushing away from him on his chest, she saw Sasuke send her a dark, almost twisted smirk on his handsome face. They heard footsteps making their way towards them, and they both quickly put a good distance between them. Sakura bowed at him with a timid expression.

"I'm taking you're the princess's constant companion, which means I better see you at the party tonight. And I mean you only." Sasuke said before letting the pink-haired girl make a quick exit as she practically flew down the stairs. After she left, the person coming from the opposite direction stopped at his side.

"Hey, teme, who was that?" The blonde-haired young man inquired.

"Someone. It's none of your business, Naruto," Sasuke stated before he left said boy pouting. "Go get ready for the party."

"Big meanie!" Naruto stuck out his tongue before following after him.

After Sakura had escaped his highness's dark aura and intimidating personality, she didn't waste any time in searching for Tenten. The brunette was outside, directing where the attendants should put the luggage and was surprised when Sakura appeared behind her, panting slightly. "What the-?"

"Tenten, I met him. I met him!"

"Who?"

"Prince Sasuke! And he is one evil bastard."

"I could've told you that. Prince Sasuke Uchia, heir to the Uchia throne and best friends with Prince Naruto Uzamaki. Lord Naruto was adopted by the Uchia family, and Lord Sasuke was trained by his older brother, Prince Itachi, who married the princess of the land of lightning," Tenten explained. "They say Prince Naruto is the better of the two. Who would've thought that his lord would run into you of all people. Did you get smart with him?"

"Hell yes! He's such a rude, despicable…" Sakura sputtered, looking for the right words she would describe Sasuke with. "Creature! He's going to tell Karin about my attitude, too! I'm so screwed."

"Oh yeah… the party's tonight. Karin said you have to come along with her. Do you have your dress picked out?" Tenten asked, spotting an armored man heading to the training fields on a horse. His hair was long and brown that seemed to glitter in the sunlight, but she didn't get an up close glance of what his face looked like. "They were saying that lords and ladies were coming here from other clans around the area to celebrate the engagement. The Uchia's, including the eldest son prince Itachi, are going to make an appearance tonight. Prince Itachi is very handsome too, so there's no doubt that when you met prince Sasuke, he was just as handsome." Tenten teased as Sakura blushed and looked away.

"So what? He's an arrogant asshole that needs to be taught a lesson. His eyes were so dark and empty, but they changed to red when I angered him."

"They say that runs in the Uchia blood; the Sharingan. It copies any ninja's abilities and can turn it against them. The Sharingan has a lot more abilities and has been deemed the most dangerous trait passed down in a clan. The best thing would be to make sure you don't piss him off and make him show it to you again, Sakura."

"Eh… He did already… twice." Sakura said, laughing shakily at what Tenten had just told her. Tenten sighed heavily before noticing an attendant had dropped one of Karin's trunks.

"Do you want to die!" Tenten yelled at him before leaving the pink-haired girl alone.

"Oh boy… poor Tenten has it rough." It took Sakura a minute to realize the voice had come from behind her and faced the person.

"I'm sorry did I scare you?" He bowed humbly, and Sakura took in his full appearance. Black bowl haircut and THICK eyebrows—those jokers were thick!—and eyes that were black and round. "My name is Rock Lee! You must be the beautiful, lovely Sakura, I suppose?" Rock Lee grabbed Sakura's hand with both of his and gave her a nearly blinding smile. "You're so pretty in person."

Sakura felt shivers go up and down her spine while she gagged a little outwardly. She laughed almost sheepishly, "T-th-thank you, Rock Lee."

"Please, call me Lee," Lee gave her another bright smile, and Sakura tried her best to stay composed. "Tonight at the party, I was requested by Princess Karin to be her bodyguard and yours, too."

"I can handle myself," Sakura stated reassuringly, pulling her hand away from his grasp. Lee frowned at that before his grin returned.

"Impossible! Nothing should happen to such an unmatched beauty like yourself! I, Rock Lee will protect you with my life until I breathe my last breath."

"You're… insane," Sakura muttered before leaving Rock Lee by himself. She knew it was rude, but seriously… She could have managed with his strange appearance, but his exclamations and creepy compliments… The pink-haired maiden shuddered.

Just when she thought she could leave Scott-free and have some normal time by herself, she heard Karin shriek her name. Fuck my life… She thought to herself before going the direction Karin called from. The redhead was sitting in a professional position on a special chair next to another lady. Sakura turned to the new appearance, slightly curious. The lady had red hair just like Karin, but hers was a lipstick-bright red, and her eyes were a deep, cerulean blue. Princess Kumi was definitely prettier than her cousin, Princess Karin. "Princess's." She bowed.

"Sakura, you need to get ready for the party. I want you there, and I want you to stand out the most out of all the other ladies-in-waiting." Karin stated before receiving a glare from her cousin.

"Excuse me, but Temari will beat her out," Kumi claimed confidently, taking out her fan and cooling herself. The pink-haired maiden was sure that the action was just to give Karin the idea that Kumi was superior to her since she could already feel a cool draft from the window on her left.

"Bitch, you wish! Your tomboy would never beat my pinkette. Even Tenten could beat her, and she's only a tomboy when not dressed properly." If only Tenten was here right now, she would have been arrested for committing murder. Sakura smiled at her train of thought. Tenten probably would have killed Karin.

"Go now, Sakura, and make sure your dress is sexy and short, but not enough to stand out more than me." Karin waved her off and Sakura surprisingly obeyed without inward protest, but as soon as she did, both cousins began to argue once again. The pinkette sighed once she was out the door from their antics.

Instead of immediately going upstairs like she should have, Sakura went to look for Hinata. She found her in the kitchen, pouring batter into a pan. "Hinata!" The pearl-eyed girl turned away from the cake she was making and was surprised to find Sakura. "I need your help!"

"Did something happen?" Worry was written all over her face, and Sakura shook her head in assurance. "What is it then?"

"I need you to go upstairs with me so I can get ready." Sakura was scared of going back up there again. There was no telling if Sasuke was up there waiting for round two of intimidation, which she would lose in again. Hinata didn't get a chance to even open her mouth as she was dragged by a frantic Sakura up the stairs.

Her prayers for no Sasuke were answered as she was met with an empty hallway. But, even though she felt immense relief, she couldn't help but also feel disappointment. Realizing it was pointless to even bring Hinata up with her without reason, she let Hinata go and told the confused girl to finish up the cake she was working on earlier.

Finding her room, which was six rooms down from Karin, Sakura took out a cute-cut, red dress from her closet. Remembering how Karin wanted her dress to be short, Sakura made sure her butt poked out, but just barely. However, she felt dirty at the fact that she was willingly showing move than enough skin, so she put on black shorts under it. She placed her long hair in a side ponytail, curling certain parts of it and leaving others straight while she kept her bangs neatly framed around her face. The dress was short-sleeved and the bottom part of the hem was flowing on her thighs. The flats chosen for her were also a shade of crimson. Ah, Karin and her obsession with red, she thought. When Karin meant color coordinated, she really did mean the pinkette had to wear the same exact color for each part of her outfit.

Peering in the mirror, Sakura stared at the V-neck leading down to her slightly exposed chest. It's not that she didn't mind, but she had dignity, unlike Karin. I wonder if Sasuke will notice. Sakura blushed at what she had just thought and inwardly slapped herself.

Was she insane? Perhaps. Attracted? Maybe… Scared of him? Hell yes!

"SAKURA!"

"Boo…." Sakura pouted at the mirror before leaving the room. Karin was waiting downstairs, wearing a pink dress that was the same shade of the lady-in-waiting's hair. Her cleavage was showing—for some reason, Sakura wasn't shocked—butt sticking out because it was shorter than Sakura's. What kind of reputation does she want to set for herself? "Are you ready, Princess Karin?"

"If I was, would I be sitting here waiting for you? Think, Sakura!" The redhead reprimanded her. When Karin turned around, Sakura stuck her tongue out quickly out of the childish urge for revenge. However, she slipped it back in and almost choked when she saw Rock Lee dashing over to her. Oh… hell no.

"Lee, remember what I said! Don't act like a dolt," Karin forced him to stop dead in his tracks, and Sakura had to cover her face from laughing out loud at the strange scene of a fuming princess yelling at a lost-looking, eccentric bodyguard. "Come on!"

"Yes ma' am…" He saluted her out of respect.

As they entered the party, Karin immediately dragged Sakura around in search of Sasuke. Sakura didn't know about the redhead's true intentions. She merely thought she spotted a friend and wanted to talk to her. Imagine her shock when she came face to face with Sasuke, whom had been inches away from ending her life with his sword just hours earlier.

"Sasuke-kun, I want you to meet my bodyguard, Rock Lee, and Lady-in-waiting, Sakura Haruno." Karin pulled Sakura up to Sasuke. He was smirking and Karin was giggling.

"Prince Sasuke," Sakura said, never taking her eyes off him whilst she did a curtsey.

"The devil you know," Sasuke replied wittily as his smirk grew wider. He stared straight back into her guarded, emerald eyes.

This girl would be very amusing around here. With that thought in mind, his eyes flashed with an unknown emotion that had Sakura swallowing nervously.

She had no idea what she was in for now.

RikusChika778: So I see this story's already a big hit. This is my first time doing a dark prince Sasuke; I hope I portrayed him well for his appearance. And for those reading this please excuse the authors note on the bottom of chapter 1 talking about the ages. Sakura, Tenten, and Hinata are 16, while Rock Lee is 17, the others are 19. Sorry for the mix-up. I hope you like this chapter too. Reviews please!

CiiCiinREX: (B/N) This chapter took a little longer than the other one, but I think I did an okay job on looking over this one. X3 Oooo, tension's building! And I wonder what Sasuke's up to? Poor Sakura, haha. Please review! :D