There are not many women with chivalrous spirits matching those of men…"

-Chiyo to Sakura Chapter 279 page 10 of "Naruto"

A/N:I'm glad everyone is enjoying the plot of this story. I will admit to you guys and gals, that pairings is not a huge deal to me. I know everyone has certain pairings they like, maybe because of the visual appeal, or they feel that they can understand certain characters persona better than others. For me, oftentimes a plot will hit me and much like a movie director I cast the characters in roles that I feel would fit them best. I just couldn't get over the idea of having Neji being a stoic, and grumpy dragon prince. To me it just fit him. As for Lady Thief, Itachi as a conservative sheriff just hit the right spot in my brain I suppose. I've just fallen in love with being a storyteller, and writing romance and trying to piece two characters together intrigue me. Thank you, I'll shut up now.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters there in. I just borrow them to torture them for my own amusement from time to time.

Summery: There once was a pink haired woman who was nothing more than a simple blacksmith's daughter. Yet none could match the ferocity of her spirit once the hilt of a blade was held within her grasp. An arrogant, cocky, self-assured dragon prince was certainly no exception.

- Sakura/Neji - -AU –

Rated -M- Because there will be lots of blood, violence, gore, and swearing. Ect. Ect. And possibly some erotic scenes here and there.

Chapter 11

If Sakura thought the servants had a staring problem before, after the announcement of the challenge initiated by the emperor of Suna, they brought it to a whole new level. She could feel the calculating eyes that followed her every step. What had surprised her further was during one afternoon, after coming from the kitchen with her lunch in hand, she had nearly ran headlong into Hanabi after walking around a sharp bend.

The girl had looked shocked to see her but when she recovered, two huge tears filled those expressive lilac tinted alabaster eyes and she all but roared at her, "What makes you so special!"

Before Sakura could even think to respond the girl was gone in a streak of furious cream colored robes and pressed mahogany curls.

She had also noticed that the prince was back to the habit of separating himself from her again. He asked her to accompany him less and less. His moods were so up and down at times she was confused as to where she stood with him. She was a servant yes, but there were times he treated her as one and there were times he didn't. Her cheeks tinged pink as the memory of the kiss in the library found its way into her current train of thought. Quickly she pressed it down and changed her train of thought.

Sakura was excited to hit the month mark of the healing process. One down, two more months to go. The doctor had started her on something he called 'physical therapy' to slowly help her regain her mobility in her left arm. It hurt but it felt good to use the arm, at least if only a little again.

Today the pinkette knew her master was busy in a meeting and so she decided to sneak out into practice yard so that she could get in contact with Kakashi-sensei. She hadn't seen him since she'd been injured. She figured that he and Rin were busy with the king's business and so hadn't wanted to bother them with her problems. She'd cornered Captain Uzumaki that morning and he admitted that Kakashi Hatake had returned after being gone a month.

She halted in front of the door, and quickly glanced around making certain that there were no witnesses. The last thing she needed was for a servant or a guard mentioning they saw her go into the practice yard. Sucking in a breath, she shoved down the guilt she felt for disobeying and quickly slipped outside. For a moment, she lifted her face and let the fresh air tickle her skin.

The warrior had been holed up in the castle for a solid month. She didn't count sticking her head outside of a window as going out. Fortunately the training grounds were empty due to the meeting being held, and quickly she traversed the length of the area. She knocked firmly on the Assassin's Guild door and was relieved when it was Rin who greeted her.

"You aren't supposed to be out here kit," Rin admonished her, her lips twisting with disapproval.

"I know… but I needed to talk to you… and Kakashi-sensei… privately…" she bowed her head, her hand clenching at her side. She could have asked them to come to speak to her in her room, but with nearly every occupant in the castle having acute hearing, she didn't think it would be wise.

The red headed kitsune stepped aside and allowed her to pass, "You better make it quick… who knows when those stuffed shirts will be done with that meeting of theirs…"

"Thank you," Sakura mumbled softly.

"Hey kit," Kakashi-sensei greeted her from halfway down the stairs. Once at the bottom he looked at her sling and her pale features, "You got yourself pretty banged up…"

Her lips turned up into a smile, "I did, didn't I?"

He placed clawed fingers on her right shoulder, "It's a good thing you did… hmm."

She ducked her head under his thoughtful polychromatic gaze, "Yes. I would do it again… but… I didn't come to speak to you about my wound… I heard you just came back a few days ago…" sucking in a breath she lifted her head, "Have you heard about… the duel that I will have to participate in with Emperor Gaara's champion Lord Lucied, in five months in an event to represent the agreement of peace between Suna and Konoha?"

The incredulous look on the two kitsune's faces was more than enough of an answer for her.

Rin muttered in disbelief, "We just got back… no one informed of us this…"

Kakashi gestured for her to sit, "I suppose you should start from the beginning kit."

Nodding, the green-eyed female took a seat and sucking in a deep breath. She omitted nothing, from the first meeting in the hallway to the peace agreement and the things that the emperor said about her involvement with the battle on the border. She added at the end, "King Hiashi informed me… that this event, will be held in the Konoha capitol in the arena. I… it will end… when one of the opponents can no longer fight… whether it is by death… or unconsciousness…"

Rin sucked in her breath, "That is ridiculous … why?"

"Kakashi-sensei," she interrupted Rin's tirade, "When I look back on all that happened that day… I believe that they were targeting me personally…" releasing a small sigh she glanced down at her feet, "I thought… I thought you should know… because… my gut is telling me that there is more to this than meets the eye…"

She drew silent when the assassin leader adopted that thoughtful look she was well acquainted with. It was a good minute before he spoke, "I'd have to agree with you… if they are truly targeting you, a mere servant… then it could be possible they plan on using you to get to the crown prince…"

Sakura nodded as she had come to that conclusion as well. She tilted her chin up, "Did you ever find out who was behind that assassination attempt?"

"No," Kakashi shook his head, "we investigated extensively and…"

"I know… this might sound farfetched… but what if… what if it was Suna behind the … attempt on the prince's life," she tilted her head at the two fox kitsunes, "That's the only way… I can… rationalize their odd behavior. I … get the feeling they want me dead… but why… go through so much trouble to go after a servant… and through a peace treaty of all things with a stupid game? Emperor Gaara is known for holding a grudge… he lost the Grasslands because of Konoha… and I… a Grasslander… helped Konoha defeat them at the border… He knew this and even mentioned me his 'contention' with Konoha… probably because one of the captains told him about my presence there… after all a human woman fighting alongside dragons and elves would draw attention… so… perhaps he not only is trying to get back at me for crossing him twice. If, that is, he's behind the attempt on Prince Neji's life… all that would leave is the assassination of the crown prince once he got rid of me. If he kills off the Hyuuga male heir line… then that only leaves King Hiashi's daughters… and that means… another male line would take over Konoha… What better revenge against a dragon?"

Sakura's thoughtful gaze turned into a glare when Kakashi suddenly ruffled her hair, "Kit, you are wasted on that human blood of yours. You must have been a kitsune in your previous life."

Rin folded her arms as she regarded the young woman, "In some ways it sounds far fetched but yet… I can see the logic in what you say. We won't know until we find out who is behind the attempt. She grinned before flicking her in the forehead, "You've had too much time to think…"

"I have two more months to go…" Sakura groused, her lips turning into a displeased frown.

"Just think of this as another lesson," Kakashi smiled at her, which further served to irritate her, beneath his black mask, "A warrior can always use a lesson in patience now and again…"

"I better go," she said rising to her feet and striding over to the door, "I'll see you two around I suppose…"

"Behave yourself kit," Rin returned cheerfully.

As Sakura cracked open the door, she turned her head as a thought hit her, her malachite eyes taking on a curious tint, "Oh… by the way I forgot to ask … what kind of yokai is Lord Lucied anyways?"

"He's a snake yokai…" Kakashi answered easily.

Sakura eyes widened a moment and then slowly she nodded her thanks before shutting the door behind her with a soft click.

Inside the assassin's guild, Rin and Kakashi exchanged a thoughtful look.

Outside, Sakura hurried through the practice yard and quickly slipped back inside hopefully before anyone was the wiser. She was halfway to her room when she happened to run into Prince Neji. His eyes narrowed when he spotted her, "I was looking for you… where were you?"

"Uh," she ducked her head to hide the guilt she felt, "I went to the kitchens for something to eat…"

She could feel his piercing stare on her a moment but then he seemed to accept her explanation. He surprised her by saying, "I know that… you feel it is your duty to accompany me to these meetings and all that…" he let out a sigh, "I know it might seem like I've been avoiding you but… I decided that I should give you a break all things considered. After the announcement of the challenge, I figured it would be best to let things blow over a bit before I take you to another meeting. The elders are already complaining about the whole thing…"

Sakura asked him before thinking her words through properly, "And… how do you feel about it my liege?"

She started when he suddenly closed the distance between them and crooked a finger under her chin, raising her gaze to meet his furtive one, "I don't like it."

Swallowing she averted her eyes, "Oh." She shut her eyes when she felt his warm breath dance across her face and fluttered against her lashes.

"You have been put into a position you should have not been…" he removed his touch and his arm fell to his side. She opened her eyes to observe him, "You are…"

"I am," she prompted curiously, her hand curling into a small fist.

"You are a woman and a Grasslander. This fight should belong to the dragons," the prince turned his head away.

Sakura nodded, even though she bristled slightly beneath the way he said woman but she understood that his pride had taken a blow with all that had occurred recently. She had often thought it would have been better if she'd been born male, and it was at a moment like this, she wished she were. She murmured, "I understand. I… I'll do my best not to embarrass your family further…"

His head whipped back in her direction, his ponytail flipping over his shoulder with the sudden movement. He stunned her with his sudden vehemence, "This… has nothing to do with embarrassment. I… just…" his fist clenched and she watched as his gaze hardened and his lips thinned.

She didn't know what she was apologizing for, but even still she murmured softly, her hand going to rest on her injured arm, "I'm… I'm sorry."

The young woman started when he growled. He snarled at her, "You have no reason to apologize… none of this is your fault…"

Lifting her head, her green eyes flashed with an emotion he hadn't seen on her face before, "I am apologizing because you are upset," her shoulders drooped, "But… as for this challenge… I will do my best not to shame you. And no matter whose fault this is… I will handle it, as a warrior ought. Pointing fingers, placing blame… it is worthless to do so…" her eyes darkened to viridian with anger, "I will not lower myself to their level…"

"Sakura," the prince whispered her name as she strode away from him, her head held erect and high, her shoulders set with pride.

Her eyes glazed over as she walked, her thoughts immediately turned inward. She wished she could go burn off steam; she longed to draw her sword and practice until sweat poured from every pore in her body. It was frustrating. The pink haired warrior frowned, how could Kakashi-sensei lecture her on this being a lesson in patience? It was torture, is what it was.

A gasp left her breath as she collided with something hard and seemingly immoveable. Tilting her head upwards, her eyes widened as she found irritated, familiar onyx eyes glaring into her own.

She stepped aside, and bowed slightly, "I apologize for my clumsiness."

The male's lips pursed. He had seen her coming, he just didn't feel like he should be the one to move out of the way.

When he didn't speak, Sakura asked him curiously while eyeing is spiky black hair, "Are you related to Itachi Uchiha?"

His eyes narrowed, "I am… and you are?" He ended, his voice haughty. And then a light seemed to click on in his brain as he took in her pink hair and the injured arm in the sling. There was no mistake in who this woman was.

"I am…" Sakura began to reply but he interrupted coldly.

"I know who you are… you are the bitch… who took my rightful place," he all but snarled at her.

"You must be, the little brother," a smirk appeared on her face. Itachi had mentioned his brother wouldn't be too happy about her fighting the other kingdom's champion. Supposedly that right should have fallen to either Itachi or this prick standing in front of her.

If at all possible it looked like his eyes narrowed even further at her uppity response. He snarled at her, "You dare talk to me without respect wench?"

"Respect is something this is earned," Sakura's eyes fell into half slits, her patience was beginning to be stretched thin by this dragon's attitude, "Nothing in your attitude has suggested that I should treat you with such…"

"Why you…" He closed the distance between them and raised his hand to strike her with an openhanded backhand.

Sakura only met his eyes unflinchingly, her expression showing no emotion. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of cowering. Sasuke growled when a hand caught his wrist stopping him from landing a blow. He glanced up to see his older brother standing behind him, a look of foreboding on his face.

"What are you doing Itachi? This woman…" the younger Uchiha sibling snarled.

"This woman is Sakura Haruno. She took a blow for your liege, the man that you are to serve as a champion one day. She is also the one who will stand in the arena against Lord Lucied, even though she expressed to the emperor and his champion gracefully that she did not wish to participate," Itachi reprimanded his brother, "And she is right brother… respect is to be earned. As a warrior you should know this… Your behavior was shameful…"

Sakura's mouth opened slightly with surprise at the king's champion's words. Her chin dipped, "Thank you Itachi Uchiha…"

"Please forgive my impetuous little brother, Sasuke. He still has a temper to grow out of," the elder Uchiha brother smirked at her.

"I'm still here you know," Sasuke huffed irritably and then, "I don't understand… why someone so weak…"

"There is nothing to forgive, however, I see what you mean Itachi-san. He still has much to learn," the pinkette couldn't help the jab as it slipped from her tongue. Bowing she murmured, "Now if you gentlemen will please excuse me…"

They both stepped aside as she passed, her pink ponytail whipping with the speed of her gait. Sakura let out a breath when she walked around a corner out of their line of sight. What was up with the dragons today? She had planned to go to her room to read, but now she feeling a bit restless with her emotions being stirred up and sifted through a cutting sieve.

She thought of the eldest princess and decided to head to the music room. It was still afternoon, maybe she would luck out and find Hinata hard at practice again. The young woman cut through the corridors taking the long way around, hoping to avoid certain dragons she didn't feel like mentioning at the moment. Her green eyes widened with delight when she could hear music coming from the practice room.

When she peeked around, she was relieved to see that Hinata was alone. However this time, she was playing a viola instead of the harpsichord. Sakura leaned against the frame of the door, not wanting to disturb the musician. Her eyes shut in enjoyment as the notes spiraled higher and higher in crescendo. It was almost as if the high notes were transparent, moving through her veins like quicksilver, lending her their energy.

Hinata noticed her guest because she suddenly stopped, "Haruno-san…"

Sakura waved her hands, "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to disturb you…"

"Please sit down Haruno-san," the princess politely gestured to a chair nearby.

Sakura murmured politely, "Thank you…" as she sat she lifted her chin, her curiosity getting the better of her she asked, "What was the name of what you were playing?"

"Oh… it's Ave Maria…" Hinata replied quietly, her voice low but steadier than when Sakura had first talked to her before.

"It's lovely," the human woman responded honestly, "Do you mind if I stick around to watch you practice?"

"Not… not at all," the dragon blushed but didn't falter.

Sakura let her mind drift away on the melody as Hinata practiced that afternoon. The music helped to ease her emotions and to calm her thoughts. Once Hinata was done for the afternoon, the pinkette excused herself with a polite thanks, and as she traversed the halls, she decided that it wouldn't hurt for her to walk the gardens before heading back to her room for the evening. She'd rarely gone out there, but after having been outside that day, she was already itching for another batch of fresh air.

She ducked her head as the eyes of the royal guards followed each step. The warrior slipped out the double doors and slipped down a trail that was situated beneath arbors with twisting, pink and purple wisteria and lilac. She shut her eyes as the sweet scent hit her nostrils, and allowed the tension in the set of her shoulders to melt away.

Her bubble gum hued bangs lifted and danced over her forehead as she strode through the gardens at a leisurely pace. She stopped mid stride when she caught sight of a familiar coffee colored ponytail in the distance. Slowly she approached, her eyes on the set of his shoulders. They were slightly drooped but that proud set of his chin was still there. He was looking at the sky, she realized with surprise, he didn't seem the type to watch the clouds.

Sakura halted a few feet away from him, her booted heel scraping against the gravel. She watched as he stiffened and then slowly turned to face her. His tenor was a bit deeper than usual, "Oh it's you…"

A smile stretched her lips despite herself at the greeting. It was so like him, she couldn't help but be amused, "Yes… it's… me"

His brow ticked with irritation at the blatant mockery. He groused, "What are you doing out here?"

"I wasn't aware my liege that the gardens were off limit as well," her eyes flicked away from the foreboding expression on his face.

A sigh left him, "No… no they are not… I…" he turned away, hoping that she would read into the gesture and leave. He knew he could order her to leave, but he was finding it harder and harder to treat her as a simple servant. Kami only knew the aggravating female was anything but simple.

"Want to talk about it?" She pressed gently.

"No," was the monosyllabic response.

"You should get it off your chest you know," Sakura brushed away a stray bang, "I understand if you don't want to discuss something important with a mere servant… but it's not good for you to…"

His shoulders shook with a suppressed aggravated sigh. He pivoted on his heel and faced her, "You just never leave well enough alone do you?"

Sakura grinned then, "No." She then wondered what had gotten into her lately. She was usually obedient and polite. Today must have pressed on her nerves more than she realized, she thought to herself, lips thinning. She apologized then, "I'm sorry for my behavior my liege. I will take my leave unless you need something…"

He spoke up when she turned to leave, "Wait…"

Sakura stopped but didn't turn. She waited but when he remained silent, she turned, her eyes full of question. The woman sucked in a deep breath when her eyes found themselves aligned with the level of his chest. He had moved so quickly and so noiselessly that anything that had began to form in her brain as a question scattered like the breeze that played with her bangs.

Her lips parted slightly as he began to lean forward. She stiffened and moved aside and out of his reach. Sakura had sworn that she wouldn't let him be so familiar with her anymore. The look in his eye had almost weakened her resolve into nothingness. He growled at her in frustration, the low rumble from the cavity of his chest making her nervous.

"I see…" she said stupidly and then sighed, "Well… I'm going to…"

She tried to walk away, she really did, but a hand gripped her upper arm and turned her around. Her lips parted and emerald eyes darkened with emotion when he slanted his mouth over hers, plundering her softness greedily.

Sakura mentally berated herself for her weakness when a tear escaped her eye and trailed down her cheek, splashing against his mouth.

Immediately he released her, and looked down into her stricken face.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his normally cold eyes softening with concern.

"This is what's wrong," Sakura gestured between the two of them wildly.

"I don't think…" Prince Neji stepped away from her shaking his head.

Sucking in a deep breath she said, "Forgive me my liege for I am going to be brutally blunt with you," she watched his eyes narrow into slits but still she pressed on, "whatever it is… that… that this is…" her hand gestured between the two of them for emphasis, "It cannot go on…"

"You are my personal servant. If it is what I," he broke off, realizing how he sounded saying such a thing. This woman, Sakura stirred up his emotions and before he had known it, he was beginning to yearn for her as male does for his mate. She came out to the gardens and had found him. Instinctively in her own clumsy way, tried to soothe him, not realizing that she was the reason for his turmoil. His inner beast had been screaming at him for a solid week to force his uncle to cancel the tournament. She was his. He didn't want her to participate whatsoever.

He wanted her to submit to him as a mate. He nearly groaned out loud, what was he thinking? It hurt his pride to think it, but he was beginning to believe she deserved a better fate than being tied to him this way, for even if he was officially mated to another female, his inner beast wouldn't allow another male near her. She had brought such vivid technicolor to his life he was beginning to feel like a drowning man at sea, as he continued to force himself to ignore the emotions. In response they had only gotten stronger and stronger as time went on and it had made him hungrier and hungrier for her.

Her eyes shadowed at his proclamation and her shoulders drooped, the look on her face one of defeat, "This is true. That is all that I am. So I … should…"

Prince Neji put a finger to her lips, "Don't say it. I…" his breath left in a hiss of pure frustration, "I should not have said such a thing. Yes, you are my personal servant… but I would never force something like that on you… I'm not that sort of dragon."

Something about the forlorn expression on his face snapped the indescribable tightness she felt in her chest and Sakura broke her own taboo. Her hand went to his cheek, and ever so slowly she ran the appendage down the skin to his chin. Rising on her toes, she pressed a gentle kiss to his lips, her entire body shivering with suppressed emotion. What was it about this man that drew her like a moth to a flame? It was wrong, but yet it felt right. From the first day she had met him, he had challenged her in so many ways and the fascination had all started the moment he had made a bet on first blood on the battlefield in what seemed ages ago.

His chest rumbled with a low, growling noise as his arm wrapped around the curvy indention of her waist and pulled her flush against him, purring at the contact. The world melted away as his lips continued to caress her mouth and chin, and all that they knew was the taste of each other. The sweet scent of jasmine that permeated the warm air curled around them drawing them into its heady embrace

When he released her from the kiss, he gazed down into her flushed face, his breath coming out in harsh pants. Sakura shut her eyes mortified by her own display of weakness. She should have more self-control than this, "I shouldn't have done that…"

She glanced up startled at the self-depreciating laugh that came from the male still holding her against him, "You are attracted to me."

Sakura frowned annoyed by his arrogant statement; it didn't help matters that he was right. She dipped her head in reluctant agreement, "Yes… I regret to admit that I am."

"Woman, you are hard on a male's pride at the best of times," the prince frowned down, his ego stinging from her grudging response.

The pinkette was tired of apologizing that day, so she settled for, "No matter the case. This isn't right. You are tied to your duties as am I… this… would create too many difficulties if we allow it to continue without being properly held in check."

His nostrils flared at her dismissal, and it didn't help his temper with her pressing on his chest, quietly demanding he let her go. He wasn't a male that cared much for orders and so his response was to tighten his hold on her. Neji ignored the frown that immediately adorned her lips. He was being selfish and allowing his inner beast far more open reign than he should. He hated to admit how damn good it felt to be selfish and he reveled in the unusual lack of self-control.

Sakura only pushed harder but stopped when he growled at her. She found herself lost in those seemingly depthless eyes of his. She pleaded on a whisper, "Please release me, my liege."

"No," he responded, his tongue curling around the word finding pleasure in the denial. He watched her squirm with satisfaction in his iron grasp.

Giving up she laid her head against his chest, and listened absentmindedly to his heartbeat, her nostrils flared at his musky, and very masculine scent. Sakura began to ponder over the situation. When was it exactly that she had start to feel this way? It had come upon her so gradually that she hadn't realized the strength of her attraction to him had gotten so unbearably strong. It wasn't like her to behave this way. The opposite sex had never held any appeal to her before this. She'd always strictly adhered to the way of the sword even when some of the men under her command had showed blatant interest; she felt nothing from their attempt at advances.

She had prided herself on being self-sufficient and not needing anyone after her father's death. From the first time that Neji had touched her intimately in that hot spring, it had awakened an awareness within her that she didn't know that she possessed. Sakura felt her body beginning to react in a shameful manner to his closeness and she found herself pleading softly, "I beg you. Let me go…"

He only growled again. She frowned up into his face and almost flinched at the unrestrained need in his eyes. What in the hell was wrong with him? She almost felt like she was talking to a beast and not a man. Then her brain reminded her, that yes, she was talking to someone that was not in the least bit human.

Sakura stiffened when she felt his nose nuzzle affectionately against her cheek, and he rumbled with a sound of contentment at the feel of her smooth skin. Shocks of sensation traveled down the length of her spine with he lowered his head and lapped at the black dragon tattoo on her neck. When she gasped he lifted his head and nipped at her lower lip none too gently, forcing her mouth open and passionately his tongue slipped into the depths of her mouth all but demanding a response from her.

She squeaked when she suddenly found herself wedged between him and an empty arbor. Her eyes were nearly popping out of her head when his knee aggressively parted her legs, wedging firmly between her now quivering limbs and overheating flesh. The myriad of sensations in her body was beginning to make her head swim, and she felt herself losing her resolve beneath the relentless onslaught. Her good hand snaked up to cradle itself against his chest, scrunching the rich, cream hued silky material between desperate fingertips.

Sakura completely stopped fighting him and kissed him back with began to meet his passion aggressively. Her tongue pressed against his, rubbing languidly against his fangs and in the back of her mind it reminded her of the predator that he was. When she felt something pressing hard against her stomach her eyes widened with shock and cold awareness pulled her from the passion induced trance. It left her in no doubt of his desire for her. It was almost too much for her to take in. She began to struggle in earnest, ignoring the warning rumble from his chest. He lifted his head finally, his passion hazed eyes searching her panicking face.

The lustful haze over his brain that clouded his usual common sense dissipated some when she whispered his name in a desperately pleading tone, "Neji please…"

Reluctantly he released the trembling female. Realizing she was free from his hold, Sakura slowly started to back away, her green eyes watching him warily. When she realized he was moving after her, she turned tail and ran. She didn't stop until she was in the safety of her room. After she shut her bedroom door she sunk down onto the floor and buried her face into her knees.

No, the pinkette realized the truth of her innocent thoughts earlier that day, she really didn't know where she stood with the stoic prince any longer. The stark, what should have been a solid line between them had blurred beyond repair. They had both blatantly ignored the line that should have kept them in their place. The militant, hard side of her was lecturing her nonstop for her stupidity and the side of her that was a woman, the side that had been buried and suppressed for so long gloried in the freedom that she had been allowed. Even if it was, for a short time. For the second time that day, to her everlasting shame, she cried.

A/N: Happy Halloween everyone. –hands out cookies and candies- Reviews would be a nice treat for this writer. As a side note, as for Itachi being … a decent individual in this story, I personally don't see it as OOC at all for him in this case. He has no reason to be an asshole, and for some reason he always struck me as honorable, even before the newest knowledge about his canon self. There was just something about it in the way that he carried himself that I had always known there was more to the massacre than met the eye. In this story he isn't a hardass mercenary shinobi, instead he is a king's champion, and a highly honored and regarded warrior. I believe that his actions would be tempered with fairness, yet balanced with a strict cool demeanor. Sakura deserves respect for her sacrifice and from a warrior to warrior he understands this. Yes, she is a woman, and yes she's surrounded by hard headed male dragons full of ego, but like Sakura told Sasuke, respect has to be earned, and she has done that in Itachi's eyes, because if the situation required it, he would have had to do the same thing for King Hiashi. She, being a personal servant, went above and beyond the call of duty as it were. That is how I personally feel, however everyone is entitled to his or her own opinions. Ja Ne!