There are not many women with chivalrous spirits matching those of men…"
-Chiyo to Sakura Chapter 279 page 10 of "Naruto"
A/N: Well Jiraiya's fangirl then this one is for you. (oh and for the rest of you all too... I suppose :P) I'm writing another chapter with you in mind. I so understand. I grew up in a religious home and I only dressed up for it maybe three times as a kid. My parents wouldn't allow me to celebrate it. And it's a damn shame because I'm a real sugar addict, now as an adult I've doubled that addiction and now not only am I a sugar fiend, but caffeine is my drug of choice. With that in mind… the show must go on!
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.
Warning of Lemon in this chapter. Read at your own peril.
Chapter 12
Sakura glanced down and flexed her left arm. The corner of her eyes crinkled into a smile and she lifted her gaze to the doctor, "I am grateful for all that you have done…"
"How does it feel," he took the wraps he'd used to keep her arm mostly immobile for three months and toss them in the trash.
Lifting her arm she put it through a few of the physical therapy exercises she'd been taught. Her smile only grew wider, "It feels great. There is a bit of tightness in the muscle but…"
He dipped his head indicating he had expected her response, "You still need to take it easy on that arm. I know you are right handed but… it would be best if you don't push yourself too hard. You are still in the healing process. I will show you a few more exercises. I want you to do them at least half an hour a day. If you do this every day it will help speed up your recovery."
The female nodded and patiently listened to him as he grasped her arm gently and began to move it in various directions, explaining to her in detail about the exercise and how it would help her to regain all her mobility. Once finished, he handed her a clear bottle with green pills in it, "I want you to take one of these once a day, preferably in the morning after you've eaten something. These are herbs that should help you regain your energy and strength."
"Thank you. I will make certain to follow your orders," Sakura took the bottle from him as she slipped down off the examining table.
"We can move the checkups to once a month," he nodded as she moved to leave.
The pink haired warrior responded with a respectful bow before exiting the infirmary. Her eyes widened when she spotted the prince leaning against the opposite wall, his head lifting when she stepped out. Cradling the pill container against her chest she asked softly, "My liege?"
His unfathomable eyes went pointedly to her recently freed left arm. He muttered emotionlessly, "You've finally healed."
"I still have a ways to go. He says I should take it easy… so," Sakura glanced away from his intense gaze, "I will probably just start with katas for now. It's only two more months before the tournament. I need to get ready…"
"Take it easy. It won't do to re-injure yourself at such a delicate time," he murmured. The prince then added, "Go ahead and take it easy for the day. I will require you to attend a council meeting tomorrow… I think it's time for the elders to see you in your healed state. There is still concern about the tournament but… it has eased up some now… so it would be good for you to attend."
Sakura bowed even though he had turned his back and started to walk away. She watched him with sad eyes. The pinkette felt as if that encounter in the garden two months ago had ruined the tenuous bond that had started to form between them. It made her feel as if she had broken his trust somehow and it left her feeling guilty and hollow. So in the end, she didn't push her presence on the distant line the prince had drawn between them.
The morning after it had happened, she had almost been to afraid to step foot out of her bedroom. She hadn't wanted to face him with the fresh knowledge of her lapse of weakness. However, she wasn't a weak minded female by any means, and so she had sucked it up, and had left her room with the intent to accompany him. He had allowed it, but his face was shuttered and closed off to her.
It had hurt at first, but in the end she understood. He must have come to agree with her words of the night before, and had realized that behaving in such a manner was unwise considering their positions. Sakura was ashamed to admit, that despite the cold demeanor that he faced her with day in and day out, she found herself watching him when while he was unaware. The way his brow wrinkled slightly when he was ruminating, the slight turn of the lips when he found something displeasing, even the way he strictly disallowed any emotion to show on his face completely unaware of the fact that his shoulders and stature of his body gave it all away to someone who knew where to look.
Seeing him waiting for her outside of the doctor's office had definitely surprised her. He normally avoided any conversation with her, and for him to seek her out, to see how she was doing warmed her heart, though she was loathed to admit it.
Her lips thinned, there was no use in dwelling on what was. With purpose her booted heel clicked against the hard wood floors, and suddenly she was eager to work her katas. It had been far too long since she'd been allowed to be physically active. Stepping out into the practice grounds without fear of getting caught felt utterly refreshing. She ignored the eyes of the soldiers and the other servants as their curious eyes followed her.
She headed directly to the area that she and Kakashi-sensei had used for her lessons. Stepping into the exact center of the hard packed dirt, she unsheathed her sword in one swift movement, the sound of the metal against the scabbard music to her hungry ears. Shutting her eyes, she sucked in a deep breath, and slowly she moved through her katas, starting from the most basic that she knew. Her limbs strained against the exercise, now unused to the feeling.
Sakura mentally sighed. There was a lot of ground she needed to regain in a very short two months. Sweat poured down her temples, as she forced herself to stick with the basics. A familiar, amused voice interrupted her practice session, "The moment you're cast is removed you're already out here eh?"
A smile touched her lips and she turned to face her sensei, "Kakashi-sensei," and then her chin descended in a tiny nod, "I wanted to measure what I have lost," looking away her eyes went to the hilt held in her grasp, "it is more than I'd like to admit. Two months will pass all too quickly…"
A look of understanding passed over the visage of his mask-covered face. He tilted his head, as his fingers went to his chin, "You know now that I think about it… I've seen you doing duel handed katas before…"
Sakura smirked at the artic fox kitsune, "Yes. It was my fighting style of choice in the war. When…" her breath left her in a thoughtful sigh, "when I was defeated by the prince, I left my other sword behind. It was to symbolize my defeat in the eyes of the tribes. However I fought the prince with only one sword, the blade forged by my father."
"May I see it?" Kakashi asked her uncharacteristically.
Only because she respected the male, she lifted the blade and handed it over to him. The fox yokai held the hilt, and turned it over in his hand, admiring the craftsmanship. The twin phoenixes rising and meeting at the top, gold eyes sparking up at him with brilliant amber fire. It was surprisingly light and he swung it once. The balance of the arc as it thrust down was graceful and precise.
"Your father was an excellent sword smith," Kakashi said and then, "This is black mithril isn't it? And… the phoenixes are … excellently done. They are a beautiful adornment, and yet they do not hinder you when you hold the hilt."
She nodded her eyes taking on a distant glint, "People would come from all over just to have a sword forged by my father. But… he would not forge a sword just for anyone who asked him to. No matter how much gold they offered him, if he did not believe that they deserved to wield a blade, he would send them away. He had a keen eye when reading people, I think. This particular sword, he forged for me on my sixteenth birthday. He knew he was sick, and dying and he wanted to do one last thing for me I suppose. I did ask him about the phoenixes because… it was so unlike him to decorate any sword in such a way. He had replied that it was so I never forget who I was in the long journey of life. The phoenixes rising and meeting in a blaze of fire, to my people, symbolizes the Grasslander's strength of will… I am to remember to rise and meet any battle great or small with honor and pride. Whether it be an exchange of words or the meeting of blades."
Kakashi nodded in understanding and handed her back her precious blade. He gestured to her with a crook of his fingers, "Come with me…"
The girl obediently followed him. Her eyes widened as led her out of the castle and into the city of Konoha. This was the first time she'd walked the streets. She remembered riding through the city after Konoha's victory over her people. Her lips pursed at the memory. However, Kakashi's long quick strides didn't allow her to pay too much attention to her surroundings, she had to struggle to keep up with him.
He took her to an area of town, where the surrounding air was hazy and the buildings were gloomy gray brick and mortar. She sneezed when soot tickled her sensitive nostrils. Green orbs widened surprised when she realized that she was standing outside of a blacksmith's shop. She whispered, "Kakashi-sensei what…?"
He glanced back at her, "That sword… is light enough, that you can duel wield right? You told me yourself that you did so in the war. It's time you replaced your lost blade…"
"But I…" Sakura started to protest and reddened when he put a gloved fingertip to her lips.
When she quieted her smirked at her through his mask before stepping into the shop. The familiar scent of coals and smelting metal brought back a myriad of memories, and suddenly her eyes began to burn. Self-consciously she wiped at her eyes. Her father would be displeased by the show of weakness.
"It's been a long time Hatake," an elf blacksmith turned to face the kitsune.
Sakura studied the elf curiously, from his pointed ears, dark blue eyes, and long green hair.
"That it has Cathius," Kakashi nodded in agreement.
"So what brings you to my humble shop? You bust one of your weapons again?" Cathius asked dryly, his lips pursing in a disapproving frown at the assassin yokai.
"Not quite, in fact, I'd like you to make a twin one handed sword for this young woman," Kakashi stepped aside, revealing the diminutive human female that had been standing uncertainly behind him.
Suddenly Sakura found herself under intense scrutiny. The elf adjusted his glasses on his face, "This is unusual. A human women eh… You cannot be serious Hatake? I won't waste my time on such a thing… Rin was a different matter… but this…"
Kakashi murmured offhandedly, "She is the one… that will be participating in the tournament…"
Sakura all but glared at Kakashi. She could do without the added commentary. If the elf didn't want to forge her a blade, it was his prerogative. She was already disappointed in the smith to begin with; her father would have never passed judgment based on race or sex. The more she thought about it, the more she felt rage spiral within her, especially at the now disbelieving and disrespectful look on the elf's face.
Gritting her teeth, fed up with the overbearing male attitude that seemed to do nothing but drown her lately. She marched up to the counter and met the elf eye to eye. She bit out, "It's good that you do not want to forge me a blade… I can already foresee that it will be inferior… and I wouldn't want to pair such a sword with the one I carry now…"
"W...w…what… you! How dare you?" the elf all but sputtered at the obvious derision on her face.
She unsheathed her sword and presented him, "I am Sakura Haruno, daughter of Isamu Haruno. For you to base your decision to forge a blade on such a shallow reason… proves to me that you are an inferior smith. Anything you create would shame the sword my father forged for me…"
The smith took the sword from his proffered hand slowly turning it over, his azure eyes widening in shock, "This is… black mithril! Haruno… that sounds familiar…" then the elf's head shot up and he met her angry green eyes, "Isamu the master swordsmith from the Grassland's. I've… I've heard of your father… It was rumored that he wouldn't forge a blade for someone he felt… that …"
Sakura folded her arms across her chest as she finished for him, "He would not forge a blade for someone who he felt would shame the blade. It didn't matter if they were a beginner at the art, or a master. It was the attitude and reverence they carried for the art that mattered to him. Yes, the rumor is true. The sign outside your shop says master smith, but I am disinclined to agree. For you to base your decision… on such a shallow reason… is shameful…"
She reached over to take her blade back and sheathed it and without looking at Kakashi, she began to stride from the shop. Her voice was hard, "I appreciate the gesture Kakashi-sensei but I will make do with the sword I have…"
The elf's voice halted her, "Wait…"
Sakura stopped at the doorway, and slowly turned her head. She didn't speak a word, she waited instead arching a regal brow.
"I must apologize," the elf bowed his head, his moss hued hair spilling over his shoulders with the gesture, "You are right. To refuse a warrior for… such reasons… is an injustice to my art…"
"Each smith holds a right to chose for whom they will forge a blade and I respect that right. However your apology is accepted," Sakura dipped her head slowly.
"You have every right to refuse me at this point," the male lifted his head, his blue eyes glowing in the dim light, "But I would be honored if you will allow me to create a twin blade to the one you hold now… there has not been a smith with your father's talent in the last five hundred years."
Kakashi's lips turned up into a cunning smile beneath his mask, "Half off old elf in payment for your attitude and we have a deal."
The elf ignored the crafty old fox, "I won't charge you a copper for it Haruno. I don't have any black mithril on hand… but I do have silver mithril…"
"Honestly," Sakura supplied, "It would be shameful of me to carry another sword… as I lost a blood oath… so I suppose since I am making an allowance for myself then… I will extend the same fairness to you… Cathius."
"Thank you. I will have it sent over when I am finished with it," the elf supplied, his face taking on a serious expression.
As she walked out of the shop Cathius leveled a look at the smug fox yokai, "Bastard… you knew… and yet you didn't warn me…"
Kakashi only smiled wider and left the blacksmith's shop whistling a cheerful tune.
Outside Sakura waited for him. As they walked back to the castle at a more leisurely pace this time, he asked her, "What did you mean back there about you should not carry a second blade since you lost a blood oath?"
"In my culture, the warriors of the tribes… rarely commit to such a thing," her emerald eyes took on distant look, "For those who do commit, if you lose a blood oath, no matter what it may be, you must lay down something of importance to you in reverence and respect to humility. For some reason that day, I didn't bring my other sword with me to that battle. I left it at my father's hearth… when I lost to the prince… I ran straight to my father's home to meditate. The prince of course came for me later… and I purposely left behind my other blade behind. Even now, I'm certain that it lies before the hearth untouched and now I can never wield it again. For me to accept your offer would be offensive to my people. But… since I will face an enemy beneath the banner of my master, I made a concession. I also did not want to insult you…" She turned her face to grin at him. Sakura didn't realize the smile she sent his way was a sad one.
Kakashi glanced over at his pupil thoughtfully, "I have never been to the Grasslands to be honest with you kit. I will have… to make a journey out there someday… your kin sound very interesting…"
"If you do sensei. I would be honored if you would stay in my father's house should you ever be out that way for any reason. It sits outside of Iknaat, a small working village. If you ask the locals, and mention my name, they will direct you to it," Sakura said to him, her voice soft.
Kakashi was taken aback by her sweet words. He knew little of the Grasslanders but he knew instinctively that she was in her own way, honoring him in a humble way. Tiring of the melancholy atmosphere between them he ruffled her hair playfully, "I'd like that kit. Maybe we can get your stiff-necked master to let you take a little vacation, so you can visit your homeland."
When there was no response he glanced to the side, and smiled softly beneath the black material of his mask. Her eyes had a glazed look about them, and he knew that her heart was racing across the imagined homeland of her birth. It was a look he easily recognized and he could empathize with her because when he had first moved to Konoha he had often done the same. Kitsunes were known for their strong ties to their family, and he had been no exception to the rule. It was probably why he and Rin had been so strongly drawn together. They had both separated themselves from their kin, and had moved to Konoha in search of glory.
Sakura started out of her thoughts when she realized she was back inside the walls of the royal castle, her mind returning abruptly from soaring on the back of her sable mare over the rolling hills and mountains of the Grasslands.
"Welcome back to reality kit," Kakashi teased her.
She socked his arm playfully, "Why you…"
They walked in amiable silence in the courtyard and trailed through the small dirt pathways of the gardens all the way to the training grounds in the back. The sun was beginning to set in the horizon and she sighed as another day was beginning to slip from existence.
Irritated tenor interrupted the peaceful ambiance that existed between master and pupil, "Where have you been?"
Sakura stopped and stiffened as her master suddenly stepped in front of her and Kakashi several feet away blocking their intended route. She tilted an eyebrow at the prince, "I thought you relieved me of my duties today my liege. However I apologize … if you needed me for something…. I…"
Kakashi put an arm around the slender female's shoulders, his expression guarded as he watched the emotions dance hotly through the jealous male's eyes. Dragons were so damn predictable and so fun to mess with, he thought to himself amused. Sakura glanced up questioningly at the fox yokai but his gaze was locked with the prince's. He replied, "We just went out for a walk around town. You've had her holed up for months… To celebrate the removal of her cast… the fresh air did her some good…"
Sakura threw a dry glance in her teacher's direction. If the air in the industrial district was fresh, then she was a demure princess, she thought to herself sarcastically with a roll of the eyes.
Neji's gaze narrowed on the familiar way the kitsune touched the young woman and how comfortable she seemed beneath his touch. Jealousy white hot and smoldering blazed through him. After he had kissed her in the gardens two months ago, he even allowed her to run away from him, even though his inner beast had screamed at him to do otherwise. He had later returned to his room, thinking about apologizing to her, but on the other side of the door her heard her soft sobs, he could even smell the scent of her tears.
He had felt guilty in his treatment of her that evening and so had relented on the matter and let it go entirely. The prince had even gone so far as to distance himself from her so that she would come to be comfortable around him again, ignoring his inner beast's rage at the forced separation. Now, here she was, behaving with complete ease, relaxed beneath the touch of another male. Something that she had never done for him. Rationally he knew Kakashi had no unsavory intentions towards the young woman and that he was being completely irrational, his beast on the other hand didn't care about the details and it ruthlessly crushed the small voice of reason doing its best to be heard.
Admittedly he had released her for the day to do as she pleased, but he had later decided to go check up on her to soothe his disgruntled beast. Even though she wasn't aware of it, he kept his beast in check by searching her out at least once a day. It hadn't mattered if she'd been aware of his presence or not. His resolve to ignore his emotions were growing weaker and weaker the more he tried to tie his beast down. It was only through his proud iron will that he didn't act on his beast's desires for her sake.
He had always been a male who prided himself on his calm exterior and the icy control he kept on his emotions, as a male in his position ought. But this female had become a weakness. He'd ignored all the warnings out of arrogance, believing himself to be above such behavior. And now, too late he realized how strongly he felt about her. He had been attracted her from the first time he realized she was a woman, but he had overlooked it putting it down to being an unimportant detail. Then, slowly, she had somehow gotten under his skin. Those large soulful green eyes of hers, following him, begging him to lay his trust in her.
When she had been nowhere to be found, his inner beast had grown agitated, which in turn made him irritable, and easily irked by anyone that was not her. And now he found himself struggling with the emotions that were beginning to snap under the strain of his usually strong grip. His inner beast was too intent on separating Sakura from the other male, she belonged to him, how dare another male embrace her. The beast was growing more and more infuriated by the second never mind that the loose arm that hung over her shoulder was a far cry from an embrace. Neji suddenly found himself locked in a struggle for dominance in a losing battle against his now very riled inner beast who was doing his best to surface.
Sakura's eyes widened when she turned to face the prince once more when she heard him growling at them in a very bestial manner. A gasp left her when she found herself pinned beneath the gleam of the prince's eyes. The silvery hue was gone and they were now brilliantly gold, the outer iris was tinged red, and the pupil was lengthening to a slit, reminding her of his draconic heritage.
"What's…?" Sakura started to ask but was at a loss for words by what she was witnessing.
Epidermis around his cheekbones melted away, leaving patches of cream hued scales in its place. She could also see that his fangs were beginning to lengthen, the two fangs folding over his bottom lip.
She stepped out of Kakashi's hold and asked her sensei, who was eyeing the prince very oddly, a calculating gleam in his multi-hued eyes, "What's wrong with him?"
"His inner beast is fighting for control," Kakashi murmured dryly. He'd seen this happen once, and the end result hadn't ended well. At least for the fool who had dared to infuriate the dragon and Kakashi was no fool. Facing down an angry, jealous dragon in his bestial form was definitely not on Kakashi's agenda for the day. He put distance between him and Sakura.
"His what?" Sakura was bemused by the vague response. She knew little about dragons, despite her circumstances. She'd seen them in a human form for so long she'd started to associate them as such, or rather as having the same rationale as a human. However this, whatever this was, proved exactly how little she truly understood about her master. It reminded her that these people were not human, but dangerous beasts. Even the sweet Hinata was capable of this.
"Go to him Sakura," Kakashi realized too late he had cross the boundary of teasing in the prince's eyes the moment he touched Sakura in his sight and if he didn't want to end up as a bloody mess on the ground then they were going to have to soothe the inner beast that Neji was obviously struggling to control. He knew instinctively that it had to be Sakura. If he, himself tried to go anywhere near the prince in the state he was currently in, that the inner beast would shove a clawed hand through the fox yokai's heart without blinking an eye if the look in the prince's gold eyes was any indicator.
"What?" Sakura queried eyeing the prince uncertainly, "Me?" You've got to be kidding, Sakura thought to herself.
"You're his personal servant are you not?" Kakashi said the one thing that he knew would spur her into action, "It is your duty to help him."
Sakura swallowed, and for the first time actually felt afraid of her master. The eyes that were locked on her now, were not ones she recognized. His eyes followed her with a possessiveness that made her feel weak in the knees and just a little bit frightened. She could feel the tattoo on her neck burning and without realizing she was doing it, her hand went to rest on the mark to soothe the ache. Neji, however had seen it, and his chest rumbled in response to her action.
Tentatively she took a small step forward, feeling completely uncertain. She'd never seen him look so wild, or so dangerous. This was not the calm, icily stoic, and proud prince that she knew. Suddenly she stopped mid step, not wanting to get any closer to him.
Kakashi murmured behind her as he slowly continued to put distance between them, "He won't hurt you kit… trust me on this…" Kakashi knew now for certain, that the prince would be incapable of doing so. This was a very interesting development indeed.
Sakura gulped again, her slender frame beginning to shake minutely. Then, her warrior self asserted boldly in her mind, berating her for her cowardice. Taking a calming breath, Sakura again took baby steps towards the quivering male. Her voice was as gentle as she knew how to make it, "My liege… are you alright?"
All she got in response was a loud snarl. His brilliant shining gold eyes were following every movement and it set her on edge to have those slit shaped pupils solely on her. She now understood what a rabbit felt like when caught in the eyes of a wolf. She stopped just out of his reach; not nearly brave enough to get within touching distance. He growled down at her, but Sakura realized that there was no menace in the sound, in fact if she were to try and translate it, it sounded almost like he was trying to persuade her to come closer. Encouraged by the response she said softly, her arms spreading out in a gesture she felt indicated her vulnerability. It was not necessarily something she liked doing but her feelings didn't matter at this point, she reminded herself sternly, "Neji… I want to help you… I don't know what's wrong but…"
Her heart about beat out of her ribcage when his arms suddenly shot out and she found herself crushed in an unrelenting grip against his chest, the rest of her words left her in a small surprised 'eep'. She turned her head to the side so she could actually breathe. His left arm was possessively wrapped around her waist; his right hand had buried itself in her hair. She could feel clawed fingertips scraping gently against her scalp. Sakura suddenly found herself glad, that there were no servants about the practice yard that evening to witness this.
She stiffened in his arms when she heard a rumbling sound vibrating his chest against her ear. It was a sound of contentment she realized, almost like a cat's purr. Sakura forced herself to remain still and relaxed in his hold. Well Kakashi was right about him not hurting her but she didn't really know what to make of all this.
Sakura lifted her left hand, her other appendage was firmly crushed against her and his chest and was rendered immobile for the moment. She couldn't see what she was doing but she slowly allowed her fingers to search out his face. She stroked the skin of cheek in a soothing manner eyes widening minutely when she thought she felt a smooth scale beneath her touch.
She was startled when he suddenly spoke, but the voice that came from him was hoarse, part growl and part speech, "Mine."
The pinkette rolled her eyes at the possessive pronouncement and though it pained her to do it she murmured softly, "Yes, of course. Yours." She was technically his personal servant after all. So to look at it from that standpoint, it was basically the truth and she could admit to that. But she somehow got the feeling that, that's not exactly what he meant by that little announcement. Her mind refused to consider what he meant by that.
Sakura was stunned when she realized at how gently he was actually touching her. The hand on her back was moving in small, slow soothing circles. The hand on the crown of her head, was slowly stroking her hair. She remembered Kakashi was watching them from somewhere, "Sensei," she was careful to leave out his name, "What in the hell is going on?"
He answered, the amusement in his voice obvious, "I don't think you'll like the answer kit."
Sakura stiffened fearfully when a warning growl came from over her head. She was about to reply to that but Kakashi beat her to it, "It's best I leave. Good luck kit!"
What the hell? Sakura frowned irritably. She slowly started to remove her hand from the prince's face, but the arm that had initially wrapped around her waist snaked up to immediately imprisoned her wrist in a firm, yet gentle grasp. Glad to have a little leeway of movement as her right hand had started to fall asleep in the awkward position, she let the appendage fall to her side.
She snuck a glance up at his face. She was relieved when there was no evidence of scales on his skin, and his fangs had retreated to their normal size disappearing into his mouth. For the most part he looked like his normal self, except for the color of his eyes. It was a warning to her that the inner beast still had a grapple hold over his emotions. Sakura tried his name, "Neji?" She had come to realize for some reason the bestial side of him preferred for her to say his name.
His eyes flicked down to her, and her breath seemed to get caught up in her throat. The sheer intensity was nearly overwhelming. It was a possessive and strangely content look. Sakura's lips pursed, Kakashi was right, she probably wasn't going to like the answer.
Her cheeks reddened, when she noticed he was holding her hand against his face, rubbing his cheek affectionately against her hand. It was a strange thing for her to witness the normally, calm, cool, collected and stoic prince being so needy for her. Her insides flip-flopped inside of her. It was a bit of a heady feeling to realize that such a powerful male needed her. She could tell by the look in his eyes the moment he decided to kiss her. Instinctively without protest she tilted her head and closed her eyes the second his lips touched hers realizing with a start that she wanted it as much as he did.
She felt his fangs grazing against her lip in askance. Her arms wrapped around his neck, her hand resting on the strong pillar of his neck. He buried one hand in her hair, and the other went to rest at the base of her throat, a clawed fingertip rubbing over the creamy epidermis; warm, smooth, and fine as the softest kidskin.
The scent of cedar and sandalwood laced with the muskiness that she knew was him filled her senses and she absentmindedly wondered if it was because the sachet of scents that the servants left in his clothing drawer. It was masculine, like him.
Her eyes remained shut a moment, as he removed his lips from hers, his breath fanning on her face. Pink eyelashes fluttered as she opened dazed eyes. She couldn't help the soft smile that adorned her lips when she could see that the color of his eyes were back to the enigmatic silvery hue.
"My liege," she murmured throatily, enjoying the feeling of his warmth against the cooling night.
He didn't reply, instead his eyes focused on her swollen lips. He could feel the contentment of his beast rolling through him in such a way that it hadn't done since he'd first laid eyes on this troublesome, yet very delectable female.
Neji tried his voice, pleased that the beast had mostly retreated and it had lost most of the gravelly texture, "You're not trying to run away from me."
"I don't think I could, even if I wanted to," her eyes flicked down to the possessive hold on her waist.
"Do you want to?" he tilted his head to the side.
"No… but," she bit her lip, "you did scare me at first."
He bent to rest his nose against her cheek, "I would never hurt you Sakura…"
The warrior woman melted on the inside, "You avoided me for so long."
"I thought that is what you wanted," the prince admitted, the cool timbre she had come to know so well, was returning to him.
"I…" she swallowed, "I was afraid."
"Of me." he added dryly.
"No," Sakura shook her head, bluntly direct and honest, "no that wasn't it at all… I was scared of my feelings. I've never felt this way about anyone. I didn't believe I had the right… I was afraid it would go too far… and that I would be alone in the end with nothing to show for it but a lifetime of cold servitude. The line that exists between us, our stations, even the difference in our race. Yet, I knew that if I allowed myself to feel this way, that in the future when you had to marry for political reasons that I would die on the inside. Not only that, but I would die long before you would. I didn't want that either…"
The pinkette was relieved to get her feelings off her chest. They were thoughts and emotions that she hadn't allowed herself to think about. She buried her face in one hand. They were destined to be enemies in the beginning. Yet, the moment she lost to him, she gained a grudging respect for his strength, and then when she had come to terms with that it was her duty to help him with any burden that came his way, the emotions she had tagged him with had turned to something very different altogether.
She felt his hand grasp her wrist, the long, beautifully shaped fingers removing her hand from her face. Sakura added with a lump in her throat, "I am nothing but a blacksmith's daughter."
A harsh, almost self-derisive chuckle left his throat, "Yes you are a blacksmith's daughter… but it is nothing to be ashamed of. It is not all that you are…"
Sakura sucked in an uneasy breath, "My liege… I…"
"Neji," he corrected, at her confused look he added with a smirk, "I think that after kissing you so many times that I at least deserve for you to call me by my name…"
"Neji," she breathed softly and then frowned when she could detect the smug, masculine satisfaction emanating off of him.
"You have done something no other has done," he smirked down at her, "you should be rather proud of yourself?"
Confused she shook her head, "I don't know what you mean by that…"
"You've taught me that, fate is decided by one's self and not by circumstance of birth. It was a humbling lesson for me. I've always believed that I was controlled by what I was born to, and by what would inevitably become my duty. I never let myself stray from what I believed was my path… but you came along and shot all my well thought all plans to pieces. A human woman of all creatures," he leveled a dry look in her direction, "All because you had to come down and interrupt an important peaceful surrender meeting I might add… insulting me… so that I would fight you. You would not allow fate to dictate that you lost, despite the overwhelming odds you faced. At first I thought you were foolish… and I intended to show you your rightful place…"
Her face reddened at the memory, "I do not like losing. I was afraid to let things go…"
"And instead you showed me mine," he murmured surprising her by admitting such a thing outloud, "My inner beast knew it long before I came to realize it myself. You are more worthy for me than any other. Where you came from makes no difference…."
Sakura blinked thrice. Wait? Did the prince just admit he was wrong about something? Kami, help her but he was making her head spin. She murmured, "I see…"
His lips thinned, "I bear my soul to you woman. And all you can say… is 'I see?'"
Her mouth worked and then, "So what now?" She was almost afraid of his answer. The answer she knew Kakashi-sensei had already worked out when he left her alone with the dragon. She was had to disagree with the kitsune though; she had the feeling that she was going to like the answer.
"I take you as my mate, Sakura," the luxurious curl of his tenor wrapped around her shocked senses, "I would have no other."
Sakura being the independent type that she was, she hesitated several moments. Yet then, she was reminded that he had came to care for her because of who she was. Even though the tribe leaders had wanted to take her as a wife, she knew if she had ever accepted it, they would eventually force her to become something she would have never wanted to be. Instinctively she knew that she and Neji would not agree on everything but he would never smother her, or try to change her to what he might perceive in what he wanted in a female.
When she responded she felt something strange, and oddly binding wrap itself within her. It was almost as if her soul had become bound to his, "Neji," she breathed, "I take you as mine… I would have no other either."
She cursed the way her fingers shook when she closed in the distance to kiss him. A surprised cry left her when he swept her up into his arms, and quickly, and impatiently she noted wryly that he began to stride back to the castle ignoring the fact that the scabbard of her sword was digging into his gut. She immediately began to struggle, "This isn't necessary… I can walk… I…"
"If you don't be quiet, I will kiss you again," he threatened, watching her eyes going as wide as saucers at the threat.
He frowned when she immediately became obedient. Should he feel insulted by her actions? Not just that, but she buried her very crimson face in her hands.
"What is the matter?" the prince couldn't help but ask watching her go slack in his arms.
She murmured softly more to herself than to him, "The staring… the watching is going to get worse… ugh…"
"What?" and then he looked up to see the incredulous gazes of the servants that had happened to pass by.
"I do not care what anyone thinks," Neji announced archly with a healthy dose of arrogance, "You should not either…"
Removing her hands to give him a piece of her mind her eyes goggled when she realized they were in his room, and the door had just shut behind them. She panicked when he removed his outer black haori and she got a good glimpse of his chest, "What are you doing?"
He arched a brow at her, "You are my mate… you need to ask…"
Sakura took a step back, her hands clasping in front of her, "But… but…" she protested, "Shouldn't there be a wedding or something? Or at least a ceremony…"
Neji smirked at her, the superiority of the look of his face would have maddened her if she weren't so flustered, "What do you think that was out in the practice yard? I am a dragon… we have no need of a pathetic human ceremony."
"I don't know," she spread her arms out wildly, "A future promise perhaps… an engagement maybe..."
He closed the distance between them and gazed down into her face, "Didn't you feel it? I meant what I said… and I could tell that you did too…"
She knew exactly what he meant as soon as he said it. Her right hand fisted in front of her chest, "Yes. I felt like… something was tying me up… inside here…"
"You are human," he started ignoring the irritated look she threw at him, "You were right… your life span would be much shorter than mine… but it is no longer a concern…"
"No… longer a concern," her face paled. Kami, all of this was so much bigger than her. She hated that she was so ignorant about draconic customs.
"We bound ourselves to each other. Dragons take mates most suited to them. Whether dragon, elf… though this is the first I've heard of one of my kind taking a human female as a mate. It will make me vulnerable," he sighed when the confusion on her face only heightened, "We tied our life forces together. For as long I as I live you will not age from the moment we became bound… in other words… it is complicated to explain to one who does not understand dragon culture. It is ancient draconic magic, to put it in the most basic terms… I have tied our essences together. If you die, I die. All someone needs to do, is remove you of your head… and I would die along with you. Or visa versa," She could tell by the way he murmured visa versa that he didn't believe it could happen, but had added it so she would understand, "It is a simple thing."
"No," she shook her head, "It is not simple at all. I don't like the idea of you being so vulnerable. If you had told me this then I would never have…"
"Sakura," he stopped her tirade, his voice for the first time she'd ever witnessed, "You do not wish to have me as a mate?"
She gnawed on her lower lip, "It's not that… I don't. I do, although it is a bit frightening to think about the repercussions…especially when I know how everyone is going to react to this…" at his pointed look she lifted her hands in surrender, "I know… I know… you don't care what others think… and I don't either but… Won't your uncle be angry?"
Neji shook his head, "No. I believe he's suspected how I've felt about you for a while, long before I came to accept it, certainly. While it would have been prudent of me to take a mate that would have been beneficial for Konoha… Another alpha male dragon, no matter his station in life, will interfere in the choosing of a mate, especially when an inner beast has put his foot down… he would have a bloody fight on his hands…"
"Yes, that's another thing," she blazed at him, her pride still stinging from such a remark, "your inner beast said… mine."
His amusement was almost too much for her to take, "He only speaks the truth as he sees it. You are mine," He stuck his nose in her hair and nuzzled her, breathing in her tantalizing, and heady scent of apples and vanilla that was so uniquely her. Strong and yet, oddly delicate. The perfect contrast of her unique personality. Sakura the warrior, and Sakura the woman, all wrapped in one intoxicating bundle.
Before she could argue with him again, he trapped her in a heady kiss, gentle and coaxing, meant to draw a response from her. His chest rumbled in encouragement and instinctively he responded to her uncertain movement of her lips. He would force nothing on his headstrong mate, he allowed her to lead knowing that would be best for her to feel in control. After all, they had plenty of time. He would gain nothing by being impatient with her.
Sakura stepped away from him and he made no protest, patiently waiting for her reaction. He could tell by her expressive green eyes that she had come to a decision. His eyes watched as she removed her sword belt, along with the scabbard, letting it rest his dresser. Amusement touched the corner of his lips when she announced with red cheeks, "I don't think I'll be needing that…"
"Hmm," he replied, "I don't think so either…"
He noticed her fingers were trembling as they went to the zipper beneath her armpit and he watched as she slowly unzipped the clothing, and shrugged the green material off of her shoulders. Silvery eyes narrowed on the new scar that adorned her left shoulder, the vivid pink a stark contrast against her ivory skin. He also noticed that he'd been right. She did bind her breasts, so that they wouldn't get in her way in battle. Neji made a mental note about getting her to change that habit.
Frustration nipped at him, as she ever so slowly unwound the bandages from her upper torso. Sakura glanced up when she heard herself being growled at and sent the male a questioning gaze.
"You are being a tease woman," he all but snarled at her. So much for patience.
"I am not," She huffed, "I just don't want to damage these."
Sakura was startled when he moved to stand in front of her so quickly, the movement was a blur. Her face immediately began to resemble an over ripe tomato when he crooked a claw beneath the knot of the wrapper and easily cut it away.
"Hey!" she protested, trying to shove him away.
He responded by taking a strawberry kissed nipple in his mouth, a fang gently scraping over the sensitive surface.
The new sensation made Sakura feel weaker than she ever had felt in her life. A shot of heat, warm and demanding pooled low in her belly. Her eyes widened when she realized that she was growing wet between her legs. He then proceeded to kiss ever scar present on her upper body, which were quite a few more than she liked to admit. She wasn't even aware when he hooked a thumb beneath the waistband of her pants, and that he easily removed them from her along with her underwear. Her eyes widened perceptibly when he placed a kiss over the apex of her startlingly pink curls.
"What are you?" She gasped when a finger found itself in her most secret place but her protest died on her lips when he expertly rolled his finger in slow tantalizing circles, sending the most delicious sensations she'd ever felt through her body.
She allowed him to lift her without protest this time, and she felt herself being lowered onto his bed. She shut her eyes as he stood up straight, longing for his retreating warmth to return to her. Sakura watched as he disrobed in front of her, but her eyes never left his.
All he could think about when he looked down at her pale body was about how lovely she was. It was true that he hadn't been celibate, and he had laid with woman whose curves, and lush bodies were beautiful and seductive and supposedly perfect. But this tiny, human warrior woman had various scars crisscrossing over her body. Each were badges of courage, the marks were so uniquely her that it was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen and no woman he'd ever seen compared to her brutally honest beauty. She was lean like a warrior should be, but when laying or standing perfectly still; her femininity came to the surface and she was all soft curves.
Sakura blushed from head to toe when she realized how closely he was looking at her. Reflexively she covered her chest, "Don't." and turned her head away.
"Do not," the bed dipped with his weight and she felt him move her arms away, "cover your… ah…"
Sakura had stopped listening to his demands and gave into feminine curiosity. She had reached out and touched his rigid manhood with soft fingers in wondrous strokes surprised when he groaned above her.
"It's soft," she said in surprised wonder.
"It wouldn't be very pleasing if it was coarse like a rock now would it?" he teased her before leaning in for a kiss.
The prince had enough talk and leaning over her, his hair falling over the folds of her beautiful body. Running fingers over her trembling skin exploring her with an aching slowness that made her break out into a sweat. He loved the delicate articulation of the muscles beneath her creamy skin and he made certain he memorized every nuance, freckle, and scar. She shifted beneath him, a small moan leaving her throat. The almost liquid flow of movement when she shifted was so incredibly sensual, he groaned and buried his face in her neck.
Sakura ran fingers down the length of his muscular back; there was one ounce of fat on this male's body. When he pressed his weight down on her, her whole body set to tingling and she enjoyed the feel of him against her. It was very unwarrior-like of her to think it, but it strangely made her feel safe to be alone with him like this. She trusted him implicitly and though she was innocent, she'd been a captain of a rowdy group of human men in an army. She'd heard things. She vaguely knew her first time was supposed to hurt, but she wasn't afraid at all, in fact she was strangely eager.
Her heart constricted in her chest when he nibbled at the black dragon on her neck delicately. Her body arched like a bow beneath him when he buried his teeth in her. White-hot pain whipped through her body, but then intense pleasure blinding and raging arced through her body like whips of lightening and she moaned so loud she knew that anyone passing through the halls would have heard her, but she didn't care.
Sakura could vaguely feel his tongue rasping against her neck, tasting her blood. When he lifted his head again, his eyes were gold like they were before out in the courtyard. She watched as his tongue lapped out slowly, languidly over his bottom lip, removing the remnants of her blood. For some reason she couldn't quite explain she found the gesture to be quite sensual and she shut her eyes against the emotions and sensations that flooded her body.
When he growled 'mine' this time, there was no protest in her mind. Instead she responded by wrapping her arms around his neck and forcing him down aggressively, latching her lips to his. She could almost swear she could taste the sweet, coppery taste of her blood on his lips but she didn't care. A growl rippled through him and he crushed her up into his chest.
She tightened like a bowstring beneath him, arching wantonly, mashing her breasts ruthlessly against his hard chest, with a strange longing to merge into him. She moaned as if her breath was being ripped out of her, as her overly sensatized flesh grazed against his. Sakura turned his head and bit his shoulder, just hard enough to make him bleed slightly. She ran her tongue over the skin, tasting him similarly to the way he tasted her. Such an animalistic response from her pleased the male above her and again he affectionately rubbed his nose against her cheek.
Sakura felt his knee gently nudge her legs apart and without a trace of fear, she opened her legs, her eyes never leaving his as cradled himself between her legs. Suddenly she was nervous when she felt the tip of his manhood nudging at the swollen folds of her arousal but then he drew back. He slipped a finger inside of her and was pleased when she threw her head back when he arched the appendage, feeling her squeeze against his finger as he cupped his palm against her sex, the gutteral throaty moan making him nearly dizzy with need.
He almost smirked when he withdrew his finger, and she threw him an impatient glare. He murmured huskily, "I am sorry… my patience is failing me tonight…"
Her reply was a breathy moan and his eyes widened when she impatiently began to push herself onto him with a determination that made him feel breathless. Just a simple kiss from this woman was enough to make him crazy. Everything about her from her words to her desire for him was so honest, unashamed; he could hardly maintain control over his emotions. The patchouli scent that was universally feminine and yet so uniquely her wrapped with the fragrant scent of apples and vanilla was slowly driving all sane thoughts from his mind. This woman was dangerous, he decided, but she was his. His inner beast responded with mutual agreement to that thought.
He almost laughed when she growled at him, when he refused to move. Nuzzling her lips with his, he repeated the words he said out in the gardens. Her lips worked but no sound came out, her heart pounded at the repeated promise.
Sakura felt him ever so slowly pushing himself into her. The burning sensation of her body stretching to accommodate him was somewhat unpleasant, and yet at the same time, it was an amazing feeling to be stretched by him. He stopped at her maiden barrier, waiting patiently until she met his eyes.
He apologized, "I'm sorry… I don't want to hurt you but…"
"I've had a poisoned dagger nearly buried up into the hilt in my shoulder Neji. I'm obviously not afraid of a little pain. Have you seen the scars on my body? Or are you blind?" She smirked up at him.
"You are not a very romantically inclined female are you?" he leaned down to kiss her.
She mumbled something against his mouth, but he smothered her into silence. He watched her eyes widen when he pulled back slightly and shoved forward, effectively breaking her maidenhead. He felt the gasp against his lips and when he saw a tear escape her eye he went completely still.
"I…" at a loss for words by the look on her face, it made his throat constrict. Even though, his limbs quivered with the urgent desire of wanting to move, he held completely still, allowing her to adjust to him in her.
"So beautiful," she murmured surprising him by the soft, breathy word.
Out of all the things he expected her to say, that definitely not was one of them. He could feel her muscles convulsing over his length slowly drawing him in.
"Are you alright?" Neji was a bit distressed too see a couple more tears escape his mate's shimmering green eyes.
"I've never been more alright in my life," Sakura proceeded to wrap her arms around him, burying her tearstained face into his strong neck, "I never believed I could love some one so much."
Sakura could only smile when his head shot up in shock, and his breathing went hitched and rigid. He was to prideful to say such a thing, she knew, but the look in his molten gold eyes was more than enough answer for her. When he finally began to move, she could only gasp in the pleasure that rocked her body, as her body instinctively moved up to meet him each and every time.
The feeling of becoming one flesh, of him filling her, she felt as if there was no end to where one started and the other ended. It nearly felt like he was touching the depths of her soul, accepting all her secrets, all her flaws and all the good things that made her who she was. Sakura felt the tears leaking from her eyes, and as the pressure began to build in her spiraling her ever higher, her heart went with her riding the dangerous tide of their passion.
Her body rocked in release, a blinding flash of pink behind the lids of her eyes. She moaned beneath the onslaught of the sensation, writhing sensually against the male above her. He growled in response as the rippling sensation of her. The intense pleasure caused him to release, spilling his warm seed into her belly. He felt her nails scrape against his back as his body shook almost violently against hers.
He went slack against her and lifted his head eyeing her beautifully flushed face. He could see the afterglow of passion in the suddenly lustrous and happy glow of her body. Beads of sweat dotted her brow, the moonlight made them look like thousands of little diamonds and he decided that she'd never looked more beautiful.
When she tried to wriggle away from him, he emitted a low warning growl.
Frowning Sakura said, "I was just going to retrieve the blankets… it seems that we kicked them all off of the bed…"
It was a reluctant dragon that released her. He said, "You have five seconds…"
Rolling her eyes expressively at his playful threat, she picked up the blankets and when she turned around, she eyed the incriminating red stain on the pristine white sheets. She murmured, "I'm going to my room… I can't stay in here…" she was so embarrassed.
Sakura started to walk away, not aware that she was dragging the blankets she'd just picked up against the floor. A hand grasped her upper arm holding her immobile, "You will not," he ordered imperiously.
"Guh…" she sighed burying her free hand into her hair, "I at least need to bathe…" she gave a telling glance at the smear between the apex of her legs.
"There is nothing to be ashamed of, it is a natural thing," he stood up to face her.
She glanced down at his manhood realizing he was bloody as well and she reddened further, "And you are going to take a bath with me." She all but demanded. Sakura sucked in her breath as soon as she realized what she just said. She looked down at her feet, and blushed when she saw the way her nipples were beginning to pucker from the cold air. She never knew her body would ever be so traitorous to her. When she lifted her chin, she released the pent up breath. The hungry glint in Neji's eyes caused her drop the blankets folded in her fingers.
"As you wish, mate," he kissed her chastely on the lips and she laced her hands through his as he nearly lifted her off her feet in his haste to the large porcelain bath.
-
A/N: Alright, I really didn't plan for there to be a lemon in this chapter nor for it to be over 11k words long. I actually had to go up and add the disclaimer half way through while writing it. I just couldn't find a place to divide it, but I'll honestly be surprised if anyone complains about it being too long. To be honest with you all this is my first lemon, ever. EVER. So, I'm sorry if isn't any good. –goes off to hide somewhere- Oh and another note, HarmonyRose and I are writing a small, humor crackfic together called Dissonant Chords. Check it out... see if you can guess ... the mission. -laughs evilly and prances off- I so love dragon Neji! -melts-