{Authors' Note} sorry to have made you all wait a solid long while for this! I didn't mean to but I couldn't update until now, because I have been just pulling blanks! I'm so sorry. I hope this chapter makes up for it partially. (but we all know it won't :'( )

DISCLAIMOR: DO NOT OWN THE TURKISH MOVIE OR NARUTO. (though technically I own the beast design for this story)

Chapter 3:

The Morning After

Her matted hair lay under her cheek as she slept on the bed. Drapped with red satin and golden tassels, the bed stood tall, a feathery soft mattress and silk sheets kept her form comfortable as she slept. Around her, the room was filled with treasures, some small and some great.

One such was a mirror sitting on the right of her, atop a red wood nightstand. It was golden and laiden with large, sparkling white pearls. Each lustrious enough to reflect just as well as the mirror itself. Next to that was a small glass, eched delicately with small feathers.

Across from her feet up on the wall, hung a large window. Vacant of any stars and slowly shining with the white of the rising sun. creeping upwards, the light began to fill the floor of her room, pouring in like clear, liquid, gold. As the moments passed it raised, until it reached the foot of the bed, then at once, it flowed over her and warmed her body.

Her eyes quivered with the warmth of the suns' kiss on her cheeks. Carefully she opened them and gazed about the room. She saw the tassels, the red satin, the black wood flooring and realized that he was no longer riding the horse, was no longer at home, but now in the room of what must be the castle her father spoke previously of.

At first, her eyes couldn't take in enough of the sight around her, the glow of the gold, the quality of the blankets, the room itself was over-stimulating to anyone's eyes. Then reality sunk into her, she was not their as a guest to live, but as a prisoner about to atone for their fathers sins, to which they had created.

She pulled her arm out from the cover and dragged the blankets slowly off herself. She slipped her legs out of the mattress and her warm feet met the coolness of the wood floor. It felt so smooth, polished, almost like marble under the pads of her feet as she stepped to the nightstand. She looked herself over and was dazed to see that she no longer wore her coral-cotton dress and white corsette, but a long flowing white gown, made of soft silk, imbrodered with small glass beads around her gaping neckline. It ran through to her knees where it flowed freely about her legs. She turned to face the window and caught the scent of a lock of her hair, no longer smelling of sweat and dirt from the midnight ride through the forest, but a smooth-sweet scent, much like the rose her father had brought back. Her heart was sent beating, but she could find no cause for it, other than it was captivating- the roses' scent.

Her fingers lingered around her neck as she found herself in front of a large redwood door. Glistening as if freshly lacqoured, it towered over her menacingly, and yet- stalled in her no fear but awe. The faced, glass beads that lay stiched across her shoulders and neckline, also tickled her shoulder blades. They were cold, like small balls of ice, and seemed to stab her back with little shots of its frigid feeling, but somehow- when skin touched the surface, it tickled like a warm finger tracing over her body.

Handle glistening in front of her, golden and glowing, portrade an image of a lion, with thick mane. So angered it must have been because its' mouth was gaping, and in it were teeth made of clear quartz, sparkling so. Her fingers tensed at the idea of opening the door, of grabbing the lion by the mane and demanding it to allow her entrance out of the room. But her fear did not hinder her intentions, she swallowed her fear and forced the door open. Before her stood a creature of large stature, brooding black chest and gleaming feathers seemed to blind her- and for this instant her determination wavered and she shrunk back into herself. But she never once broke eye contact with it. "Up now are we?" it cawed at her, but she didn't respond. "Scared?" a hint of joy snuck out in his breath as the crow spoke to her. Sakura straightened her back and dared to try to intimidate it. "Why aren't we the brave one?" she gave it a good glance and retorted "Who would be afraid of an ugly song bird?"

{Authors' Note} I am sorry this took so long for something so short… but I am not feeling like myself and frankly I cannot write worth a darn right now and I do not wanna screw this up. I do not know how much longer it will be until I update for chapter 4 but all I can say is it will be a while. So if you wanna read this through to the end I suggest you story alert it so you can read it as each chapter comes along mkay? Thank you for reading and if you would review that would be awesome! : \