Princess

AN: Hey guys sorry again for the late post… Before I get into the story I just want to clarify some things about the story. First, I edited the part about Buraian, thinking back on it he did seem a bit too strong. Second, yes I meant to put Ayame instead of Sakura, typo. Third, the time period is middle ages and the shinobi tricks are considered magic, I hope that clarifies any confusions. If you have any more questions or comments please feel free to leave them in the comments, etc. Without any more hesitation may I introduce…. Chapter 8! YAAAY! R&R! And don't forget to tip your waitress and brush your teeth every day!

Chapter 8: Secrets

Recap

One of the snakes bit into her arm, causing her to wince but the drug numbed the pain a bit but she felt this burning in her arm then nothing. She was about to go under when she heard someone shout,

"AYAME!" then blackness…

A few moments before

Sasuke ran into the crowded streets looking for Ayame, he frowned as he searched high and low for the girl. He paused and punched his fist into a wall; he winced a bit from the pain:

"Why do I care so much for what happened to her anyway? She is just an annoying girl; I mean I still have that other girl…. Why am I feeling like this… to a stranger, a complete stranger… damn it!"

Sasuke thought as he looked down and thought of Ayame's eyes then this burst of concern and fear ran through his body, he was confused as he shook his head and continued to run through the streets to find her. He soon saw a shapeless black thing on the ground, he ran over to it and narrowed his eyes, and he identified it as the wig that he put on her. He clutched it and looked around but saw no pink he then heard gruff voices and a familiar voice coming from an alleyway, he perked up a bit as he scaled one of the walls and crept closer to the alleyway. He looked over the edge and saw a flash of pink; no doubt it was the girl he was looking for. But why were they calling her princess… he then saw them punch her and saw snakes wrap around her, he saw red. He jumped and shouted her name as she went under…. Sasuke unsheathed his sword and stood in front of her, his eyes crimson as he glared at the men. The men took a few steps back and had frightened expressions on their faces, they had fresh wounds from Sasuke's sword and the blood dripped slowly from his blade as he had a composed expression on his face though his eyes were full of hate and annoyance,

"Who are you? What have you done to Ayame?" Sasuke said in a strained tone as he held his sword tighter, the big man chuckled a bit and had a small smirk on his face as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Heh… an Uchiha huh? Hmmm I thought they were all gone, guess I was wrong…. Tell me are you Itachi's brother? The one who killed everyone? You seem familiar…"

The big man said in a sneering voice as his smirk grew a bit wider at Sasuke's growing temper at the sound of his brother's name. Sasuke took a breath composing himself as he glared at the man,

"Don't ever compare me to that traitor…. Now tell me who are you! Who are you working for? What does Ayame have to do with it?"

Sasuke shouted as he got in a fighting stance his fists were shaking from anticipation to slice this guy's head off. The Big man sighed and had a bored expression on his face,

"Touchy aren't we? Who we are and are business is none of your concern, and who is this Ayame? Ha ha, buddy her name is Sakura and she is the princess of the Magma Kingdom. Oh you did not know that? Hmm well now you know heh, we were just giving the Princess a little present. Oh well it looks like we have to go. Talk to you later Uchiha…"

The man said as he winked, waved then disappeared in a cloud of smoke along with his partner leaving Sasuke and Ayme or Sakura alone in the alleyway. Sasuke sheathed his sword and looked at the girl on the ground, his eyes narrowed and the man's words ran through his head.

"A Princess? Sakura? No, her name is Ayame… who is this girl? This is annoying; I got to take her back to the camp looks like it's going to rain."

Sasuke thought as he picked up the girl and put her on his back, his eyes remained crimson as he darted from the alleyway and back to the camp just as it started raining hard.

Cave of Souls

"The mission was a success my lord. The curse mark is in place; just give the word and the curse mark will be activated."

"Excellent…. Everything is going according to plan…."

"My Lord th-there is one more thing…. It seems the Princess is not alone. She is protected by an Uchiha…. More importantly Sasuke Uchiha." The man said as he looked down then back at the smoke and the yellow eyes. The smoke increased and the eyes narrowed to slits then giggled,

"Ssssassuke Uchiha huh? Heh…. This is most interesssssting. Sssseemsss I have to change my plansss a bit…" The creepy voice said in a thoughtful, scheming tone as the smoke began to fade and the eyes disappeared leaving the three men alone in the cave to their thoughts.

Bandit Camp

Sasuke paced angrily in front of the tent that Sakura was sleeping in, he needed to talk to her and get to the bottom of what the hell was going on. He stopped his angry pacing and leaned against a tree a blank yet annoyed expression on his face as he glared at the tent, his head was buzzing with many thoughts.

"Who is this girl? Why was she called Princess and why were those guys after her? Hn, this girl is getting in my head! I should have left her when I had the chance… girls, nothing but trouble." Sasuke thought as he sighed then looked up when he saw one of the medics walk out of the tent, he stared at her and had his usual cool expression on his face,

"Is she OK?"

"She is fine. She will have some bruises and soreness for a bit but other than that she is fine. Though the mark on her neck is a bit unnerving…. You can see her if you wish Sasuke-san."

She muttered as she nodded and walked off, Sasuke frowned and sighed then walked over to the tent and stepped in. He saw a sleeping girl with some bandages on her various wounds, he noticed that the place where the snake bit her was covered up by a bandage. He knelt down and watched her sleep, she looked peaceful, he wanted to stroke her cheek and run his hand through her pink hair but he refrained he could not let her get to him. She whimpered a bit and soon her eyes slowly opened, she was slightly confused and her head felt heavy.

"Wh-What happened to me? Why do I feel this pain in my neck…. How did I get back here?"

Sakura thought as she went to sit up but winced as she felt the pain in her stomach and her neck, she soon felt a pair of hands gently push her down,

"Don't be so hasty Pinky… you need to rest."

Sasuke said in a dull yet teasing voice as he smirked, Sakura looked over at him a confused slightly annoyed expression at being called Pinky.

"S-Sasuke…. What happened? How did I get here? What happened to those guys? Ow and why am I in so much pain?"

Sakura asked all at once as she tried sitting up again but it was still painful to do so she settled on lying on the floor. Sasuke sighed and had a bored look on his face as he ran his hand through his hair,

"Hn. You're so annoying, be quiet and calm down. I brought you here and I took care of those guys. As to why you are in pain, well the answer is that you are stupid and got yourself in trouble."

Sasuke said in a teasing tone though there was a hint of concern and confusion in it, his onyx eyes looked into her emerald eyes as if trying to find the answer to a question. She felt a bit uncomfortable under his gaze; she held her curse mark and winced a bit as she felt pain as well as this pulse,

"Do you mind telling me who those guys were and why they would attack you?"

Sasuke said in an even tone as his eyebrow perked up and leaned back as he crossed his arms over his chest he had a poker face on. Sakura froze and looked down frowning as she looked at Sasuke, a disturbed yet annoyed expression on her face, she could not tell Sasuke at the risk of exposing who she really was, so she decided to play coy,

"I-I don't know who they were… I don't know why they would attack me…. I never saw them before in my life."

Sakura muttered as she nodded and held her head avoiding eye contact with Sasuke in fear that her eyes would betray her. She heard Sasuke sigh and chuckle a bit, he took her chin and brought it up so that she was forced to lock her eyes with his,

"You are a terrible liar Ayame. Or, should I say Princess Sakura?"

Sasuke whispered in a triumphant tone as Sakura stiffened and Sasuke smirked, he had her now.

"H-How… Wh-what are you talking about? M-my name is Ayame, I'm just a maid."

Sakura said in a strained voice as she leaned back and inched a bit away from Sasuke who smirk grew a bit wider.

"Hm, so it's true. I thought you seemed familiarly annoying. Don't worry your secret is safe with me, just answer me one question. What did those men want with you?"

Sasuke said in a serious voice as he stared right into Sakura's eyes, Sakura sighed and looked down

"I-I can't tell you… I-I don't k-know why, they were the ones who kidnapped me. I am sorry I do not know why they wanted me, except maybe to re claim what they lost but they would have kidnapped me back if that was their intent… Sasuke, what is that on your neck?"

Sakura said as she tried to change the subject, her head was hurting trying to remember the guys and the curse mark began hurting again. She pointed to the mark that looked like arrows in a circle, the skin around it was bright red and distorted it travelled up to his ear and crept a bit on his cheek but it was fainter than it was near the mark. Sasuke quickly pulled his collar up to cover the mark that she pointed out, he stood up and had a cold, emotionless expression on his face,

"That's none of your concern, get some rest Sakura."

Sasuke said in a cold voice as he turned his back to her and quickly walked out of the tent; Sakura was a bit surprised by his reaction and leaned back a troubled expression on her face as she took in his voice and his expression,

"What is his problem? One would think I insulted him, bi polar… whatever, I am sure he is just tired…"

Sakura thought as she soon drifted to sleep thinking about the scar and his reaction as well as felt the curse mark whispering to her about something she could not distinguish though, she felt the amulet pulse along with the curse mark and a whispery voice in her head which were followed by vivid nightmares.

Sasuke stared at the lake as he held the mark; he frowned, clenching his fists the bitter memories of his childhood began flooding his mind then an image of red eyes and blood caused him to punch a tree.

"Itachi."

Sasuke muttered as he felt the mark burn and caused his eyes to turn crimson as well, he looked up at the full moon then closed his eyes as he let his mind wander then linger on the image of Sakura for a bit. Unknown to the young man he was being watched by a pair of yellow eyes in a black snake, it flicked its tongue then disappeared in the forest leaving the Uchiha bandit to his thoughts of revenge and possible attractions.

AN: So what do you guys think? Good? Bad? Amazing? I am again very sorry for the late update I will try my hardest to be better…. Anyway please R&R and ask any questions if they arise. Thanks for your continued, unwavering support! You guys are awesome, keep up the good work!

Sincerely, your erratic, procrastinating author VampChick24