To the reviews, yes, Sasuke in this sort of personality is quite scary. But understand the environment he grew up in is the baddest of bad for kids maturing. And also about the SasuNaru meeting thingie... To be accurate this would be the official 4th chapter of the story. But then again this will also be a slow paced story, it means also though that when meet they will have lots of details to it. So be please be patient? And if not I suggest another story.

Tai Zi Fei: the wife of Tai Zi

Fu Huang: The father of princes/princesses, as in the Emperor but called by this name by his children

The crowd is busy to watch as the Emperor's family carriage worked its way down the main street in a slow and somewhat arrogant manner. The decorations was enough to tell it was no average Dachen family, nor is it just the usual times that Huang Tai Zi Sasuke would come to visit for there was more than one carriages. The one in the middle, of which the Huang Tai Zi would ride in, had a huge tied red ribbon across with bouquets of dazzling flowers and two poems by its side.

Any person would know that is the meaning of a marriage proposal, except Naruto Uzamaki who is standing within the crowds, trying to get a better view of what is happening, but all he sees is lots of heads and people's pieces of gossips.

"Oho.. So the Huang Tai Zi's done it. At long last...."

"..... Lucky woman she is...."

"....what a taint to the royal family....."

".......dishonorable...."

He turned around and walked through the crowd. At least there was no need for warning that he can't go today.

He left with questions roaming in his head, holding the jade he was meant to give back to Sakura. He had decided, once and for all, to end all of the ridiculous acts of lies and sympathy on his own. He will express feelings, he knows it will not be accepted, but he wants to at least say it himself, know he will not regret later. Clear up everything in their relationship, and it will end the way it is meant to end. He's okay with that. Perhaps he will not stop loving her, perhaps he never will. But the point of all this is that she could no longer ignore his feelings, and they can act as sisters and brothers with nothing to shame. He could live on knowing he had said what he needed to say.

Naruto wondered about the commotion back there. It certainly did not look of any harm, which is good enough for him. He will visit her tomorrow, if not sneak out late tonight. Definitely.

He smiles to himself and held the jade tighter in his palm. It was getting warmer by his temperature. He held it up and studied the characters engraved on it again. It's always been the deepest interest to him how people can read all those letters scrammed together. However he was not so tempted to learn it himself, not to say they can't afford schooling. He was alright with that. He can ask Sakura what's imprinted on this later.

That's the thing about future. It's unknown, it's there, you can't quite grasp it, but that's the good thing about it.

* * *

While Naruto took a nice nap in the afternoon that day, an very different scenery was in the Huang Tai Zi's room.

Shikamaru's palm is sweating as he tried to stand up straight in the Huang Tai Zi's room. He stood quietly as he watched Sasuke poured the clear wine into the small ceramic cups.

What honor can one expect when they're called in personally by the Huang Tai Zi himself? Shikamaru was one of the few privileged ones that gets occasion invites for either a good board game or like that last trip to the brothel. Neither are quite enjoyable to him. Though Sasuke constantly say he does not need to hold back while playing, Shikamaru knows better to beat Sasuke too badly. Perhaps sometimes a lost, a tie or close game. In Go anything is in freedom to do, as long as you have the skills.

There was no board set up this time, and the Huang Tai Zi was said to just returned from the brothel. Shikamaru felt a little uneased. He thought about the promise he made to Choji to eat at the new restaurant that opened up in the afternoon. With this in the back his mind he felt like he found his voice again.

"Sit, Shikamaru." Sasuke's voice was plain. No waver or hint of anything he is feeling right now, just a command given to obey. Shikamaru sat in the bed designed for board games and drinking wine.

"Heard of the news yet?" Sasuke sipped some his wine, and gave a motion that Shikamaru should drink some too.

"Uh..." Shikamaru doesn't drink alcohol, yet there's no way to deny any request of the Huang Tai Zi. He picked up the cup and took a small sip. Choking immediately by the hazard strong taste of the wine, he could feel the back of his throat burning.

Sasuke chuckled. "You do not have to force yourself." Himself took another sip of the wine, seemingly enjoying the taste.

"Of course." Shikamaru bowed his head low, cursing in his head. "And to speak of any news... I am not quite certain what your highness is speaking of."

"Ah." Sasuke sound not surprised. "But words will travel fast, soon." Sasuke's voice drawled on; his dark eyes focusing on the pure wine, his bony fingers tracing the patterns of the liquid. "As of this morning, I have proposed to the woman you met earlier, Sakura, from Faeries Landing."

Shikamaru knocked over his wine. Sasuke remained quite expressionless by the mess and the reaction. Shikamaru, who should be apologizing fanatically and wiping the wine with his own sleeves, did not move an inch. He knew better to be anymore uncomposed than he already did. There was something wrong with this picture. Sasuke may fancy the woman, but he would never take her for marriage.

"She is a refined woman." He was careful on his words. "A wise choice."

There had to be something that pushed the Huang Tai Zi over the edge to ever think about marrying her. No matter what beauty she may have, Sasuke is no fool or a faller for women. They fall for him is all. The trigger of this action maybe unknown, but now it's clear why Shikamaru is called here.

"And you know where the problem comes in." Sasuke lazily rose the cup to his lips and gulped in down. He placed it on the table rather forcefully. "Fu Huang will not approve of the marriage." Which should be very obvious, hence that the Emperor is a prideful man with

"That would indeed be a problem." Shikamaru has to cautious about this. One wrong word could drop his head rolling on the ground. This is serious advice the Huang Tai Zi is asking for. Why did he have to be universally known "intelligent one"? Shikamaru thought in his head. Such a damn drag.

"As I see promise in you, Shikamaru Nara, I will go down the steps and ask your thoughts on this." Sasuke had a sly smile on his face, which irritated Shikamaru to no end. Anything he say is cost worthy of his family's life. If his plan would fail, it could be over. He had think of something quick, and that choice better be responsible and respectable.

"I thank thee for the honor." Shikamaru said through gritted teeth. His brain is spinning quickly. "There should be no reason to shame the marriage of an educated women that is an virtuoso in arts and music and well mannered and you. The trouble is...." He stopped slowly, waiting for permission first to not anger the Huang Tai Zi.

"You may speak freely, Shikamaru. I give you the honor of impunity." Sasuke spoke with patience. A good sign. Shikamaru felt the relief to speak freely.

"The only obstacle as we all would know, is her birth and background. It is not quite so honorable to the Emperor's eyes to marry a prostitute, in fact in many they view it in disdain." He paused, and Sasuke nodded in approval, and he continued on. "The only need is for her to be adopted in to a better household, one that has fame and virtues to the government, to benefit both families. And since she is one of the prostitutes that only performs arts and music, all you need to prove is that..." Shikamaru took a gulp before he finished. "That you're the only man to be with her."

"Which I have confirmed." Sasuke smiled again. He listened with intent and interest, and now he poured more wine to his cup. "The part of proof would be easy... But the household adoption is the main problem I have. Since you're usually engaged with other families of the government, I would like to ask what suggestions you would have." And here comes the real purpose he is here. Shikamaru already have the family in mind.

"General Haruno's wife gave birth to their first child 17 years ago. The day after the birth the baby was smuggled out, and brought great grief to the whole household." Shikamaru started with a story form of telling, and his voice dragged on. "General Haruno's wife has fine, cherry blossomed hair..."

"Of which fits the conditions perfectly." Sasuke said with no exact joy or emotion.

"The small details such as whether the baby was a female or the date of birth could be easily changed, if we can convince them such idea. The birth was kept quiet, only few families knows of such thing for it's quite a scandal to have..."

"What reasons do you have to make them decide?" His voice was of boredom and plain, and took sip of the wine.

"Many. The Harunos never had child, and lady Haruno always craved for a daughter, even adoption was fine but no child she could claim as her own for so rare they would have her hair color. Secondly, their status has been somewhat sour after some incidents with one of the family member of your highness' family, and this is great way for them to gain back some power and name. If we put it at last, it could have been that Sakura was indeed the smuggled child of the Harunos. That fact though shouldn't matter much, as long as she gets adopted into the family." Shikmaru concluded.

Sasuke was silent for moments, staring out the window, the sunshine dashed through and it glowed on his skin in perfection of beauty. Shikamaru stared down the table, not making eye contact, still thinking through if there's any flaw to what he has said. He glanced to the Huang Tai Zi again, and the same feeling that the Huang Tai Zi's mind was impenetrable comes again. The Sasuke's eyes was dark as the night and empty in solitude. One would think that a man like him with everything in his side could feel happiness, but it never is what it seems.

"Shikamaru."

"Yes, your highness." Alerted that his name is spoken again, he sat up straight.

"You're highly intelligent. I'm sure you have heard that many times in your life. You could have gone very far with your acuity, yet you remain unmoved. Why so?"

Shikamaru was caught on surprise by such a question. Yet Sasuke did not look at him when he asked, but to outside, stared at something but nothing. It might have been just mere curiosity to ask, or just a question of anything.

"Well..." Shikamaru rubbed his neck the way he always does, and felt a little bit relaxed. Maybe it's because the question was not of anything superficial, but personal. "I'm just not the guy for those kind of things, you know? I don't like to be so competitive, and once you enter those kind of places there's really no turning back. I just want to... live my life the way it's best to be, and I like the way it is now."

He spoke truth with his words, and felt a little awed by himself that he just showed his true lazy colors to the Huang Tai Zi. Sasuke did not move. He seems to be deep in thought. Shikamaru studied his face, and to his surprise he sees Sasuke's face turned in to an agonizing and bitter smile. That's the first time he sees a sensible and human expression from the Huang Tai Zi.

"The way it's best to be..." Sasuke seemed more like talking to himself. "And what I want will never be."

Shikamaru stared at the man as he released his emotion in front of him for the first time. He doesn't necessarily understand, for the Huang Tai Zi seemed of everything anyone would want to be. But there was no lies in such pained expression; what could he truly want that would not be his?

Ponder on that.

"Well enough." Sasuke voice was flat again, yet the sorrow did not cease completely. "I will send someone to deliver the message."

Shikamaru bowed and left, knowing now is not the time for him to talk.

* * *

The next morning was an unpleasant shade of gray after rain. Naruto chomped on his apple as he walked, feeling a little down by the heavy air.

He reached the brothel and the street is still busy, but Lee was not there to flash his usual smile, and it seemed even more gloomier than it already was. Neji and Hinata were not here either, the only thing that was out of the typical was the huge red flower hanging from the top brothel window and the a scroll rolling down. He could not read it, but he knew that window was Sakura's room's. Naruto know that red flowers were signs of cheery and good news, so he wasn't all exactly too worried. He did the same routine he did all those years, going through the crowd of men, working his way to the back kitchen. Yet it was different. He felt his heart pounding, his hand sweated with the jade in his palm. But he must say it, all of the things he needed to say. He took a deep breath before going up those stairs again. Every step was difficult and he felt like he could turn around and run, but he is no coward.

He reached the place he known so well, and that same perfume driven up his nose.

He pushed open the door.

It was not a pink haired girl smiling to the mirror brushing her hair; it was not the furnitures and the instruments and the drawings hanging on the walls; it was not the opened window to the outside with the familiar breeze and warmth. The window was sealed with the great red flowers hanging outside, almost suddenly it did not seem as dazzling anymore.

There on the empty bed sat Ino, her long hair falling over her face, her breathing made the only sound than the dreadful deserted room's scream.

Sakura.

Naruto walked slowly to the bed, to the girl who looked like her world has been taken pieces apart. He sat down by Ino and patted on her on the back, though he felt like the one that needed an answer and an embrace.

"Ino, what's wrong?" His throat felt dry, yet he still had to speak comforting words for the sense of his conscience.

She did not raise her head, but she spoke, slowly with the sense of appalling to say such words.

"Gone. Gone." Her voice croaked like she scream and cried all night. "The Huang Tai Zi took her."

"What?!" Naruto alarmingly rose his voice, yet his heart seemed to drop. "What do you mean....?!" Took her? What's that suppose to stand for?

Ino couldn't seem to talk anymore, and looked to the verge of tears as her face was finally shown. Her eyes were puffy and red, her face sullen, as if every tears that's ever been inside her. Naruto hated when girls cried, and he held her shoulder gently, biting his own lips.

The door creaked open again.

Tsunade walked in, yet her normal strong presence was gone. She seemed slouched and tired, losing the sharp gaze she always had.

She spoke with fatigue and her voice cracked:

"He took her. He is going to marry her. I couldn't stop him, no one could have." Tsunade shut her eyes. Her lips quivered. "I'm sorry."

Every word stabbed Naruto like needles through his skin. Like poison that sink through and strike through his whole body.

He felt like breaking down.