Reviewers:

Czar Joseph: Quiet for now, but you know what they say on the waterfront. The calm before the storm.

PoptartLegit: Well, to me, this is what Sakura becomes when she has authority. In Naruto, once she learns and then leads medics, she is selflessly healing others until she has run out of chakra. Well, some of the stories I am thinking about now entails another high school fic, and then I have some plans for a medieval fic like this one except with knights and nobles and war, but as you may know, I always finish the summaries for my stories before I post. That way, I can complete them. (ON a side note, I read your profile, not a good idea to put personal stuff there, though the NaruSaku arguments were nice and sound)

GhostPoet: Well, it sounds like you have to find stuff you are interested in. For me, it started with reading Naruto fanfiction, and now, I can say that it has become a part of my time...a lot of time...doing. And I'm glad you can understand my thoughts on the past chapters. I always worry I leave things out before I post. As for my response, well, see AN.

DUH Bomb: Baby? The princess would not use baby! She would say my precious people...As for your questions, No! She is the Heir apparent, or the next royal Chosen to be Queen. The Queen ceremony and a coronation takes place and everything. There aren't really clan rulers, more like city state royals. There are families that serve them like knights and such though.

St3rfire: We won't see naruto for a while. These next chapters begin to show just how quickly everything spirals out of control in life and in government. As for your future year, I want to say 'is your daughter single?' and 'is your son in college?' and a lot of other things. You seem to be approaching the time of life where you get the time to find out new hobbies and desires coming your way. By the way as well to the other questions, where did you come up with your member name?

7th demon of Razgriz: What storm? I haven't even mentioned a storm. Geez ;)

Animeficfan: Thanks. Glad you like it.

WeldingMan0315: new apartment huh? well, then I would spend the next year growing closer to her. Maybe introduce her to stories on fanfiction?

AN: Hey everyone, I loved to hear where you all see yourselves in the next year. I know that it's not new years, but I think it's that time where you can see your life ahead of you. As for me, this next year hopefully entails my final year of college, followed by what I hope to be a job where I love to work with the people around me. And so now we begin to get in deeper into this world of battling your inner strength for what happens in your very lives.

Fire & Ice

Arc 1: Conceal It

Chapter 12: Now and Forever At Your Side

(Two Months Later)

On the sea, one does not know what is friend and what is foe until it sweeps right upon them. On the land however, there are certain forces that are sworn enemies, and then there are forces that are and have been friends for life. In a city like Port Haruno, they were in an alliance with many good friends built over times of war and peace, and as such, had little in the way of enemies. But every city has an enemy and so the people of that city could expect to have those that hated them as well.

Sakura Haruno had a retainer, but that retainer was now her friend, and this friend was currently sitting at the edge of the docks, near the lowest in the city for simple merchant ships and for fishermen. And this friend was widling away at a piece of dried wood with a small knife that could collapse in on itself.

Ino Yamanaka was a simple woman who liked simple things, but because she was a princess, or rather, a retainer, she was called upon to like the more extravagant things in life. She like those too, and she liked to be courted and flirted with when the occasion presented itself, but when it came to her friend, Ino would do anything to help her, even if that meant she had to buy something even she, as a retainer, could not afford.

But right now, everything was perfect, and Ino laughed at Sakura's ever happy demeanor since she had become the regent of the city. The people loved her more than before, and Sakura was loved a lot before she even became Lady Regent! Ino looked out to sea and smiled. Sakura had done so much in just two months for her people.

First, Sakura had called upon the royal engineers to build up the marketplace as it was bustling with so much activity as of late that people had begun to get robbed and stampeded upon. Now, some of the marketplace was on a second walkway, with more planned over the coming months. The idea and plans was thought up and orchestrated by Sakura herself, and the merchants who had begun to fight over the limited space were now vying for position on the secondary levels, though Sakura insisted that only lightweight items be allowed, so that the people buying and moving them did not injure themselves.

The marketplace was now swelling with even more bustling in the area and people, who used to wear red and black on ceremonial days had begun to wear them as every day clothing. Due to Sakura's influence, the textile industry had boomed, and they were, to put it simply, running out of threads to weave, and so many people without jobs, namely orphans, were given these jobs after their days at school.

Second, Sakura had built yet another orphanage after the fall flu had come around, killing a large number of parents in the 26th district of Port Haruno. And she had begun upgrades that had been called upon by the Nara royalty with their invention of an inside bathroom. Many homes were now being upgraded with these things and chamber pots were being melted down for spare metals. All of the orphanages were now practically empty however, after Sakura had spent a week's worth of days going to them and talking with the potential parents, so now, whoever were left had plenty to eat and the taxes that went to these places of refuge were less because all were being taking care off by caring families.

Thirdly, Sakura's stunt with sending out the royal navy to search for the missing boat had been great for business. Apparently, a band of pirates had been in the area, harassing these boats, and when the royal navy got within sight of their flags, the pirates were blast to smithereens and were no more.

Fourth, Sakura had done something that had not been done in ages. She declared a national day of rest, where everyone bought what they needed to for that day and then all shops were closed, and families were to be together to play games. It was a huge success and the people had asked that it be repeated as they all enjoyed the day and made many happy memories. Merchants had also explained that it was a huge boost to the spending economy and so Sakura planned to have another one planned for four months later, after the spring festival.

And lastly, Sakura had become a farmer of sorts in going regularly to the fields and after a small amount of time, had suggested that the farmers try watering the fields less. Apparently, the snow had come early, thanks of Sakura's feelings of the approaching cold, though Ino had not told a soul. So, as winter set in and the weather cooled, the harvest for the season was, to say the least, abundant. The stores for the castle were actually overflowing and so Sakura was there now, helping to divvy out the extra food to give to the citizens for extra nutrition and full stomachs.

Ino looked back down, her feet dangling in the cool water, while her hair moved over her shoulders down to below her breasts. She needed to get a haircut with the royal barber, but Sakura said she loved Ino's hair this length, so who was she to let the Princess down? Everything in the rule of Sakura was perfect.

A horn blew loud and clear from out to sea and Ino looked up to see the royal sloop of the line coming into the harbor from the inlet at the far side. It was the messenger ship that preceded the other two. Were Sakura's parents coming back so soon? Usually, they spent more time with their friends and fellow royals, but maybe they missed their daughter, which was understandable.

As Ino thought this, the royal sloop docked at the port, and the ropes were hastily secured as a man in leather armor, great for working on the high seas, jumped from the ship to the dock and began making his way to the city. Ino got up herself and made her way to the royal dock, and as the sailor saw the Yamanaka emblem on Ino's shoulder, he changed course and stopped in front of her.

"I have a message to give to Lady Sakura." The sailor spoke.

"As the princess's retainer, I will hear and repeat the message."

"Okay, tell her that the King and Queen are…"

Sakura bent down to look closer at the box below her that was filled with the leftover wine from the celebration from last night. Sakura winced a little, the area above her eyes having slight moments of pain, at the headache she got from her hangover. She swore that she'd never drink wine again, even though she had to, because of toasts and banquets, and balls, and well…everything that went on in royalty, and as the Lady Regent, if she did not drink, then the ideology of the toast was considered terrible and the speaker left feeling like a jester.

Sakura felt the weight in her arms drop to zero and opened her eyes to see an adult around thirty or so taking her box away and placing it on top of his. "I can handle it." Sakura insisted.

"Don't be silly, princess. You've done so much for us. This is the least we can do. If you keep insisting on doing everything as it is, the city will be run just by you alone."

"I-I'm not the only one. I need you all." Sakura blushed and turned away, walking down the underground hallways, as the storage helpers laughed at her cute blushing from. She was just doing what she should do, right? Wasn't the point of the royalty to take care of its citizens? Besides, she ate so well, and they so little, yet the physical labor they put in was so much more than she ever did.

Another splitting headache hit her and Sakura leaned against the cold wall, loving the cold right now to numb her pain. She'd never drink that much wine again, but it wasn't her fault! All the citizens kept pulling her to their table and asking her to toast with them. She must have toasted two hundred times, and sipped as many before she returned to her own table where she drank another two glasses. It was suffice to say that when people laughed in her direction, she was what the citizens called, 'wasted'.

As Sakura walked in and began to help direct the supplies with the head manager in the central tunnels, she thought about last night when Ino had taken her away after she began to blubber about how great her people were and how they so nice and sweet, and nice and sweet, and nice and sweet...and slurring like a true drunk.

And as Ino told her this morning, Sakura had cried long and hard to Ino as she undressed the princess and then fell asleep crying over losing Naruto. Sakura sniffled at that thought. It was a good cry, safe and harmless, and it hardened her resolve to see her lover back soon. Speaking of soon, she had only a month left until her parents returned. She hoped that she had shown them that the city would be in good hands when they passed on from this life to the next and joined their family in the kingdom beyond the horizon.

Sakura heard the slow click clack of heels on stone and leaned back up to look into the torchlight's darkness to see it wrap around a figure before that figure stepped into the light. Sakura smiled as Ino walked forward and headed towards her.

"Hey Ino. How was your walk?" Sakura asked with a small smile, knowing that Ino liked to dissapear at the randomness of times, but Ino just stared at her, bit her lip, and then looked away. The mood in the room grew cold as Sakura wondered why Ino was depressed. "Ino, what's wrong?"

Ino looked back at Sakura, and bit her lip again. If she didn't tell her now, then she'd hear it from the citizens. Ino took a deep breath, and spoke solemnly. "The royal sloop came back with a message…The King and Queen…are dead."

At that moment, in that very second, all workers paused in their duties and looked to Sakura, who looked confused at the statement. Time did not move at all as Sakura's thoughts stayed still as her mind tried to even comprehend this sudden language, like it was gibberish to her. The King and Queen were dead? Her…Parents…were dead? But…they...they...they promised to come back to her! Sakura breathed heavier through her throat and Ino shivered as she looked to her right and saw the torches shift towards Sakura, as if Sakura was drawing in their warmth, and dimming as Sakura began to shiver as well, but for her growing emotions instead.

"Everyone out. The city will enter mourning for the rest of the day. Leave the princess to mourn." Ino spoke as she walked forward, and the people quickly left the tunnels, and the sound of locking metals and boards sliding into place sounded and echoed all around them. Ino stepped in front of Sakura to see her smile fading from her face and as the realization came upon her face, her eyes shifted back and forth between Ino and her two baby blue eyes. Did they always show so much emotion in these tiny orbs?

"Come on." Ino suggested and Sakura could do nothing but follow Ino as she pulled Sakura down an old path into the catacombs of the city until they reach an old area that led to the underwater passages. Ino quickly unlocked the gate and they stepped inside, the air colder than ever as torches snuffed out at Sakura's very presence.

Tanya barked as she ran up towards the two and Ino let her in before locking the gate and they continued to walk, Sakura silent as the grave until they came to a small sitting area before a large domed rock wall with two old tunnels leading to underwater caverns. Ino stopped at the stone bench built into the wall and pushed on Sakura's shoulder as Sakura fell off balance and hit the bench, but didn't even care that she hit her head on the stone behind her head.

Ino sat down slowly next to her friend, while Tanya just placed her head on her master's legs, Sakura softly stroking her ears. Silence reign until Sakura sniffled and turned to Ino. "How did they die?"

"There was a maelstrom at sea, and the heavy ships lost both their masts before the ships were cut in half. The sloop was too far away to help until the maelstrom subsided, and there were only a few who survived the waves…I'm sorry, Sakura. This must be so hard to take in."

"I just…" Sakura paused and looked at her hands. Her throat was normal, her breath mainly steady, and her body was not trembling at all. "Why am I not crying? Shouldn't I be in tears?...Have I mastered my emotions so well that the death of my parents means nothing to me?"

"…I don't think so."

"What do you think?"

"...You're angry."

"What?" Sakura asked, baffled that Ino would say that. "I am not."

"Take off the gloves, Sakura." Ino pointed out and Sakura slowly did, before Ino picked them up and placed them on the bench, before dragging her to the domed area before the two tunnels, one sloping to her right and the other to her left. "You're angry because they left you."

"I-I…" Sakura began to deny before her breath caught in her throat and Ino nodded as a tear fell down in slow motion from Sakura's cheek. "T-they promised they'd come back."

"But they didn't."

"B-but…maybe they'll be saved. W-We can send ships all around the world. Maybe they reached an island somewhere. T-they're waiting for me."

"They're dead, Sakura."

"No! They-"

"Sakura, accept their death."

"But….I could…I could-" Sakura began to pant out as the feelings inside her chest grew hot. She was angry. Ino had proven that. But at what? Sakura looked up at the tunnels, and fire flew out to the edges of her arms and hands.

"Who are you mad at?"

"M-my parents. They promised!" Sakura yelled as a small stream of fire was sent streaking down the right path.

"They are with you now!"

"No! They're dead!" The stream was stronger as it surged towards the left tunnel.

"Who else has left you?"

"N-Naruto!" Sakura cried, as tears filled her face and shook her head, all the nightmares pointing to Naruto leaving her in her hours of need. Sakura yelled as her yellow fire turned up the heat and turned whiter. The tunnels filled up halfway with fire.

"And…" Ino paused. She couldn't say it…but Sakura needed this. All her worries, and fears out of her system. "Who sent them away?"

"T-The merchants! Cowards and liars!"

"No! Who?"

"T-the other cities-"

"No! Who sent them out of Port Haruno?"

"ME!" Sakura screamed and the fire turned blinding ice white and Ino dived into the bench, pulling Tanya with her as the blazing fire would have burned their eyes. Ino heard Sakura's yelling at herself for a whole minute as the heat made Ino sweat so much and Tanya whimpered at the blazing inferno, but after ten minutes, the fire slowly cooled, and tapered off.

Ino looked out and there Sakura was, her arms outstretched, smoke coming from her hands and all over her body. The chamber was singed pure black with ash, and Ino raced forward as Sakura fell to her knees, her body racking with pain.

Ino touched Sakura's hand, and withdrew it. Sakura was ice cold, but Tanya didn't care and wrapped her tail and body around her master who cried and hugged her wolf harder. Ino took off her coat and wrapped it around Sakura's exposed body before hugging her as well.

Ino looked into Sakura's crying face, and kissed the tears one by one. "You have Tanya…and you have me. We are here, at your side. Your parents loved you with all their hearts, and now they are forever with you…in here." Ino spoke softly and touched Sakura's chest above her heart.

"N-Naruto too?" Sakura's voice whispered, hoping beyond hope.

"Especially Naruto." Ino smiled and encouraged. "He holds your heart together, and you two are bound in this life and the next. You have nothing else to be ashamed off."

"I-I'm crying."

"Yes."

"Why am I crying?!"

"Because you care, Sakura." Ino hugged her and Sakura jolted forward, crying loudly into the empty cavern around them.

Momma! Papa! Naru-Kun! I love you all!

"We are all with you Sakura…Now and Forever...at your side."

AN: Hey! So new question: Without looking it up; what is a Liger?