Reviewers:

JayK24: Thanks Jay, good to hear.

Duh Bomb: Sakura's body quivering as Naruto appears was a nice take on the situation on her point of view and Naruto's conflict between this girl and that was nice as well. I thought that Alice being fine with another name being called during sex would be like some fetishes where other, more 'derogatory terms' are called and so I thought it'd a good balance.

Maomin: I wish you'd review the chapters, just so that I could see what you thought all the way through, but just review the rest and we'll be even.

St3rfire: It's just a take to how I see how some people dance and how they come together, though it was rather quick to get together, but in the medieval era, girls got married and more intimate at a faster pace, so I figured it was more appropriate as well as keeping the story rolling.

Mangaka Shuzen: I can understand your reasons for not liking the chapter, but I figure that after four years of such a young age, people change so much in those years, and from 15-19, so much changes with people. Naruto's vision of Sakura is different from the girl he physically sees as Alice, but I suppose your opinion works...sort of. As for Ino, it's only been two years in the later half, and unlike Naruto, Ino has shared a bath with Sakura in those years, and knows her body as well as magic better. So Ino has seen Sakura mess with magic in her hair and eyes before.

Harukei: Of of course she'll tell him, but at the moment, she is experiencing that time in her life where if she was someone else, she'd still have Naruto without hurting him.

AirNaruto45: Of course.

Czar Joseph: s word? Not sure, but Sakura is finally a women, her and Alice included.

Tsukoblue: Thanks.

AN: Hey, everyone! I loved reading all your reviews and how you liked or hated the last chapter. Now, we have the chance to read the next chapter. Good luck with reading it!

Fire & Ice

Chapter 27: You Need To Tell Him

For the third day of the week, Alice's eyes opened to see the still form of one Naruto Namikaze, as naked as she was, lying down beside her, his arm wrapped around her waist and resting just barely along her stomach. Yet Alice smiled at the care in his sleeping gestures and caressed his cheek as she slowly worked her way out from under his arm and got up. Alice looked around the slightly messy room, remembering the activities of the last few nights and giggled quietly as she put on a spare shirt, or rather one of Naruto's spare shirts and made her way to the small kitchen that he used.

Alice made a pot of hot tea and settled back, leaning against the polished wooden counter top, and walked out to the porch outside, leaning against the railing as she looked around herself at the pristine forest all around her. There was peace here, not like in her own land. Her people only knew war, and yet she had to do what she did. She couldn't let Sasuke and his Goddess win. She had met Misery and had almost succumbed to her ways before her soldiers rescued her and that had triggered her retreating here, to Naruto's embrace, where she knew that by finally succumbing to her love, her source of misery would grow lesser as time wore on.

A pair of hands tickled the skin from underneath the loose black shirt and raised the shirt up to her stomach, exposing her lower half to the porch below as a chin made contact with her neck. "Morning, Alice."

"Naruto." Alice grinned tiredly as she leaned back into him, letting him play with the tips of her breasts, as she moaned a bit for his benefit, but mainly because he was making her horny as he had for what seemed like her entire life and place her in the wanting of more of their last night's…or was it this morning's, activities? Alice's womb and maidenhood quivered in anticipation for anything now that she had truly become a woman.

It made her pause though. Her powers felt stronger than ever since Naruto had laid claim to her body. Her heart ached for her to remain by his side, and she didn't want to leave him, but she had to return to check on things in her kingdom. She had to make sure that everyone was okay, and that she could return to Naruto in happy bliss.

"Alice….Alice."

"Huh?" Alice asked, finally noticing that Naruto had stopped his ministrations and turned her around to face him. Alice sighed; she loved the way his hands cupped and pinched her sensitive breasts. It was like he put a seal to make them crave more, but Alice smiled. She wondered if Naruto could make a temporary seal like that.

"Did you hear what I said?"

"No, sorry."

"I said that I found a fox in my bed when I woke up."

"Oh…it had a message?" Alice asked, knowing that Naruto had a job to do, just as she did.

"Just a small border dispute with bandits is all. But I'll be gone for about three days, in total."

Alice groaned and leaned back, Naruto's shirt on her dipping over one shoulder while falling back down to cover her sensuous body. "I have to leave the day after you come back then."

"Yeah…I know, but I've been thinking, Alice. M-Maybe I can escort you or something?"

"Oh…um, I don't think so."

"Oh…I thought you liked me, but if you're embarrassed-"

"No!" Alice shot back and kissed Naruto with affection, just to shut him up. "I only have you, Naru~, and here is where I want to be, but where I go to get my products…it's dangerous."

"Where is it?"

"Um…" Alice bit her lip. Ino told her not to tell Naruto, but she couldn't stop herself. "…In Port Haruno." Alice watched as Naruto's hands dropped down her waist, gripping softly at her hip as his face grew slack. "Naruto?"

"…Y-you…you find valuables in port Haruno?"

"Well, it takes hours of defrosting the products and such, but it's valuable, right? And people from port Haruno live here mostly, so I thought it was a great idea."

"So then…you know a way in?"

"Huh? Well…yeah, a bit…but it's hard to get in with just me. Naruto, imagine trying to sneak in a bigger amount of people."

"H-Have you seen the Queen?"

Alice gulped. "Not really. She doesn't go into the city that often, I think. S-She's living somewhere else."

"Oh…"

"Naruto…I knew as soon as you told me who you loved that this wouldn't bode well. I just don't want you to get hurt too quickly."

"Sakura means…everything to me. My role in life was to be at her side, Alice. Please…take me with you."

"I-I can't." Alice shook her head, and regretted it. The moment was ruined. She was so stupid! Bringing up any mention of her past brought Naruto to tears.

"W-Will you…at least think about it?"

Alice sighed and nodded her head, "Yeah. I will, but please understand. I want you so much."

"I know Alice. I want you too. I can feel myself being normal with you, just as I once was with Sakura. I just…need to know…for sure."

Alice sighed and Naruto let go, turning back to get packed. Alice didn't need to say anything and she didn't speak a word, but got dressed back into her own clothes in complete silence, and walked with him down the road to the official gate of the city. Naruto bent over and kissed Alice's cheek and held her as she hugged him back.

"I'll miss you, Alice. Please be here."

"I will be. Just don't let this all be a dream."

"It won't be. I promise. I'll see you in three days." Naruto smiled, the fight between them already forgiven and forgotten in his mind.

"See you." Alice smiled bitterly and watched him leave, knowing that the next few days would be filled with nothing but thinking if she should invite Naruto back to her side permanently, and ditch this meditated idea of keeping Naruto away from the conflict that waged. Sakura's body quivered. He would make for a great King to her new world, and…he was great stress relief. Now Sakura understood why her mother always flirted with her father. It was her fire to his ice, bringing them together.

The day passed all too quickly for Sakura's mind, and Sakura, sitting on Naruto's porch, realized a crucial flaw in her initial plans. She didn't have money to pay for food or for a place to stay. Granted that she could probably stay at Naruto's place, but she hated being alone and so she went to visit both a new and old friend.

Alice stepped up to the rope and wrapped her foot around it, before kicking the third lever, which took her six levels down to where Ino's place was. Alice jumped off the rope as she neared, not as afraid as she once was for the height, and strode to the porch on the other side of the tree, before knocking quietly on the door.

Ino soon opened it with a careful smile, ready to greet a patient or stranger, and smiled brighter for the sight of Alice. "Hey Alice, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in Naruto's bed?"

Alice blushed as she walked in. She hadn't seen Ino for the three days that she'd left the club, and Ino could obviously tell the difference. Geez, was she glowing or something? Maybe her magic was projecting an ethereal glow around her figure, but as Alice looked down, she sighed. It could have also been the fact that she was back to wearing the outfit that she had been in three days ago as well.

"I guess my secret's out then."

"Don't feel bad." Ino gestured to the couch and Alice graciously sat down, too much grace for someone not trained since birth to do so, and so Ino noticed it right away. Ino passed her some warm tea for the chilly weather and Alice smiled again as she reached over to grasp the cup that was offered.

"What do you mean feel bad? Naruto was great."Alice spoke as she took a sip.

"Oh, I know." Ino smiled brightly. "In fact, I believe that the whole tree heard your bed moving these last few days."

Ino's words caused Alice to spit and choked on the warm liquid, wiping it off with a handkerchief. "Y-you have all heard it?"

"Just the sounds mostly, but this tree has a lot of residents from port Haruno, so we're pretty much community based here. And we just hear the banging. Now the ones directly above and below the room…"

"They heard me?"

"Calling him Naru~ Naru~ helps a bit." Ino giggled and Alice blushed deeply, before she looked away, sighing, as she put the glass down.

"Ino, I did what you told me not to do."

Ino sighed. She knew her friend would make this mistake. Sometimes, she was too predictable at times. "You told him where you go."

"Yeah. H-he wants me to show him the way inside to see her."

"…And?" Ino asked after a minute of watching Alice graze her fingers along the circular rim of the glass.

"And what?" Alice questioned, looking up to Ino.

"What do you want S- A-Alice?!" Ino asked, catching herself at the end.

"W-What do you want me to do?"

"Well, I can't help you on that. Naruto will want you to show him to her, but the fact remains that you will have to let this part of you die?"

"…" Alice's eyes grew confused "…...This part of me..."

"….Yes…"

"What do you mean?"

"…Did you really think that you could fool me, Sakura?" Ino's eyes bared deeply into Alice's eyes, which shifted for a full minute before she sighed. Slowly, Alice's blue eyes shifted slowly to sea green before turning a full on bold emerald, as her blonde hair shimmered with a bright sheen to it, and slowly red hair the shade of pink etched into the blonde, and soon, sitting in Ino's house, was the Queen of Port Haruno, as radiant as ever.

"I never could keep you in the dark for long." Sakura smiled as her eyes, as well as Ino's, shined with tears as Ino walked forward and sat down beside her, and the two sniffled and hugged the other tightly. "I have missed you so much Ino."

"So have I, Sakura-Hime, Or Sakura-Sama? What shall I call you now?"

"Just Sakura. I only ever wanted that."

"Sakura, two years. It's been two fricking years since you were in my presence as yourself. You have some nerve!" Ino broke off the hug, and glared at her friend, tears and her voice cracking along the way. "Where were you? I-I…"

"Oh Ino…" Sakura grabbed Ino's shaking head and brought her into another embrace, stroking Ino's hair as she cursed at Sakura.

"I thought you were dead, but then there was talking between the trading companies that you were still alive and your people always talk about you. We have waited for you for so long, and you never came!"

"...I'm sorry."

Ino sniffled and backed up. "So then…when do we return?"

"What?"

"Well, your people, of course." Ino smiled fondly, making Sakura's heart crack.

"Ino...I barely remember how I survived, but I gave up my people for my life now. You are their leader."

"But you also said to them that they would return."

"But not now, Ino. I have a plan to change the world. I will accomplish this so that my people, your people, have nothing to fear."

"Y-you are still fighting Sasuke, aren't you?"

Sakura gulped and sighed, nodding her head. "He has…a goddess on his side. Influencing him. It's not his fault, but I fear the war will drag on, Ino. He can't come here if I stay in Port Haruno's borders, but if he knew that I was here, then he would try to murder all the people I hold dear, including you."

"I see…What do we do then?"

"Continue until I am ready to receive you."

"As you wish, Milady." Ino spoke sadly, sad that she couldn't return to her Lady's side, but proud to follow anything she wished of her.

"Ino, please. I am no longer a royal."

"You have royal blood inside you."

"My bloodline is dead. You are the leader now. I'm just a friend."

"H-Hai." Ino's eyes teamed, but she held it in. "So, then. When will you tell Naruto?"

"I don't know."

"Sakura, you need to tell him!"

"Do you not think I know that?!"

"Well, obviously, you don't!"

Sakura held her glare at Ino's comment before her breath left her and her own eye teamed with tears. "I do know that, Ino. I just…I just slept with Naruto…finally! After all this time and heartache! Why can't I just have more time with him?"

"Sakura, you will always want just one more time with him...You are playing with his emotions right now. He is trying to forget his feelings for you so that he can fall in love with Alice, who doesn't exist! The longer you drag this on, the worse it will get."

"So you mean…I'm just supposed to let him go?"

"No, Sakura. Take him with you to show him your world. He has been dying on the inside to see you again. He wants to be with you, and if you can't love him…then I can't love you either. You need to choose between having Naruto, and having him know you. You can't have both."

Three days came to pass, and at high noon on the third day that Naruto had left on, Sakura stood at the roadside, her fingers moving around her skirt, twisting it and pulling it as her nervous heart beat restlessly against her chest. Her powers had become the usual since Naruto left, so if Sakura wanted more power, Naruto had to be at her side, but to be at her side, what did she expect other than for him to hate her?

I mean, what was she supposed to say and tell him? Hey Naruto, guess what? I'm really Sakura. I played with your heart to be with you, and exiled you for four years just so that I could live alone and not have you at my side. And you know what? Finally, I want you at my side. So drop everything and come be my lap dog!

Yeah, that sounded great! Sakura sniffled as she looked up, and heard the sound of an approaching horse. She had decided what she would do, and she would just have to live with the consequences, whatever they might entail.

The horse approached and Sakura's eyes widened in hope before they shattered at the sight of not blond, but brown hair appear as the rider turned the corner and blew right past her. Sakura sighed dejectedly, and leaned against the road's small fence.

Without warning, a hand clamped around her wrists, interlocking them above her, as another hand snaked around her waist, and held her in place as a warm pair of lips pressed aggressively against her own, making Sakura's startled scream die inside the man's throat as he sucked air from her lungs.

Alice's eyes deepened into deep cerulean eyes and she moaned annoyingly at the smirk etched on Naruto's face as he back up from the romantic embrace. "Naruto, that wasn't funny."

"But you want me to do that to you more, don't you?" Naruto smirked, and Sakura blushed, as imaginary ropes held her down on the bed as Naruto kissed the tips of her breasts and made sweet love to her all night long.

"Naru~" Alice groaned as a wave of lust filled her core. Being more emotional had indeed helped with her control of magic, but it made her really lustful and horny at times. Alice leaned against Naruto's body as he pulled her legs up around his hips and ran fast ahead, towards his place.

Naruto smiled as he smelled Alice's lavender scented shampoo in her hair. She smelled of nature and of just…magical time. He loved that she wasn't afraid of the magic inside him nor afraid that they were traveling so fast that instead of climbing the tree, Naruto ran straight up the steep slopes as the bark had nice footholds and enough to support the two of them.

Soon, Naruto had entered his home and Alice was on her back, as Naruto helped himself to moving his hands up to the back of her corset, and undid the ties, before exposing Alice's breasts to the soft breeze in the room. Alice moaned a bit. So this was what happened when soldiers came home from battle and war. She had always wondered why Layla liked to stay home for a bit after she came back to the castle. Now, she wouldn't want to leave herself if Naruto could do this for her every day.

"Alice?"

"Hmm?" Alice asked, as Naruto's fingers circled her tips, making her buck slightly.

"I wanted to say that I'm sorry."

"F-For (Moan) w-what, Naru?"

"For yelling at you when I left. For giving you a choice between me and this relationship. I wasn't being rational. I've thought it over for these last few days, and if you don't want me to go, then I'll stay. I just want you to know that I care for you, however short we've been together."

"Naru, I've thought about this thing too. And I can't think about how hard it's been to be in your shoes. But I do know how it is to love someone, and not be there with them. Naruto, I want you to come with me, to Port Haruno."

"Really?"

"Really. But I'm in charge of where we go, and what we do, okay?"

"O-Of course. Y-you're the guide. Right."

Alice smiled as she reached up and dragged her long nails through his hair, scratching his scalp and making her lover moan as she pulled his mouth down towards the center of one of her breasts. "Then let's devour each other tonight, because out there, we will need to be on guard."

"Alice, I will devour you, and that is a promise." Naruto's eyes twinkled, and slowly, Alice's eyes joined his, as their tongues connected outside their mouths before their lips covered up the scene, as the sun above them cascaded around the tree and six floors down, the soft thumping began to sound as Ino looked up from her herbal tea.

Ino sighed happily and then her eyes rimmed with tears. "I guess I'll never see Naruto again."

AN: I thought for a bit about having Sakura not taking Naruto with her, but then the story might stall and so I give you this road to the story.