Once they have reached the guest house, Kusa opened on of the sliding door of the minka.

The minka was covered in green tatami mats on the floor. It had very few furniture with a small dining table at the centre and a shoe rack by the side. The minka was also decorated with traditional paintings and small plants.

"Whao! This place is amazing" Sakura gasps as she enters the house,"Don't you think so Sasuke-kun? "

Sasuke just gave a small nod. In some ways, the house reminded him of his old home when he way a little boy. It reminded him of the time where he lived peacefully with his family.

"If there is anything you would like, just come and look for either me or the other maids at the main house. I hope you two will have a comfortable stay. " Kusa said.

"Alright.Thank you. " Sasuke nodded.

Kiss bowed to the pair and began walking back to the main house. As she starts walking back, Sakura suddenly stopped her.

"Wait! Kusa-san!" She cried out, "I'm sorry for stopping you but there is question would like to ask you."

Kusa stopped at her tracks and turned around, "It alright my dear. You can anything you want."

"When me and Sasuke-kun were walking through the village, I notice that pink decorations were being hung up by the locals. Is there some kind of event going to happen?"

Kusa looked at Sakura with eyes wide open and smiled at the curious you woman again.

"That is a good question my dear," the older woman said," the Nadeshiko village is actually preparing for the annual Cherry blossom festival we celebrated."

"Cherry blossom festival? I have never heard of it."

From a distance, Sasuke was looking at the conversation going on between ladies I wonder what are they talking about.

"Yes well," Kusa continued," It is an annual celebration only celebrated only by the Nadeshiko village.

it a time where the villagers are able to spend time with family, friends and lovers. The cherry blossom festival is also a time to commemorate the birth of our guardian, Sakuya-hime."

"Sakuya-hime?" Sakura repeated.

At the same time, Sasuke curiosity got the better of him and he begin eavesdropping on the women, making sure to hear what ever Kusa says.

"You really are a curious on, aren't you my dear," Kusa giggled ,"Sakuya-hime is one of our lands guardians. is helps keeps the plants and agriculture of our lands healthy and is a symbol of life to us.

"There is also a legend about her. A millennium ago, it is said that our village was a small kingdom. In the royal family, there were two sisters. The older, Iwana-hime and the younger, Sakuya-hime.

"Iwana was described to be headstrong and intelligent while Sakuya was shy and as delicate as a flower but her wisdom is beyond that of a sister's."

The way she describes her reminds me of Sakura during our genin days Sasuke thought as he continue to listen to Kusa attentively.

"When Sakuya was a young woman, she fell in love and married a warrior from a distant land. Sakuya soon became pregnant but her husband feared that he was not the father of their unborn child. In order to prove to him she was indeed baring his child, the warrior force her into an empty hut and set it on fire, saying that their child won't be harmed.

"The flames killed her in the process but her child miraculous survived. Proving that the warrior is indeed the father of her child.

"Grieving the loss of her sister, Iwana banished the warrior along with his son and built a shine over where the hut once stood in memory and honor of her sister and the legacy she left behind, becoming the first priestess of the village's shrine."

"That is quite a story," Sakura commented,"So the shrine in the legend is the same one here."

"That right dear," Kusa nodded ,"For centuries, the leaders of our village have also served as priest and priestess of the shrine.However, it is only open to the public during the cherry blossom festival."

"Then what about the warrior in the story? " Sakura continued asking ,"is there more information about him."

"From what I know not much was said about him. But I think is for the best." Kusa replied.

"I see."

That's weird. A shrine that people could play visit on one day Sasuke thought That would be impossible. Unless... there is something important kept hidden in the shrine. But what.

"Thank you Kusa-san." Sakura thanked the older woman with a smile,"for taking the time to tell me all this. Sorry if I have taken up your time."

"It's alright my dear," Kusa smiled back ,"it is nice to see people like you want to know more about the village."

Sakura bowed politely to her before Kusa walked back to the main house. As Sakura watch the head maid walk to the main house, Sasuke was leaning on the houses walls thinking to himself What could a shrine hid that is so important. Ancient scrolls, weapons or ... information about Sage of six paths.

"I never never imagined you would be the type to eavesdrop on people Sasuke-kun."

Sakura teased as she enters the house, snapping Sasuke out of his thoughts.

"I wasn't eavesdropping." Sasuke said as he sat on the floor hiding his blushing face.

"Oh your so cute blush!"

"I'm not blushing." God she is getting annoying

"Then why is your face so red."

It took a while before Sasuke can answer "I'm just tired. It's been a long day, we should get settled in."

"Alright." Sakura replied with a smile as she went to unpack her stuff.

花

Later in the evening, Sasuke and Sakura were quietly enjoying their dinner together prepared by Sakura herself. She has been known to cook terribly in the pass but she has since improved in her cooking skills.

"How's your fish Sasuke-kun?" Sakura asked, breaking the silence between the pair.

"It's not bad," Sasuke replied monotonely," could use a little more salt but it still taste good."

Sakura smiled at Sasuke's reply," Thank you."

That's weird Sakura thought Sasuke-kun look a little tense up. Something must be going through his mind now. Something serious.

"Sasuke-kun, are you alright? You seem very tense up." Sakura asked concernly.

"Nothing," Sasuke replied ,"It's just don't you find it weird that the shrine is only open to the public during the day of the festival?"

"So you were eavesdropping on me and Kusa-san a few hours ago." Sakura teased.

"Just answer me." Sasuke said firmly.

"Alright alright just give me a minute." After thinking for a while, Sakura got her answer, "I did find it a bit weird at first but then again, we are in a different area with different customs so I didn't think too much about it."

She probably right. Maybe I am just over thinking things. Sasuke thought. But still...

Just at the moment, Sakura got up from her seating cushion and made her way to Sasuke, wrapping her arms around his neck from the back. "Look. If there is anything bothering you, just tell me. We're in this together. Promise."

Sasuke smiled and tilted his head a little to sneak a kiss on Sakura's forehead,"Promise."

And that's a wrap for the second chapter. This chapter took a huge amount of research to complete the story of Sakuya.

If you guys are wondering, Sakuya-hime in Japanese mythology is the goddess of Mount Fuji and part of the story told in this chapter is inspired by the real story between Sakuya-hime and the god, Ninigi. Iwana is also base on Iwa-naga, the rock princess and Sakuya-hime's sister.

Hope you guys enjoyed reading chapter two of my first fanfic and will continue reading future chapters.

I might have to limit my updates to once a week in the future as I am currently busy with my studies. Hope you guys are able to understand.

-Gi