The metallic thud of a golden doorknocker snapped Sakura out of her frantic pacing.

"Just a minute Hinata! I fell asleep," Sakura half yelled the lie knowing she'd kept the girl waiting longer than what was commonly deemed polite. She just needed to find an escape route. Her eyes dart to the ivy covered window 5 stories up from the courtyard. She shakes her head and runs her fingers through her long hair. Not a chance. This was really real.

"Take your time. I don't mean to rush you. You just mentioned that you wanted to spend time in the training fields. People may be leaving to prepare for the feast soon," Hinata's soft voice was barely audible through the sleek Mahogany door. It pains Sakura to hear growing concern in Hinata's voice. How could she worry this kind stranger?

She takes another deep breath and begins hastily lacing up the red and black leather shoes she found waiting for her in the closet among what she believed to be more shoes than her entire village possessed. She tucks her black harem pants into the shoes and tucks the bottom of her loose white tunic into her waist band. She let her hair drape over her shoulders and fall down the sides of her breasts.

She zips by a mirror on her way out to the door and catches her frightened gaze in the mirror. It was like staring at a doe. She growls. Could she look any more vulnerable? What was this place doing to her? All it took was one tour beneath the sky-high ceilings and she was already feeling dwarfed by the weight the place. She needed something to revive her spirit. She needed to go home.

Sakura pulls open the door with a little too much force causing it to crash against the wall and startle the patient blue haired woman. Sakura is relieved to find that Hinata has changed into pants as well. She'd been worried that the palace was an oppressive type of place where people stuck to gendered modes of living. She was grateful to be wrong. Opal eyes looked her over and smiled contentedly.

"You look lovely Lady Sakura. Our seamstress must like you," Hinata gently kneads the light woolen fabric and motions for Sakura to do a quick spin. Sakura hesitates for a moment then complies. Hinata had been so thorough in answering all her questions and had made an unplanned stop by the kitchen to quiet Sakura's unruly tummy. Sakura smiles warmly at her new friend.

"Please just call me Sakura," she whispers as they begin their journey though what was only the first of many tapestry-covered corridors. Century old portraits glare at her. Gargoyles perch on columns ready to pounce.

"How could she like me? I don't remember meeting her." Sakura's voice drifts off as she scans her brain for a face that could belong to said seamstress.

Her mind freezes on the memory of her arrival to the palace. Lord Neji had not been unlike a lurking gargoyle. Only now as she revisits the memory does she recall his opal eyes flickering to her lips then settling on her eyes again as he whispered "Who said I was a gentlemen?" That dark alluring voice and the weight of those eyes could have sucked her in. She may have been a virgin but she wasn't blind to her own desires. Neji was… well… very attractive. But there was something sinister about him, or was it something sweet? Why couldn't she tell?

"The Prince must have put in a good word for you. He is rather close with our seamstress Lady Tenten." Hinata could glean that Sakura's mind had wondered. The mention of the prince however brought her back to their stark reality. Hinata abruptly halts their journey and tugs Sakura into a hidden alcove. She feels cobwebs brush against her cheeks. They must be in danger.

"What's going on?" Sakura squeaked. Hinata put her hand over Sakura's mouth, causing a small whine of complaint from the pink haired woman.

"There are some things people dare not speak about within these walls my lady. However, I will be fourth right with you if you will speak plainly with me. Do you understand?" Sakura nods, not knowing exactly to what she has agreed. Hinata removes her hand.

"Are you hear for money?"

"No," Sakura spits with out rage. Hinata covers her mouth again.

"Shh! Do you have a plot again the King or my cousin?"

"No! I'm just trying-," Sakura's muffled voice grows more frustrated.

"So then you are here for his heart?"

"Definitely not." Hinata nods in response

"Good. Then what I sensed is true. You do not want to be here but your duties to your village have forced you to do you best to secure the power and wealth that a marriage to my Lord could bestow upon you. Am I right?"

Sakura nods, bewildered.

"How did you know?" A hint of Hinata's meek demeanor returns. She is satisfied with her deduction. The tension in Sakura's body dissolves.

"Although this is Lord Neji's first selection ceremony, it is not the first time women have visited this palace." Hinata's eyes grow distant and they strain to trace the outlines of a haunted memory. "He's been sought after for so long by so many. It can ruin a person." Sakura hears hints of pain in her voice.

Hinata looks at Sakura cautiously. The hint of urgency returns.

"Since you are not here for his heart or a piece of his power, I will be blunt with you. When a person has exclusively experienced physical pleasure as a transaction, they grow accustomed to treated women like objects."

Sakura's eyes widen with understanding. She understands why Hinata had to pull her into an alcove to speak these word.

"So he-"

"The only sex he has had has been with women who have asked for something in return. If he takes a liking to you he will pursue you and he may offer you more than you can ever imagine. More than most can refuse. I advise that you do your best o refuse him."

Sakura feels a pain in her heart. Hinata watches in surprise as Sakura's face fills with hurt. Perplexed, Hinata, wonders if Sakura may in fact have feeling for her cousin. As word of the pink haired woman's spats with the Prince spread throughout the castle, she began to suspect a spark between them. Neji only put up with dissent from Naruto and Gaara. To put up with sass from a stranger was unheard of.

"He cannot love you Sakura. But he can give you anything. I tell you this because you are the only woman who has come in here and wanted nothing from him. If that changes you may change as well. I've seen what that can do to women and what women have become willing to do. He is not a corrupt man, but he is wounded and he can wound others without even knowing it. Do you understand me?"

Before Sakura could even respond, Hinata pulls her back into the hallway. Hinata seamlessly pulls together a smile and waves to a young curly haired servant just rounding the far corner. Sakura stares at the back of that blue head trying to imagine what else Hinata could be hiding from the world. She felt sick. There was much to process.

As they turn the corner into a busier corridor Hinata speaks in a gentle even tone, afraid to betray her subtext.

"I like you Sakura. You deserve to leave here as you came."

Xxxxx

The court yard is a flurry of clashing swords and sweating bodies. On looking eyes dart between practice duels and spar session from the rows of bleachers that lined the spacious field. One particular flurry of limbs belongs to Lord Neji and Lord Naruto. The former wields his silver and onyx sword with frightening grace while the latter sways on his feet eventually falling to the floor and spilling his blonde hair into his eyes.

"Oy! Neji come at me again!" a drunk Naruto yells from the soft and cool grass. Snickers and chuckles resound from neighboring knights. Hanabi and Amelia watch the two spar from a blanket while Gaara dispassionately holds a large parasol over their heads.

"I don't think that would be wise," Neji jokes monotonously. His white eyes scann the field, bored. He seeks a more interesting opponent. King Hyuuga himself had specifically asked Gaara, Neji's usually partner, to tend to the ladies. Neji sheathes his sword and extends a hand to his fallen comrade.

"Right right. You're tired I understand." Naruto swats the hand away and stumbles back onto his wobbly feet.

"What a fool," Amelia laughs. She smiles at Gaara, looking for approval. His apathy rivals his annoyance.

"He is a noble warrior. He has lost much. He deserves what happiness he can get. Even if it comes at the cost of his sobriety." That silences the laughter.

Amelia's perfectly silky skin flushs red. Despite her best attempts to suck up, she still manages to annoy Gaara. Hanabi plays with her thumbs and blushes with embarrassment. Rumor has it that she is quit taken with Gaara, but can never get any positive attention from him. Her eyes frantically sweep the fields for a distraction.

"Seems like my cousin has brought the peasant out to a more familiar environment," Hanabi stammers. She jabs her manicured finger in the direction of Hinata and Sakura as the pair makes their way over to the group.

The warm light and fresh air has significantly lifted Sakura's mood. Her eyes took in the familiar thrusts and movements of the practicing knights in the field. She yearns for her own sword. Hinata's eyes fill with an intense yearning, but she masks it well.

Sakura's only qualm was that there were no ladies training. A frown makes its way from her heart to her face. Was it that women were not allowed to train with the men? A quick glance around reveals that the women either sit and watch from the grass, like Hanabi and Amelia, or gather in the bleachers and sip tea and munch on cakes. Sakura wrinkles her nose. Some of these women must want to get out of their dresses and get moving.

Naruto nearly falls over again at the sight of Hinata and Sakura.

"Oy! Lady Sakura and Lady Hinata. What an honor!"

Sakura waves at him as he runn over to them. He gest down on one knee, takes Sakura's hand a places a rather wet kiss on it's back. He smiles at Lady Hinata, who for the first time does not return a smile.

Neji turns around and catches site of Sakura. The warrior in him would never admit it to anyone, but he is completely smitten. He had been aware that the woman was attractive, but he's been too caught up in their verbal battles to take note of her appearance. Now he was drinking in and relishing the sight of her form as she walks over with Naruto and Hinata.

Narto catches the tail end of the glance as he arrives by Neji's side. To his chagrin Naruto raises his eyebrows up and down suggestively.

"I know what you mean Prince. I noticed as well."

"Shut up."

"Noticed what my Lord?" Sakura says politely with a proper bow. Neji can tell from her rigid posture that Sakura is simply making polite conversation.

"That the Cherry Blossoms in our garden are in full bloom today. They will only last for a few more days." Neji watches Sakura's façade crack as a smile slips through. She turns to Hinata.

"Did I not mention the gardens to you? My apologies. They are easily the palaces most impressive feature. I will take you their after the feast when the lanterns are lit and the fireflies are out." Hinata smiles weakly. She keeps her eyes on Neji. She can see a familiar hungry look make it's way to his face. She does not fail to notice that his eyes fall to Sakura's lips, hip, or breasts whenever the rose haired woman's eyes flicker to some distraction or another in the far field.

Sakura's eyes meet the cold glare of Lady Amelia. They both huffed.

"Is something the matter my lady? Are the grounds not to your liking?" Neji brings Sakura's eyes back to him. A small smirk plays across his lips. He'd have her today, he decided. She was doing strange things to him. He never bickered with women. But with her, they'd argued as though it had been their daily routine. He would simply treat her like any other woman, and she'd intern become one.

"The grounds are lovely from what I can tell from this spot. I'd love to peruse the far fields and the garden later if time permits." Neji slight hesitation in her voice peaks his curiosity.

"I hear a pause in your voice." He takes an unconscious step towards her further worrying Hinata. Here eyes dart to Sakura.

"Why aren't any of the women training? Is it not permitted." Sakura's gaze locks with his, and he is surprised to find sorrow there. The wolf in him quiets down.

Both Neji and Naruto raise an eyebrow in question. Sakura ignores the snort of the Ice Princess in the distance.

"It's been what? 15 years since woman earned the right to fight in the militia? At home, I train daily with both women and men but here I have yet to encounter the former in action," Sakura's voice swells with conviction. A few of the Lords and Ladies surrounding them lean closer. No one criticizes the palace and goes to bed with all of their limbs.

"Wow. We've got a feminist on the ground Lord Hyuuga," Naruto laughs heartily until he notices that it only caused Sakura's frown to deepen realizes that it has only deepened Sakura's despair.

"I did not mean to offend you my lady," Naruto says quickly. He gets down on one knee and kisses Sakura's hand again. Her blush returns from the extra attention Naruto draws to her.

"Oh no no, my Lord. No offense taken. I simply spend at least 4 hours a day training in the early morning when I am home. I was really just surprised."

Sakura tried to diffuse the situation. Neji looks her over again in shock. This time he assesses her as though gauging the abilities of an opponent. Her slender frame casts doubt on her statement. She is rather lean but her muscles are not as developed as they should be for that amount of training. He winces reflexively. Could poor nutrition could be the reason for this. He didn't know why that bothers him so much.

"Perhaps some of our ladies here simply need a little encouragement." He could see Sakura tense as his words land.

Gaara stabs his parasol into the ground causing his female companions to shriek beside him. Now this was truly unheard of. Neji wasn't usually competitive, but he knows when his friend is challenging someone to a duel. Gaara looks over at Hanabi. Her opal eyes are wide with shock as well. Amelia looks at them both in confusion.

"What? What's going on?" She looks at the both of them and then over to the foursome, jealous before she could even find a reason to be.

Sakura on the other hand knows a challenge when she sees one.

"My Lord, I'm not sure it is considered polite to challenge guests to a duel. What if you hurt her? What will the king say?" Naruto said in a flurry of words. He could sense the tension between the two rising.

Sakura Squares her shoulders to face Neji. She sizes him up then smirks.

"Sword." she says plainly.

Neji raises an eyebrow at her and for the first time in her presence breaks into a genuine smile. Despite all her efforts to conceal the small fireworks in her gut, she returns it. His eyes stray to her lips and her smile disappears, replaced with an unreadable expression. Neji marvels at her courage.

Hinata looks back and forth between both of them for a long moment. She hasn't seen Neji smile like that in a long time, not at anyone.

Neji motions for Gaara to bring his sword.

"You heard the Lady. She needs a sword."

Sakura's heart pounds. Ino warned her that her arrogance was going to get her into trouble. Gaara glides over to her and removes his sword from his belt. He blocks Neji from her view.

"You don't have to do this."

They grip his sword.

" I can handle myself."

Gaara eyes her suspiciously before feigning indifference. Sakura feels the sword's full weight sink into her hand.

"Well, it's about time Neji had someone interesting." And with those words, Gaara went to join Naruto, Hinata, and the now standing Amelia and Hannabi. Sakura watches him go, wondering if he had been just given her a warning. What was with all the warnings today?

A few other knights and ladies gather around what they imagine will be the most humorous fight of the evening. It was a rare site to see the Prince train with anyone but his two trusted friends. Now to see him challenge a woman, and a woman that he was courting at that! This news would be all over the castle by nightfall.

Sakura, opened and closed her eyes for a moment before she set them on Neji. She noted the knights and ladies gathering around them in a wide circle, but tried to put that out of her mind. She didn't need the performance anxiety.

They unsheathe their swords in unison.

"I'll go easy on you," Neji says as he smiles widely. They circle each other.

"You'll get yourself hurt that way."

Sakura's cheeks flush as the knights in the circle explode with laughter. Neji holds his hand up to stop them. They fall silent. Hinata inches close to Naruto and squeezes his hand. He squeezes back. No matter what happens this will be the beginning of something new in Neji. Maybe something good.

"Come at me," Neji commands.

She does. She runn at Neji with incredible speed, tearing up the grass behind her. She was faster than he had expected. From the wide eyes of everyone around, she had surprised them all as well.

Sakura leaped into the air. Neji met her blow by with a raised sword. Spark flew between them. Sakura flipped over his head and landed behind him while aiming a blow at the base of his spine. He heard the crowds gasp and a few women scream. Neji turned quickly and blocked it. His eyes widened as he felt the force of her blow radiate through his body. He blinked and she was already three feet away motioning for him to charge her.

He plunged forward. Sakura felt the vibration rattle her teeth. Gaara and Naruto looked at each other in disbelief. Amelia' mouth hung open in a rather unflattering fashion. The pair was creating quite a commotion.

Neji pushed Sakura back with his sword. She used the momentum to get some space between them. To her surprise he charged her again, this time aiming for her head. She ducked. He knelt down and launched a kick at her. She flipped backward and over it. She wasted no time launching forward again, this time, just as he was about to defend against her swipe, she aimed a kick at his face. He caught it with his hand and tried to twist her ankle. To prevent the injury Sakura's body spun horizontal to the ground in the air. While in midair, she stabbed the sword into the ground and held onto it tightly.

Neji felt Sakura's free leg wrap around his neck and pull his body towards her. Sakura could hear the ladies gasp in surprise. She could understand why. His face was coming dangerously close to her vag.

Naruto and Gaara on the other hand knew exactly what was about to happen.

Naruto blurted out "No way. You have to be crazy strong to-"

Gaara cut in "Looks like she's at least going to try it."

Both of Sakura's legs wrapped around Neji's neck. She used her strength and his momentum to lift him of the ground and throw him to the other end of their battle ground. Neji tumbled a few feet to the ground. Sakura immediately collapsed to the clutching her stomach. She knew she had just torn something, but fuck it, she just threw the Prince while in mid air! She could hear screams coming from the crowds

Neji got up and stared at Sakura in disbelief.

Amelia looked on in fear and disgust. "You can't do that to the Prince!" Sakura glared at Amelia sending her cowering behind Hanabi.

Neji dropped his sword and popped his shoulder back into the socket. Sakura eyed him suspiciously.

"Were you holding back?" he yelled from the other side of the circle.

"Yes. Were you?"

"Yes."

"Don't."

"As you wish my Lady"

Neji launched at her again. She dropped her sword and prepared for hand to hand combat.

Within 3 seconds Neji was in front of her and she could tell she was out matched. His body flew around her delivering blows like a gazelle in a boxing ring. Sakura managed to block some punches to her head but she felt a rather sharp blow hit her side.

She could sense her consciousness wavering. She used her last bit of energy to catch Neji's wrist pull him forward and head-butt his face, effectively splitting his lip and spraying blood all over him.

Neji winced in pain. He heard a few of the ladies cry out for him.

"Oh no. My Lord's lip! Hang her!"

"How dare she!"

Naruto shouted louder than them all "Get it Sakura! You can do it!" Gaara smirked in approval. The red head was also genuinely smiling. Hannabi looked over at him in horror. Then back to the fight, then too Amelia still cowering behind her.

Hanabi grabbed Amelia and whispered harshly in her ear, "I will not have some crude peasant woman married into my family. You cheer for him now! Let him know you're here." With some confusion but very little hesitation Amelia began to cheer. Soon the whole crowd was picking sides.

Neji looked around briefly but felt a fist hit his cheek. He grabbed onto Sakura's leg right as she had launched a kick at his side. They locked eyes. Both of them were breathing heavily. Neji could see the damage he'd inflicted. One of Sakura's eye lids was beginning to swell to match his own swollen lip. She had a cut on her forehead and was probably sporting a few bruises on her torso and arms.

To his surprise Sakura was smiling. The moment he caught the expression, she sucked it back in and evened her lips out into an expressionless line.

That was it. He wanted her now. He needed to get her out of this crowd and somewhere secluded right now. All this movement and sweat and contact had him hot and bothered.

Sakura on the other hand was focused on landing as many blows as she could before she went under.

Neji caught her punch, grabbed her shoulder, and threw her to the ground. In a blink of an eye he was straddling her, with his hands gently wrapped around her neck. Her hands quickly went to his wrists. There was a moment of silence. Sakura's frustration fizzled and was immediately replaced by sudden… arousal? It took her by surprise. The entire crowd could read the shock on her face, but never would have guessed that it wasn't from the abrupt end to the fight.

She could feel his groin push into hers. She needed to get out of this crowd and somewhere safe. Some where far away from him.

Sex scared her.

Right now with his sweet weight pressing into her, and his body throbbing on top up her as he took in sharp gasps of air, he scared her. Her eyes traveled up from his arms and straight into his eye. What was most freighting of all was that he from the hardness on her thigh, she could tell he was just a hot as her. Neither of them could deny it.

The crowd erupted into applause screaming Neji's name. Neji, released his hold on Sakura's throat and dismounted her. He had was pulled out of a trance by a few knights running up to him and smacking him on the back. Amelia was on him immediately but he waved her away. He looked over at Sakura who was being helped up by Gaara.

Gaara pulled Sakura in close to him. Sakura, dizzy from pain and the sudden surge of sound, began to sway on her feet.

Gaara whispered into her ear "Very impressive Lady Sakura. You have my interest. Be careful of me from now on."

Sakura looked at him confused. Pain clouded her mind. She needed an ice bath now. She knew she'd be a wreck once the adrenaline died down. Gaara pulled back and relinquished his grasp on her as Hinata came over. Sakura smiled at her.

"Lady Hinata how did I do?" Sakura frowned when she saw that Hinata was nearly in tears.

"Oh Sakura! If I had your courage… ," Hinata's voice was hard to hear over the chanting crowd "let's just get you to the baths and get a healer to give you a look over okay? We have to get you ready for the feast tonight." Sakura grimaced. She had totally forgotten about that. She'd be meeting the Queen for the first time and she'd be covered in bruises. How short sighted, she admonished herself inwardly.

Just as the ladies were about to head inside, she felt a firm hand grab her wrist. She followed the wrist up to a pair of intense Opal eyes. The look on his face sent chills to Sakura's fingertips and toes.

"I'll escort her to the bathhouse Lady Hinata. Can you summon two healers and let my father know that we will be arriving late to the feast? I would like to have a word with our lady." Neji wasn't really asking. Hinata saw the intensity of Neji's gaze and caught the fear in Sakura's. She was conflicted but she had to do what she was told. After all, he was the Prince.

"As you wish my lord," Hinata bowed and sprinted towards the castle, hoping that Sakura was with it enough to heed her warning.

Xxxxxx

Let me know what you think.

With love,

Kiba