Sakura whines as a knee is pressed into her back for leverage before the corset is pulled tight, robbing her of breath. Instantly she remembers the discomfort of wearing a too-tight corset, and frowns.
"Hinata, is this really necessary?"
"Sorry, Sakura. We'll be meeting with Nara-sama, I think it's best to follow tradition. One more deep breath, I'm going to tighten the corset one last time."
Hinata stifles a giggle as Sakura obliges, mumbling about how tradition will change when she becomes queen, because "Dressing up for men is so last century, shannaro!"
She swallows her nerves – Hinata has never once doubted Sakura, but she cannot say the same for the Forest Elves. As she laces up Sakura's corset with practiced ease, she can only pray that Nara Shikaku will consider their plea. She doesn't know what they will do if he denies them help, doesn't know what will become of their home and their future. The thought of their home causes tears to well up in the corners of her eyes – since they have been on the run, Hinata has tried her best to focus on what they need to do for their people, but no matter how much she distracts herself, the thought of her home always comes back with a vengeance, usually when she is left alone in the quiet of the night. She wonders if her father and sister are alive, wonders if Tenten is okay. Her nimble fingers tighten their grip on Sakura's corset strings.
Please, Kami-sama.
A knock on the door draws her from her thoughts, and Hinata hurries to the door.
"Shikamaru-san. Sasuke-san, Neji-nii, you're here to escort us?"
Even though it is Hinata who greets them, Sasuke's eyes automatically seek out pink in the background. When he catches sight of Sakura, he feels his heart skip a beat. He had not imagined to be greeted with this sight when he knocked on her door with the intentions of escorting her to Nara Shikaku's study. Her soft, ivory shoulders are exposed, and her pink hair tumbles down her back and over her shoulder in a mixture of intricate braids and loose curls. Her lips are slightly tinted red and her green eyes stand out even more under thick, dark lashes. Sasuke feels his gaze wonder over the periwinkle lace dress she is wearing, snapping his eyes back to her face when she clears her throat, cheeks flushed from his scrutiny. He ignores Neji's heavy gaze and Shikamaru's snort, and pretends he isn't dazed by this vision of her.
"Do I…do I look alright?"
Beautiful, he thinks, but only manages to dumbly nod. "Aa."
"Let's go, Sakura," Hinata says, brushing past him, and Sakura follows suit with an indignant squeak and flushed cheeks.
As they make their way to the study, Sasuke keeps a close eye on Sakura and the elf leading their way. Nara Shikamaru, he has come to learn, the sole heir to the throne, is comfortable being around Sakura. Their familiarity is evident in the way Shikamaru looks at her, eyes softening when she smiles – evident in the way Sakura doesn't shy away from him – evident in the way she radiates happiness from just talking to him. Something like irritation burns in Sasuke at the sight of Sakura stifling her giggles at something he's said in an attempt to keep decorum, swatting him playfully on the arm.
"Jealous, human?" Neji's quiet remark and the notable jeer in his tone immediately causes him to avert his attention elsewhere, and he scowls.
"If by jealous you mean sick of being in the company of elves, then yes, I'm jealous," Sasuke replies crisply.
"Why don't you take your leave then, if we're all so sickening?"
"Shut up, elf," Sasuke snarls, quickening his pace. The Hyuuga's presence has always irked him, and he tells himself that it's not because he hovers over Sakura like a protective mother hen.
Eventually, they arrive at the study, the two guards stationed outside the grand wooden doors bowing to Sakura before allowing them in. The study's walls and floor are made out of marble, and intricately woven tapestries adorn every corner of the room. All four walls of the room are lined with ornate shelves filled with neatly lined up scrolls and ancient books, and Sasuke finds himself wondering if Sakura had a study like this too. Shikaku immediately puts the book he has been reading away, and immediately stands to greet Sakura.
"Sakura-hime, I'm glad to see you've recovered well."
"I wouldn't be standing here if not for your help, Shikaku-sama. Thank you."
"Have a seat, please. I have no intentions of feigning ignorance to your visit."
Shikamaru takes a seat next to his father, not before squeezing Sakura's hand, and Sasuke takes his place behind her as she takes a seat across from the Nara leaders. Neji stands next to him, seemingly ignorant, but Sasuke has travelled with him long enough to see the hint of anxiety etched in his features.
So, even the elf worries.
"So you've met with Kabuto, then?" Sakura asks, voice calm and unwavering.
"Yes." Shikaku's face doesn't give any indication of what he is thinking. "I must admit I never saw this coming. I had always thought of him as one of your father's most loyal men."
Her expression darkens. "You and me both." Her blood boils at the thought of Kabuto – Sakura can still remember the first time she met him, a cold and frightened orphan, taking shelter from the rain outside the palace gates. She hasn't forgotten how her father fed and clothed and raised him to be more than he could ever be, hasn't forgotten how they grew up like siblings, and her hands clench into tight fists at the thought of his betrayal. One way or another, Kabuto will pay.
"Our army is strong – the strongest among the Elven. My people may have been loyal to my father, but Kabuto has always been their leader. They see him as one of them." She has never once entertained the thought of the Naras' dishonouring their alliance – the clans are bound by alliances, regardless of who their leaders are. But now, sitting in front of the oldest allies her people have, she finds herself doubting – the Naras' have always been excellent at foresight and strategic thinking, and it is illogical for them to aid her, especially when she has nothing to offer them.
"We have no intentions of abandoning you or your people, Sakura," Shikamaru says, sharing a look with his father. "The events that have unfolded have only shown us that Kabuto is not to be trusted. Turning against the very man who raised him for power is despicable, and he will have no doubt do the same to his allies if he has the means. It is in both our interests that we get rid of Kabuto. We will provide aid where necessary."
"That's a relief to hear," Sakura answers brightly, letting out a shaky breath she didn't know she was holding. Relief floods through her as Shikamaru sends her an encouraging smile and Shikaku's eyes crinkle. "You didn't think we'd start an alliance with that scum, did you?" he says, and Sakura's cheeks flush.
"Before all of this – I wouldn't have," she says, voice breaking a little. It still hurts to think of her father who is no doubt dead. "But Kabuto has taught me that trust and ties are too easily broken." She watches as they nod solemnly in agreement, and for a moment, everyone in the room is silent.
"Kabuto will pay for his crimes, Sakura."
…
The next couple of weeks pass by quietly. Naruto has been spending most of his time with Hinata, and Sasuke knows it is only a matter of time before they have little half-breeds running around. Sakura and Neji disappear constantly with the Naras, talking battle strategy and ploys in anticipation of what is to come, leaving Sasuke to occupy himself with training, and he tells himself that he doesn't miss her company. He doesn't doubt that Itachi would give him grief for allowing himself to be so easily affected by a woman, and for just a moment, his inner turmoil softens into something like longing.
He still remembers his days before Akatsuki with startling clarity – fishing at the lake with his father – his mother's gentle kisses on scraped knees – the warmth of his brother's back as he gave him piggy back rides – what he wouldn't give to have his family back. He hasn't outgrown thoughts of wishing he had died with them – the disease that swept through their town hadn't left much survivors, and he doesn't see the point of living when everyone he loves is gone – but Naruto's too-wide smiles and too-blue eyes ground him. They had both been found and brought into Akatsuki by Tobi, and from the moment they were introduced to each other, Sasuke had seen a reflection of his family in Naruto. They grew together, in the moments between breaths, in the silence that blanketed their souls when they thought of their families. They took care of each other, promising each other that they could survive whatever crazy shit storm that rattled through their bones.
The corners of Sasuke's lips lift into a smirk. He would rather die before admitting that Naruto is his brother.
As Sasuke swiftly goes through his kata, he can't help his thoughts from taking a turn – sky blue starts to give way to brilliant green eyes and shy smiles.
"Hey, stranger."
Sasuke's muscles tense, stopping his kata mid-action, and it takes more self-control than he would like to refrain himself from turning to face her.
"Sakura."
He takes in three deep breaths, trying to stop his treacherous heart from pounding with excitement. Sasuke tells himself that these little moments with her mean nothing more than spending time with a comrade.
"The meetings are over for today. I was thinking of taking a horse from the stable for a ride along the river. Did you…want to come?" Her request comes out as a whisper, nothing like the confident Sakura he is used to, and he turns to face her just in time to see her fingers tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, cheeks flushed beautifully. The way she bites on her lower lip in anticipation sends desire coursing through his veins.
"Aa."
"Is that a yes?" she asks brightly, face lighting up in such a way that sends tendrils of warmth down to his toes.
He doesn't respond with words, choosing instead to grab her wrist before leading the way to the stables. Sasuke doesn't pull away when she intertwines her fingers with his, nor can he stop the smile that's been fighting to dress his lips.
…
Sakura watches as he ties his horse to a tree by the river, hands absentmindedly finding purchase in her horse's mane. She stares into its soft brown eyes, and smiles when it whinnies in content.
"Sasuke-kun?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you…have you ever imagined a life outside all of this?" She feels his gaze on her then, and her cheeks flush at its intensity as she continues to run her fingers through her horse's mane.
"Aa. I'd…have a home to go back to. My mother would be preparing dinner and my father…he'd be boasting about his latest catch from the river just outside our house. Itachi, my brother – he'd steal the last piece of tomato just to spite me. I'd be a blacksmith, maybe. Itachi would be a chef. We'd live a simple life, but a fulfilling one." Sasuke's voice is quiet, filled with longing, and Sakura feels her heart ache for him.
She has heard stories of his past from Naruto, and wonders if she will ever be able to understand how it must feel. Unlike Sasuke and Naruto, Sakura has grown up with a family to go home to – and she cannot argue that the pain she feels from the loss of her father is far less than the pain of losing an entire family.
"That sounds lovely," she offers quietly. "I think of the future a lot. Ever since it dawned of me that I'd have to be queen."
"And what do you want your future to look like?"
Sakura thinks on this.
She has grown up with the customs and teachings of their people etched into her very being. She was raised to be the perfect trophy queen, to put her people before herself. But she has always known that she was destined for more. Has always craved to be more than just a queen. She hadn't known exactly what it was that she desired but now…
Her thoughts trail off as she stares at Sasuke. She drinks in his pale skin and handsome features as he sits under the tree, staring out at the tranquil river. Her body flushes warm as she thinks of his devilish smirks and inflated ego – and she knows that no matter what her future looks like, she wants him to be a part of it.