Icewater

Chapter 9: The Dead of Night

Disclaimer: See ch. 5.

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It was the knock at the door that startled her initially.

Sakura's eyes shot open; she sat up, stunned silent, as someone rapped at her door yet again, impatiently. It was pitch-black in her room, aside from a few rays of light peeking out from under the curtains. She shuffled out of bed, throwing the curtains open to let silver moonlight seep in.

Who would wake me up at near midnight? she thought incredulously. Ridiculous! No one should disturb a Princess while she sleeps!

She angrily shuffled to the door and pulled it open.

"What do you wa-" The air slipping out of her mouth cut off as the second surprise of the night stated back at her with his black eyes.

"Sasuke," she breathed. He seemed to hear her say his name, although she had produced no sound, for he tilted his head in acknowledgement of her words (or, more precisely, the singular word).

"Hey," he said by way of greeting, smirking at her. She tried not to roll her eyes, putting a playful pout on her lips. "Aww, sorry," he teased, "Did I bother you?" Before she would have been able to reply, he continued, "Too bad."

She blinked at him, then grinned. He returned it with one of equal enthusiasm, although his smile did not stretch as far as hers.

He entered her room, looking quickly around before spotting a cape hanging in her wardrobe. He grabbed it, flinging it over her head.

"Come on, follow me," he said, taking her hand. "It gets chilly in Konoha at night," he added upon seeing her questioning glance. She noted he was wearing the coat he had given her the day he had found her on the beach - had that really been just the night before?

It seems like it's been forever, she thought. Even longer since I first saw him. She looked at his back as he steered her this way and that, shoe-covered feet pounding into the floor as they ran through the corridors and bounded down stairwells.

At long last, they stopped at the gate, the one she had become familiar with already. It was of metal (as most protective things were here, she was learning).

Sasuke drew his hood and pulled some strands of her hair down to shield her face.

"Don't look up," he advised her. "We won't be able to leave if they recognize either of us." Then he hunched over, slipping his arm into hers, and walked towards the guards on duty standing by the gate.

"Good evening," he called out in an un-Sasuke-like voice; Sakura felt like laughing. He would make an awful tenor, she thought.

"Good evening, sir," they replied. They looked the two over. "Where do you intend on taking your lady?" they asked. Sasuke laughed, throwing his arm around her shoulder and pulling her close; she decided to put her hand on his chest for good measure.

"My wife and I are gonna go party in town," he said. Sakura nodded, keeping her eyes to the ground.

"Very well, sir," one said.

"I don't blame ya," said the other. "Tonight's sure to be a great night! Why, if I weren't on duty..." He began rambling on as the other opened the gate. Sasuke and Sakura left.

As soon as they were out of sight, Sasuke lowered his arm.

"Sorry about that," he said. Sakura shook her head, showing that she didn't mind. He smirked at her. "I bet that you liked that, huh?" he teased. Sakura frowned playfully, swatting his hand away and scrubbing her nose up at him, shaking her head.

"Oh, so I'm that repulsive?" He laughed when she nodded fervently. "Well, you're not."

Sakura smiled, flipping her hair over her shoulder vainly.

Of course I'm not, she thought smugly. Sasuke seemed to get the message, chuckling and shaking his head.

"So over-confident," he said. They walked like this for a time, teasing and joking, until the lights of the village came into view. Sakura was surprised; it was practically midnight, and yet so many people were still awake and bustling!

Sasuke saw the look on her face.

"Tonight's special," he said. "They're celebrating the successful treaty." Sakura's green eyes filled with recognition as she recalled his words two nights ago:

"You all know the Treaty the Uchiha made with the Hyuga and Inuzuka has been going sour." A great murmur went through the men, and the boy continued. "It has been resolved!"

Sasuke led Sakura through the crowds, keeping his hood up. They walked through the crowded marketplace that smelled of deliciously cooked and baked goods; stalls were set up selling little charms and sweets. Sasuke stopped and bought Sakura a bracelet.

"For you," he said, handing it to her. She smiled, putting it on. She was about to admire it, but then Sasuke took her hand again, and she was pulled once more into the flood of people, the throngs of legs bustling to and fro. Sasuke led her, dragging her this way and that until finally they were standing on the roof of a tall building, among others who were also waiting atop it for something.

She tugged Sasuke's sleeve, and he looked down at her.

She motioned at them and the rooftop. What gives? she asked him like this. What are we doing up here?

He grinned, touching his index finger to her unmoving, silent lips. Both of their hearts raced as they felt something akin to electricity jolt through them at the contact. Sasuke regained his senses first.

"You'll see," he whispered.

Sakura, bewildered, nodded.

What was that? she asked herself. That couldn't have possibly been...?

She didn't finish her thoughts as Sasuke squeezed her hand and pointed with his other.

BOOM!

An exploding star lit the sky, falling and fading; another took its place. Sakura stared, wide-eyed and utterly excited.

This is what it must have looked like on the ship, a little, she thought. This is what it must have felt like seeing the shooting stars beside Sasuke on the boat two nights ago.

She squeezed his hand back as one thought flashed through her mind; it startled her, yet at the same time, it did not surprise her one bit.

I can't go through with this, she thought. I can't hurt him.

She looked at his eyes, seeing the shooting stars reflecting in them.

I can't break his heart. Because I would break mine, too, if I did.

She closed her eyes, listening to the sounds of breathing and stars shooting up and dying into nothingness.

It's too late not to fall into the trap, she thought. I've already fallen into it.

And the more she moved, the more she struggled to be free, she would fall even deeper.

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The moon was beginning its descent in the sky. Sasuke and Sakura were beginning to walk back to the castle.

"You know," he said, "We really shouldn't be out here. Especially not together."

The girl paused in her walking. Her green eyes lit with curiosity.

Sasuke sighed.

"My Father doesn't approve of me running around with a commoner like you," he explained. The girl's eyes twinkled in amusement, as if questioning his placing her in middle-class. "He doesn't believe in... friendships outside of royalty."

Whoops, that was close. He had almost said marriages. It was true in either case, but Sasuke cringed inside. Why did THAT one pop into my head? he thought, alarmed. Of all the things... He cleared his mind.

"He ordered the guards to not let us leave together," he told her. Her eyes shined with understanding. "He doesn't mean to seem rude to you," he hastened to say.

She raised an eyebrow.

"Er... Well... Oh, you know what I mean."

She nodded, understanding alighting upon her features.

"But anyways..." Sasuke was rambling now, and he knew it. He hurried his mind to think of something to say. "The moonlight brings your eyes out."

He slapped his head.

WHAT did I just say? he mentally screamed at himself. Please not that, PLEASE NOT...!

The girl's mouth formed a startled "o," a blush blooming on her cheeks as her eyes widened.

He groaned. Darnit, he thought, I did say that...

"Uh, that's not what I meant to say..." he mumbled, then cleared his throat. "So," he said, trying his best to maintain a somewhat dignified air. "Shall we sneak out again tomorrow?"

The girl blinked at him, and then a grin broke out on her face. She nodded exuberantly.

Sasuke smirked at her and took her hand as they neared the gates.

"Same act tomorrow night, then," he said, drawing the hood back over his head.

Her green eyes glittered at him, the moon shining back at him in them.

Yes, he thought, feeling her hand in his. Same act tomorrow night.

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Sakura was about to fall asleep again. Sasuke had safely delivered her to her room, and she had carefully placed the cape back in the wardrobe.

Exhaustion was threatening to overcome her as she laid her head down on her pillow.

I'm sure to dream of stars tonight, she thought lazily. Maybe Sasuke will be in them, too, watching them with me like he did earlier...

She closed her eyes.

A roaring snapped the back open. She sprung out of bed, fearful eyes locking onto the fireplace.

It was burning a vibrant green.

Chiyo's face appeared in it.

"Sakura," she said. "Time is of the essence. Listen well."

"Ch-Chiyo...?" Sakura muttered; the return of her voice startled her.

"In two days time - since today is over, my dear - I will die. Do not interrupt me, girl, I am not FINISHED! In three days time, your hair color will return to you. I am working on preparing a spell that will restore your Siren voice- your above-water voice - to you."

"B-But my legs-" began Sakura.

"Should Naruto Uzumaki find you in two days, you will revert back to a mermaid," Chiyo said. Sakura gasped.

"Naruto..." she breathed. "He's...?"

"The boy is searching for you on foot, yes," replied Chiyo. "If he fails, you will have four more days."

"But..." Sakura's voice cracked. "I can't do it," she said. "I can't break Sasuke's heart..."

Chiyo waved a hand at her; it sprang to life, crackling in the flames.

"I'm sure you will have a new goal within a matter of days," she said dismissively. "That is not important right now. This is about your kingdom."

Sakura's eyes looked at Chiyo's through the flames.

"What?" she asked.

"Orochimaru intends on taking over the ocean," she said, "But there is another who plans on conquering it as well."

Sakura's brow furrowed.

"What...?" she asked.

"I know little more than you," admitted Chiyo. "I only know that he has already taken the land; he will not wait long before he guns for the sea. Be careful, Princess; he may seek it out through you."

"WHO?" asked Sakura.

"His name is-"

The flames died. Sakura yelled as red ones took their place. She looked into blood-red eyes.

"Sleep, mermaid," rumbled a deep voice. "I have no interest in you; you are no longer linked to your country, in any case." The red eyes narrowed. "You are free to stay," said the man, "But when your time is up, do not return."

The flames flickered out of existence, leaving a small stream of smoke in their wake that quickly dissipated into the air of Sakura's room.

Slowly, Sakura rested her head back on her pillow.

What...?

She did not bother finishing her thought. She was too tired to put the pieces together tonight; they could wait.

She fell asleep, but did not dream of Sasuke or stars.

She dreamed of Oceanica burning in crimson flames, eyes of a matching red searing it to ash while she wailed helplessly in her piercing Siren voice.

The bracelet, which she still had yet to observe, stayed on her wrist that night.

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AN: Lungs-chan, your insight is amazing. But I'm not going to reveal which couple is going to suffer from the prophecy :P

As for the rest of you, I expect more reviews! I need to know if my writing is still confusing anyone - please let me know! And also, I just want to know you enjoyed the chapter, so please review! Thanks!