Icewater

Chapter 19: The Hunt Begins

Disclaimer: Derp.

Thank you, Penguin. I love you, too. Sorry. :(

Dedicated to Whizzbangangel. :) Lookie, lookie, a summary-thus-far paragraph! XD

Thanks for reading! Enjoy!

**For mobile device, switch to desktop view. Mobile format likes to pretend everything's in bold.**

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

After numerous complaints of confusion/difficulty remembering everything that's happened thus far, I have decided to include a summary of what's happened. I'll try to do that for each chapter. But, if i forget, oh well XD (I'll try not to forget!)

Summary-thus-far:

Sakura, Princess of Oceanica, is an adventurous, curious young mermaid. Her Arctician Mother was killed when she was young. After her Father is murdered by what appears to be a servant of Orochimaru, she and Naruto, Prince of Atlantica, flee to the Outwaters, the dreary borderlands between underwater kingdoms. There, they come across the Ice Ridges. At night, Sakura sees exploding stars and, after surfacing to investigate, sees Sasuke, the human Prince of Konoha. She flees, but in the morning brings Naruto to see Sasuke's ship. The ship crashes in the Ice Ridges, and Sakura and Naruto help lead the sailors and the Prince back to land. Sakura discovers that she cannot speak above-water. She also realizes that her deceased Mother fell in love with a previous ruler of Konoha; mortified, she goes to the Sea Witch Chiyo, the last surviving Arctician, and trades her pink hair for legs in order to enact revenge. After spending time in Konoha, Sakura falls in love with the Prince, Sasuke. Chiyo warns Sakura not to trust a man named Madara. Meanwhile, Naruto also trades his fins for legs, and saves the Hyuuga Princess Hinata from bandits. Later, however, his Inner Demon takes over when he fights off the man who killed Sakura's father. During this battle, Hinata is wounded. Horrified by his Demon form, the Hyuuga chase him off into the ocean, and he is unsuccessful at bringing Sakura back. Gaara is killed by Orochimaru's forces in Pacifica, but Chiyo gives her life to restore his; she also extends Sakura's time as a human by four days, and redirects Sakura's lineage through her Atlantican side instead of her Arctician so she can gain a Siren voice (above-water voice). Queen Kushina of Atlantica prepares for battle against Orochimaru, who has taken control of Oceanica. Sakura discovers the King of Konoha is Madara, and that he is neither Sasuke's nor Itachi's real Father. The servant assigned to wait on Sakura, Ino, becomes aware of Sakura's true identity; together, she and Sakura learn that merfolk and humans share the same ancestors. Sakura is summoned to sign a document for King Madara, but Sakura does not know how to use paper and ink, and instead flings it to the ground in opposition. Still, Madara has guards placed on the tower opposite her room to keep watch over her. Sasuke also has a connection to Orochimaru, and an old acquaintance Karin claims he should return to "Taka." Sakura wonders just what kind of mess she's gotten herself into as the clock ticks; she has less than three days before she reverts to mermaid form.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Sasuke knocked on the door.

There was no response.

Frowning, he reached forward and tried to turn the handle.

It was wide open; the knob turning willingly, and he pushed the door as his frown deepened to a scowl.

She's too trusting, he thought. Then, after another moment, So am I, letting her in with no questions asked. Of course, she couldn't answer in any case, but even so, he should have tried to glean more information out of her than he'd received.

But she reminded him of the mermaid. Different hair, same eyes. It made him wonder.

She'd been here for four days, and he knew about as much as he had the first day he'd found her splashing in the waves, for all the world looking as frail as the piece of driftwood she'd pointed to. It was becoming increasingly dangerous, for the both of them. For some reason, Orochimaru wanted him to abandon the girl to drown in the ocean, and that MAN - Sasuke wouldn't desecrate his real Father's memory, even though Itachi might - also had his eye on the girl, for whatever reason.

The door swung closed behind him. Black hair was brushed out of his face by his right hand, black eyes trained towards the window. The curtains were deceivingly elaborate, with intricate designing that would cost a fortune, but was only noticeable upon close inspection; at a first glance, they appeared simple, a mere touch of elegance rather than extravagance.

Just like everything else within the castle walls. Hidden meaning within hidden meaning.

At least she knows to keep the curtains closed, he thought.

A quick glance around the bed chambers proved that the girl was not there.

Huffing, he turned on his heel to look over the room a second time, his cape swirling behind him in his quick movements, brown boots. He walked around, inspecting what he could, but found nothing suspicious.

It wasn't until he (after the briefest of hesitations) lifted her pillow that he found anything of remote interest.

A book was tucked away underneath, an old thing that he deduced belonged to the old library by the gardens. It was dog-eared (no doubt by either the girl or her current handmaiden) to an old Konoha fable. He skimmed it, and as it sunk in his scowl only deepened.

Why is she researching the Kyuubi demon? he asked himself. He had no answer, and the girl couldn't give him a verbal one. He re-read the story carefully; Neji Hyuuga's words ghosted through his mind.

"The only thing I could think at the time was that the Legendary Kyuubi had risen out of the oceans to kill us all."

And it dawned on him.

She knows.

He put the book down, covered it again, and exited the room swiftly.

For some reason, he was furious.

He knew his eyes were a swirling red, but he didn't care.

What did she have to do with it?

He had no answer, and it only fueled his rage.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Sakura and Ino were stunned when the library doors slammed open. They were even more surprised to see that it was Prince Sasuke, glowering, eyes flashing red, who had opened them.

Before Sakura had a chance to react, he had slammed the doors shut behind him again and practically flew across the room to her. He towered over her as he snatched her wrist, yanking her up from her comfortable sitting position into a halfway-standing, halfway-kneeling one. The small stack of papers she had been sifting through slid from her gown and flopped to the ground.

"P-Prince Sasuke-" Ino tried to interject, but he silenced her with a glare.

"You knew." His words were laced with some unspoken threat, and Sakura felt herself go cold, in spite of her better judgement.

She did not answer. She didn't know what the question was.

His next words were directed at Ino, but his eyes never left Sakura's.

"You BOTH knew."

It was only a fraction of a moment's hesitation on her part, but it was enough - he roughly pulled Sakura to a completely upright position, and began dragging her away. She sent a perplexed look to Ino, who followed behind. Sakura had no doubt her friend was probably as confused as she was, but the blonde hid it well: she stuck her chin up just a tad higher than usual and walked with a straight back, taking long, purposeful strides, easily keeping up with Sasuke's hurried pace.

"Where are we going?" Ino asked.

Sasuke did not answer immediately. Sakura realized he must have felt her pulse quickening because of their breakneck pace (partially because of it, anyway), and he slowed down slightly.

"The Forest."

Ino nodded.

"That's probably for the best." She shot Sakura a meaningful look.

Sakura understood.

He knows.

Don't jump to conclusions! snapped Inner.

Why else wou-

Has he called you Sakura?asked her Inner self. Unless he shows that he knows for certain, he doesn't know.

After a moments thought, Sakura agreed with her Inner. She caught Ino's eye as they neared the tree Sasuke and she had clambered over nights ago.

Had it been a night ago? Or two, or three? She couldn't recall. Yes, it had to have been the night before; how else could she remember it so vividly? But she couldn't be certain. Time passed in a blur in Konoha. Whereas in the ocean, days were measured by the Sun's position, the existence of fire above-water allowed for waking hours to be elongated, eradicated, even. Sakura had no idea that time could become so skewed when the world had so much more meaning - and so much more danger.

She presently realized they were nearing the forest. Quietly, inconspicuously, they slipped between the old trees, padded across crinkling leaves and moist forest dirt, until the foliage completely hid them from the outside world, enclosing them in such a way that even the sky was blocked from view; patches of sunlight dotted the ground, like pearls in a dark cave.

They continued until they reached - as she had suspected - the waterfall. It was only when they stood near the rapids (which were more like a bubbling brook compared to some underwater currents Sakura had navigated) that Sasuke released her hand. He wheeled around, took two steps back from them, crossed his arms, and spoke.

"You know Princess Sakura."

Both she and Ino tensed, despite themselves.

"I also know my Father wants something from you." He directed this at Sakura. "I don't know what. But I know why he wants to get rid of you." His eyes turned to Ino. "And you. You know too much."

Ino moved to speak, but Sasuke continued.

"The merman is the Kyuubi demon. He was the one involved in the Hyuuga incident."

Sakura felt her blood freeze over. It was all she could do to keep her hands from nervously reaching up to play with her headdress.

She couldn't afford to let Sasuke see her. Not yet. Not yet.

"Kyuubi?" Ino was a fluid liar.

But Sakura realized it as soon as it happened.

Sasuke's eyes flashed red, and Ino's "perplexed" (and slightly fearful) expression slipped for a moment.

Sakura saw pure, unbridled panic. It was quickly masked, but too late.

Sasuke had seen it just as she had.

"You're not the only liar, Ino." He turned his red gaze on Sakura. "But this one can't speak."

Were his eyes spinning? Sakura looked away.

"Or can you?"

She didn't flinch. She met his gaze again, this time unwaveringly. His eyes were spinning. She was sure of it.

I can't, she supplied mentally. I alone could never speak. My Mother saw to that. The voice I have is a gift from a sea witch.

A half-truth, in a way, but a truth nonetheless. If she could convince herself of it, she might be able to convince Sasuke of it.

Believe it, her Inner said. Believe it!

Sakura forced herself to ignore her surroundings as they began to spin; she let her mind run away with the idea that her voice was not her own - that she had no voice, or none that could be used above water.

I believe those words, she thought fiercely. I believe those words!

After what felt like an eternity, his eyes died down to cool black.

Relief courses through her. She was wobbly on her feet; but Sasuke stepped forward and reached out, steadying her while he held her shoulders. Despite that he'd just made her world spin, his touch comforted her. His hands were not as cold as he was acting.

He was only doing his duty as a Prince: trying to determine if she posed a threat to his kingdom. She respected that.

"The Hyuuga's are suspicious. If they managed to figure it out, so did the King."

Again, venom words directed at the King. Madara. His name was almost like a poison itself, the way it dripped off the tongue when spoken, like death poured from a vial. Even in thinking it, she could not suppress a shudder. Sakura closed her eyes, blissfully allowing herself a moment to readjust to the solid, no-longer-whirling-red world. She breathed in before taking in the sight of Sasuke, arms unconsciously drawing her closer to him, turning his attention from glaring at herself to glaring at Ino.

"He's dangerous. He will kill you if he thinks it will bring him greater power." Sakura nearly flinched at the words.

Just like Orochimaru, then, she thought. He killed both my parents to advance himself. The thought alarmed her. Killed to advance... Greater power... Not his real F-

"I know you know something I don't." He released her, watched her for a moment to make sure she was steady on her feet; then he turned around. "But don't think it doesn't go both ways."

He disappeared into the shadows of the forest without so much as a glance over his shoulder.

Sakura felt her lip tremble. Her last train of thought was forgotten in the new realization that plagued her.

He doesn't trust me.

Well, what did you expect? her Inner quipped. Trust is either mutual, or nonexistent. He's too cautious to be blind about that. So are we, for that matter.

Still, Sakura couldn't shake the slight pang she'd felt when he'd spoken those words.

If only I had spoken, she lamented. Maybe then... Maybe then-

No more doubts, interrupted her Inner. If Sasuke knew, Madara could figure it out. We don't know if those eyes can turn against each other, but its best to assume they can. Now is not the time to be speaking our secrets aloud. Even to Sasuke.

Sakura silently agreed.

"Let's go back," Ino said, interjecting into Sakura's internal conversation. "Walking into the forest is suspicious. Staying for too long is even moreso."

Sakura nodded, unintentionally smoothing the veil on her head; they hurried back.

In order to avoid being seen, they climbed over the tree Sasuke had shown her when they had snuck outside to see the waterfall. As soon as they got there, they noticed a change. Hyuuga's were swarming about like bees, purposeful steps taking them hither and thither throughout the castle; the chefs in the kitchens were busy, Ino noted after swiping rolls for them to eat; and servants were rushing to and fro, hurrying about attending to duties and requests.

"What's going on?" Ino called out to a friend. Sakura recognized him as the sailor with the spiky ponytail. His intelligent eyes found hers. They were so piercing, and Sakura felt as though he knew, despite the veil, who she was, why she was here. She was the first to look away, focusing on the back of Ino's blonde head instead.

"Ugh..." The boy groaned. Although he held a long roll of parchment, he held it carelessly; it was rumpled already from mishandling, and when he again spoke, he let it fall from his hands altogether. "Stuff."

Ino placed her hands on her hips.

"Shikamaru," she said reprimandingly. "Pick up the scroll and tell me whats going on."

He let out a great sigh before doing as instructed. He did not glance down at the parchment to see if it had been dirtied.

"Fine," he mumbled. "The Hyuuga girl's up."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Battle.

Bloody, vicious, deadly.

And Kushina, fighting all alone, against a deadly snake.

Minato struggled in vain against his bonds. The chains bound him roughly in place. He was hungry, and deprived of water. His skin was as parched as his lips. The cold of the glaciers seeped into the room - dungeon, really - he was being held in.

He had been captured, but not killed. Not yet.

He didn't know Orochimaru's reasons. He had been brought before the man, bound in the same chains he wore now, in the ruins of the kingdom of Arcticia. The glacier structures were abandoned still; the palace was still damaged from Orochimaru's assault. It was as if the snake wanted to preserve the sick memory of the destruction he had singlehandedly created. But even so, the grandeur and majesty of the once-flourishing kingdom was still ever-present, from the way the clear crystal palace walls shone to the whispers of magic that constantly hummed through the walls and floors and ceilings. It was a cold, terrible, beautiful place, a glorious and haunting memory of the past.

Minato had visited Arcticia once as a child. He remembered it well: the high, crystal towers and buildings, the vibrant panes they called windows allowing sunlight to filter through in dazzling colors and designs, the glare of moonlight reflecting off of the icy glacier encasing around the palace. He had been astounded that magic had been able to carve the bottom of the glacier into the protective, seemingly impenetrable dome surrounding the palace, acting as its walls. The Queen and King were gracious and pleasant, and a tad headstrong, and intellectuals who indulged all.

It was a month later that it lay in ruins.

The sound of ice grating against ice brought his attention to the present. Slowly, a figure came down towards him, slithering and lightning fast.

"Why, hello, King of Atlantica," hissed the figure. His tongue licked his dark lips, eyes yellow, skin impossibly pale and sunken in.

"Orochimaru," Minato replied. He infused the name with disgust.

Orochimaru noticed. His grin grew wider.

"Tsk, Tsk," he clicked, swimming closer to the bound merman. Minato held his chin high. Despite his imprisonment, he knew who the better man was. "I'm not here to quarrel. I just want answers."

Minato's unwavering blue gaze met Orochimaru's amused yellow one.

"I know nothing that I would deem worthy enough for your ears."

Orochimaru shrugged his shoulders.

"Then perhaps I should indulge you more." Orochimaru approached Minato and ran his finger almost lovingly along the chains binding him. "You see, the other day, the Prince we captured a few days ago - the Pacifican one - died."

Minato felt his heart sink. Gaara had been a young but incredibly wise and capable Prince; ruling with his siblings at his side, Minato had hoped that both his and Gaara's kingdoms would one day share strong bonds, along with Oceanica, because of Naruto's relationships with Gaara and Sakura.

But now, it seemed, that would be impossible.

"You killed him." He simply stated the truth; Orochimaru had sugar-coated it, but it was pretty obvious to him.

Orochimaru grinned, teeth an unnatural white against his dreary pale skin, reflecting the eery colors of the Arctician crystals.

"But two days ago, his body vanished." He waved his hand in front of him, and Minato recognized sorcery; Orochimaru summoned what appeared to be a white seaweed scroll, and read from it.

"To all parties concerned, an alliance has been formed between all underwater nations to seek and destroy the unright King of Oceanica." Orochimaru glanced up at Minato. "Do you know of this?"

He hadn't heard of it before, but he did not answer; Orochimaru did not deserve an answer.

The snake-like merman continued to read.

"In addition, human aid in this process has been approved." Orochimaru snapped the scroll closed, snapped his fingers, and it was gone in a poof of smoke. "Tell me what you know of this," Orochimaru repeated.

Minato glared at him in response.

The snake smirked, laughed, and raised his index finger. It glowed a deep green, then darkened to dull gray.

Minato steeled himself.

"Then that means this was created by your son and Tsunade's spawn," Orochimaru said, "And that silly human king plans on taking advantage of their naiivety to take control of the oceans." Orochimaru swirled his finger in the water around him; the gray glow picked up bubbles and slowly gained circular trails from its movement. "He doesn't care who he kills. As soon as those hunters reach a Merfolk land, they'll destroy it." He grinned. "How suitable, that Sakura should seal the same fate for all underwater kingdoms as her Mother did Arcticia's."

And the snake touched the swirling glow to Minato's chains.

"But I bet I can do it faster than any of them. Let's see how long Atlantica's forces can hold me off."

The trails erupted into streaks of power, cutting through the water and bouncing of the crystals to slice at Minato; the chains burned, and the heat from the glow had nowhere to go but to Minato's bound limbs.

All he could do was writhe and think of his son and wife.

And hope they would fare better than he.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

A/N: Simon Carrington is amazing. Just saying.

On a side note, I feel obliged to tell you all that my and Penguin's senior recital went on stupenderifically. I messed up twice, but who cares? Only me. Exactly! Thanks, all, for your support! I'm glad you all enjoy the story!

On another side note, isn't it fantastic to start off Spring Break with terrible sickness? Oh, woe is me. Alas, 'tis life. I hope you all have a wonderful Spring Break, too!

And I know I said we'd find out about the boat, but then I realized I'd skipped over this little Minato scene, which is actually kinda (very) important. So. Yeah. Next time.

Sakura's only got two days left once the sun sets! Le ghasp! What could possibly transpire during 48 hours?

Everything else left to this story.

And guys, I am conflicted. I got into a really good music program (one of the best in the States) but I for no scholarship. I have a small voice, though, so I know for a fact I won't make it farther than undergraduate, even if I tried. My point is, should I bother? Or should I switch my major to Psychology? I've also always hoped to become a doctor until last year, when I began wondering if I wanted to pursue music. So. Gimme your opinion, folks. (And no, this is in no way a ploy to make you guys review. I wouldn't do that. Honest.)

So anywho...

See ya next time! Review and watch, please!