SASUSAKU ROYALTY FICTION

RATED M for mature themes.

CHAPTER ONE

The night is cloaked with darkness, pierced by the occasional flashes of lightning that streaks across the sky. Thunder rumbles ominously as if aware of the impending clash between the two figures standing by a cliff. Rain pours down relentlessly, drenching them.

Sakura, stands, not too far from the cliff, her strawberry hair clings to her face. Her emerald eyes glint with a mix of determination and vulnerability as she clutches a sword tightly in her trembling hand.

She peers at the man ahead of her, drenched but unfazed. His hands raised mockingly in surrender. His dark eyes boring into Sakura's with a sly glint, and a faint smirk plays on his handsome face. ''Wow,'' he quips, his voice carrying over the sound of the rain. ''What a delightful surprise to see you here, Princess.'' His words seem to drip with sarcasm.

Sakura's jaw tightens as points her sword at him, still maintaining a distance. Her eyes never leave him. ''Save your pleasantries,'' she retorts, her voice firm, though it betrays a shiver when she speaks. ''I'm here by the king's order and I'm sure you know why.''

The man chuckles, seemingly undisturbed by the gravity of the situation. ''Kill me?'' He muses. He takes a step closer, and Sakura's grip on her sword tightens. He notices, his lips curling up in a smile. ''Now, why would you want to do that?''

The princess lifts her chin, the movement causing her to lose strands of her wet hair. ''You were involved in treason against the crown and you've been on the run for years,'' she answers, her voice steady. ''And for that, you are hereby sentenced to death.''

''And this is how the crown decides to punish me, huh?'' He sneers. ''By sending their beloved princess to do their dirty work?''

Sakura flinches. ''You brought this on yourself.''

''Indeed I did,'' He answers, amused.

''So are you prepared to die then?'' Sakura asks with a challenging brow.

The question renders him silent for a second, and a small glint appears in his narrowed eyes. ''Do you remember though, princess? The nights you and I spent together?''

Sakura fights to keep her face impassive, but inside, her heart clenches, and her stomach knots. Her body betrays her. Of course, she can remember everything. She can remember his touch, the way he'd held her in his arms, the way he'd kissed her. The words he whispered into her ear every night like a lullaby. The promises he made.

The vivid memories surges. She closes her eyes and for a minute, she's in a king-sized bed, with a warm body claiming her on it. Her feet and fingers curl into the silken red sheets as deep dark eyes gaze down at her.

''Do you like that, your highness?'' He mumurs by her ear as he makes a slow and steady movement into her hips. Intertwining his fingers with hers.

Her soft, sharp moan as a reply plays in her ears and Sakura inhales deeply, opening her eyes. Bringing herself back to the present. She had indeed shared passionate nights with the man in front of her despite knowing who he was. A lone rogue. A murderer. A thief. One who stole her heart countless times. Hiding from the prying eyes of the kingdom. Sending secret letters and meeting up in hideouts only they knew about. He had been her forbidden fruit, and she had fallen for him, hook, line, and sinker.

Believing everything he did and every word he said.

Like a fool.

''Do you?'' His voice cuts through her thoughts as he takes another step forward, rain dripping from his tousled dark hair.

''You speak of a past that no longer exists.'' She says, eyes narrowing. Behind her, five guards stand, vigilant and ready to pounce at her command. Their swords were raised and their faces stern. ''Your actions have consequences and you must face them.''

''That's too bad. I was hoping we could reminisce a little.'' Sakura catches his face and for a split second, her heart drops in regret. She's almost tempted. To drop everything and turn back. To reach out to him, and comfort him, and tell him to run. To escape. Leave everything behind and start anew. But the words stay stuck in her throat. ''Very well,'' he proclaims, walking forward hurriedly. Sakura barely has the time to react when his arms suddenly wrapped around her and a dagger is pressed against her throat. Her eyes move to him, and her heart races wildly, as blood roars in her ears. The guards are shouting and her senses are on overdrive. ''One more step,'' he orders them, ''and the princess will pay the price.''

She wants to believe that he's bluffing. But his words hold no ounce of deceit.

He will do it.

The guards freeze, their eyes wide. Sakura can almost hear their panicked breathing. She can see the fear and the confusion in their eyes. They're uncertain about what to do. Sakura is as well. In this situation that she hadn't prepared herself for.

Her fingers tightened on the hilt of her sword. She could swing her sword and cut his throat. With just one move, she knew she could. But she can't. Because she doesn't want to. Her feelings at the moment are a mess and her heart, torn between her duty as the princess and her undeniable connection towards the man holding her.

His face is inches from hers, raindrops clinging to his eyelashes as he says, ''I'm serious. One more step and the princess dies." He says again when the guards move cautiously towards them.

''Princess, please give your orders!''

Sakura closes her eyes, taking a deep breath.

''Orders, Your Highness!''

Her eyes snap open, meeting his dark gaze, searching for an answer, for a glimmer of the man she once knew. The sword in her hand wavers, and she feels the weight of all eyes on her, hoping for a decision that will end everything.

But they are unaware of the turmoil inside her. Unaware of their biggest defeat.

What had she been thinking when she agreed to do this? She had volunteered herself without thinking of the consequences. Because she was hurt and angry.

Hurt by the man who held her. By the man who had broken his promise and left her.

And angry because, even after three long years, she realized that she still loved him.

She loved him so much, it hurt to hear when the king had ordered his sentence. She couldn't bear to let someone else take his life and so she went instead.

What a stupid mistake to think that she would be able to kill him herself. When she had not healed from the heartache he'd left her. Not even close.

With a heavy heart, Sakura releases her grip on her sword, letting it fall to the ground, its hilt gleaming faintly in the dim moonlight. Tears well up her eyes, mixing with the rain, and streams down her face. She feels more suffocated than ever before and she wonders if this is how it feels to teeter on the brink of death.

''Do what you must,'' she says, her voice barely audible over the rain.

The man's eyes go wide, and his grip on the dagger almost loosens.

Almost.

Then he leans down to whisper into her ear. ''I'm sorry. But I need you to trust me this once, Sakura.''

Something inside her shatters as she hears her name fall from his lips. He takes a step back, moving towards the edge of the cliff and Sakura nods stiffly, coming to terms with his decision. The dark and tumultuous waters below churns like a savage beast awaiting its prey. Sakura's breath catches in her throat as she hears the loud crashing sounds.

''Your Highness!'' One of the guards steps forward, concern etched on his face.

''Stay back!'' Sakura yells. The guard freezes, his gaze flickering from Sakura to the man holding her and then back to her. ''Report back to the king and tell him that the mission was successfully carried out. And that I--'' she pauses, the words constricting in her throat.

''Your Highness, we would never leave you behind--''

''Do as I say!'' Tears flow freely, blurring her vision. ''Do as I say, please.'' She repeats bitterly. ''Let it be known that I killed Uchiha Sasuke, the crown's traitor and that I died alongside with him.''

Behind her, she feels Sasuke react with a subtle jolt and she looks up at him. For a fleeting moment, she could have sworn she sees the slightest hint of a smile on his face, but when she blinks, its gone.

The guard hesitates, doubt and uncertainty clouding his eyes. Then, reluctantly, he takes a step backward, only to move forward again.

''I said—''

A sudden gust of wind howls, causing the rain to pelt harder. Sakura gasps, as the force causes the two of them to stumble backwards. It's a few seconds, but she registers the small fear in Sasuke's eyes as they fall off the cliff, the shouts of the guards reverberating in the air.

Her heart is in her mouth as she falls. Her body is weightless, floating, and free. She could swear that for a brief second, she sees stars. Then, she feels Sasuke's hand wrap around hers and pulls her close.

''Stay close to me,'' he says. ''Don't you dare let go.''

She wraps her arms around him and buries her face into his chest. She's scared, so scared but his embrace is comforting and warm, despite the cold weather.

They hit the water hard, and everything goes blank.

Hello! I hope you enjoyed reading this.

It was meant to be a one shot but it's turning out longer than I'd expected, haha. So I broke it into three parts. The next part will be a bit longer as it will be on Sasuke's and Sakura story three years ago, and the last part will be on the present. After both of them jumped into the water.

I've had this idea for a while and I would love to know what you think of the first chapter.

Reviews, follows and favorites are very much appreciated! Thank you for reading. See you soon with the next chapter.