"My Lady, if you'd please follow me." Sakura obeyed her handmaid, a tall blond named Ino, wordlessly.

If the Haruno woman was defeated upon her arrival at the Uchiha prince's manor, she was obliterated beyond repair when he made it clear she was not going to become his wife or be killed. As twisted and toxic as the thought may be, the pinkette couldn't see herself as worthy of living a life outside the orders of what her family demanded. Either she'll die or marry the prince. There were no other options.

This task was all she was good for. Years upon years of abuse and neglect convinced the woman of that. So, she was stuck trying to come up with a way to convince the second Uchiha heir to change his mind, if not to become her husband, then to at least take her life.

Not a single night in the four days that had passed since her arrival had she slept soundly. If she left her bedroom, her body felt strange. The butlers named Sai and Yamamoto made it clear that the third floor of the manor was completely off-limits, but her feet wanted nothing more than to climb those marble stairs. Why that was, Sakura had no clue. She'd never felt something like this before. She wondered if perhaps it was magic, something she'd only heard of in passing and never witnessed.

If she remained in her bedroom and tried to sleep, strange scenes would play on repeat. In them, she was young again, maybe ten or twelve years old, and she was holding hands with a boy. His name and face were unknown, but somehow she knew they were kindred spirits. They were friends.

In the dream, they were walking through a thriving and beautiful garden when a terrifying man with yellow eyes suddenly appeared. Sakura was scared of the man, and so was her friend. In fact, her friend shoved her away. She could hear his voice, barely above a whisper in her ear, saying, "Run! Get help!" Then she'd wake up in tears, terrified, and breathing heavily.

'It feels like a memory, but I don't remember ever visiting a place like that. It was obviously not the Haruno estate, and I wasn't allowed to leave home, so it can't be real.' Sakura's hands shook as she clasped them together and continued following her maid. 'What can it be, then? A vision? No. That's impossible. Only those with magical abilities have premonitions like that.'

"Here we are, Lady Haruno. The lord of the house wishes for you to help yourself to the library. Additionally, please inform me of any hobbies you enjoy so I may prepare the necessary materials."

Sakura nodded silently, stumbling toward the first massive bookcase in awe. This was the largest collection of literature she'd ever seen! It was beautiful! Hesitantly, she lifted a hand toward the closest tomes, only to freeze in realization, 'What am I doing? I'm not allowed to enjoy myself here. I should be focusing on how to change the prince's mind.'

"Is there a problem, My Lady?" Ino asked, her pretty blue eyes sparkling with concern.

The pinkette shook her head and wandered over to one of the large window sills to sit and watch the snow falling. Her spirits were only dampening with each passing moment.

That was when she suddenly recalled the one rule she'd been given upon her arrival. Do not go onto the third floor of the manor, no matter what.

'If I break this rule, will they punish me severely?' She glanced over to see Ino speaking with Sai, the duo glancing at her while doing so. It was obvious she was the topic of their discussion. There was only one way to find out how harshly she'd be reprimanded, and that was to give it a try.

So, for the remainder of the day, Sakura tried to sneak away from her handmaid but failed. Ino was fantastic at her job. In fact, she was the nicest girl the Haruno woman had ever met. If the circumstances were different, she'd consider herself blessed to have simply met someone so pleasant.

All Sakura wanted to do all day was cry or sleep, but she did neither. Surely no one would understand. Letting her emotions get the better of her would only cause trouble for the friendly staff of the manor.

Well after midnight that same night, Ino finally retired for the evening, having been successfully fooled into believing that her charge had fallen asleep. Sakura's limbs trembled weakly as she snuck out of her room and through the halls, quickly locating the staircase and beginning her ascent to the forbidden area. It'd been more than twenty-four hours since her last meal. If all else failed, her backup plan was to perish due to malnourishment. Anything would be better than leaving this manor a failure.

'Someone with tainted blood and no usefulness like me doesn't deserve to live if I can't perform the simple task of completing a contract marriage. All I've done my whole life is be a burden to my family.'

When the pinkette was younger, she held onto the belief that she was being mistreated; her abuse was an injustice. After a while, though, the awful things her siblings and the family staff said began to ring true in her ears. Sakura had been broken, brainwashed. She no longer had the will to fight for a brighter future for herself because she felt she didn't deserve it.

On the third floor, she slowly made her way down each hallway, peeking her head into the rooms she passed in search of the reason for its being banned. At the very end of the final hall, she found a thicker door with more ornamental decorations than the others.

'This has to be it. Is it the prince's personal quarters?'

When her hand met the doorknob, a terrible sound met her ears from within the room. It was like a feral beast growling. Fearful ice climbed her spine. The trembling of her limbs worsened.

Sakura swallowed, forcing herself to turn the handle. She entered the room, quickly closing the door behind her. Before she could even turn her back to it, a low voice met her ears, "To think you'd come to me willingly, trembling as a fawn before a pack of wolves."

The woman turned to witness a gruesome sight. In the large closet, with its double doors ajar, was a beautiful man. His wrists were cuffed to the back wall, and blood ran down his forearms from obvious attempts to break free.

What Sakura couldn't tear her gaze from was his eyes. They were bright red and glowing in the dark room. Cautiously, she approached, unable to find words as she studied the strange prince. His face was that of the gods. He had prominent cheekbones, a strong brow, and a proud, straight nose. His lips were full and elegant, and his jawline was sharp as a knife. Never in her life had she met someone so perfect.

"Does the mouse not have a tongue?"

'He keeps comparing me to small animals….'

Sakura bowed her head once standing close enough for the prince to clearly see her. Even she could hear the weakness in her voice, "Lord Uchiha, I've come to plead your reconsideration in the matter of our betrothal."

"Ah, yes. The cowardly prince rejected you firmly, didn't he?"

"...Are you not Prince Uchiha, Sir?" She was confused because this was obviously the second heir's quarters. No other room was as extravagant, and Ino and Sai both said the third floor was where their master resided.

"Do not compare me to such a feeble man, My Prey, or I'll make your demise that much more excruciating."

Sakura cringed as the hate in his eyes made the red seem that of blood, "I-I apologize. How should I address you, then?" Hope dared arise in her stomach because he spoke so plainly about killing her. Being wed to the prince was obviously a lost cause by this point.

"I have no name. No one has ever dared converse with me."

'I have no idea what's going on, but he seems like he'd be willing to fulfill my request, and that's all that matters to me.' So, the Haruno woman decided to cautiously try to appease him, "Would you like a name? What would you prefer to be called?"

The man's eyes narrowed, the corner of his lips turning into a sadistic smile, "Most refer to me as a curse or demon, so you may refer to me as Akuma."

"Lord Akuma-" "Just Akuma."

Warmth met Sakura's face, "A-Akuma, then. May I make a request?"

The cuffs rattled as the terrifying man struggled against them, rage contorting his features, "You dare ask something of me without first offering your respect?" His voice was much louder, causing a small, scared sound to leave the shaking woman's lips.

She risked meeting his glowing gaze, only to somehow understand that what Akuma wanted was complete submission. In an effort to please him, she came closer, "I was foolish. Please forgive me." She came to her hands and knees, bowing her head low enough that her forehead nearly touched the floor, "I'm not worthy of being in your presence, Akuma, but I beg of you to do what the prince would not."

It was silent for a long moment. Sakura didn't dare raise her head, though. She remained low and still until the man's voice came, much softer this time, "My presence is only felt while the moon is high. Even if I wished to wed a weak and pathetic thing such as you, the prince will prevent it in the daylight."

Tears welled in the woman's eyes as she shook her head, finally allowing her forehead to touch the ground. When she spoke, it was barely a whisper, and her voice was uneven with emotion, "You misunderstand. I no longer senselessly hope for marriage. It was made abundantly clear that that was not an option in Lord Uchiha's mind." Her hands clenched into trembling fists as she tried not to completely burst into tears.

"You wish for me to take your life?"

She made a sound of affirmation because she could no longer trust her voice.

"...Lift your head."

Sakura obeyed, thick tears rolling prettily down her pale face as she met Akuma's quizzical gaze. He seemed bewildered and did little to mask that, "The others begged for their lives, yet you appear, feeble and frail, to bow before me and plead for death. Indeed, you are intriguing."

'Why is he looking at me like that…?'

"Fetch the key to these shackles. It is in the desk."

Gasping in realization that she might actually be receiving her wish, Sakura stumbled to her feet and located the key in the middle drawer of the massive desk near the bed in an expensive-looking bag the color of sapphires. "Should I free you?"

"Call me by my name."

"R-Right, I'm sorry," Sakura stuttered fearfully at his overwhelming aura, "Akuma, should I unlock the cuffs?"

He nodded. He watched closely as she did.

The moment the final latch was loosened, Sakura found herself pinned to the floor with a hand tight around her throat. She sucked in a surprised breath but did nothing to defend herself. Instead, she stared wide-eyed and waited for Akuma to kill her.

This time, when he spoke, she glimpsed pearly-white teeth, sharper than a normal human's. His voice was snakelike and poisonous, "You weren't feigning your desires. You truly wish to die."

Sakura didn't move. She didn't look away or say anything. She just waited.

"Tell me your reason, and I will consider fulfilling your request."

The hand around her throat loosened so she could speak, and she did, albeit weakly. "I cannot leave here. There is nothing for me."

Akuma's brow furrowed in apparent anger, "Your family sent you purposefully to die?"

The woman couldn't bring herself to respond and simply tried to swallow the lump in her throat.

Bright red eyes surveyed her appearance, pulling back as though seeing her entirely for the first time, "What a miserable human."

Soft lips parted into a sneer, sharp teeth perfect and frightening in the dark room, "My Sacrifice, you're called Haruka?"

"No. My name is Sakura." 'Why does he need to know my name to kill me? I thought he was eager to do it!'

"Sakura," Akuma mused. His hand brushed the side of her face as he ceased viewing her body and returned his gaze to hers. The bloodlust he bled began to fade.

The tears in her eyes overflowed as she realized what was happening. "Akuma, please…." Her plight was ignored.

"As you've been sacrificed, I may do what I desire with your life." The man's thumb brushed her bottom lip, a low sound rumbling his chest, "I will not kill you this night, for there is something that urges me to devour you slowly." She was released, and the imposing man climbed off of her with an unreadable expression, "Perhaps the prince will accept your betrothal with my blessing. We shall see when morning comes."

Lady Haruno struggled to her feet, "B-But what if he doesn't? I-! I'll have to-!" Her eyes darted desperately around the room until they landed on a sharp letter opener. A quiet sound of distress passed her lips as she hurried over to the desk and grabbed it.

Before she could even bring it to her wrist, it was pried from her grasp and tossed away. Strong hands wrapped around her upper arms, and a blood-colored glare bored into hers. Akuma's voice was laced with murderous intent, "You dare conspire to take away what is mine?"

Sakura cried softly, his name on her lips.

He bellowed threateningly, "You belong to me now. Should I witness you mistreating my belonging once more, I can assure a fate worse than death awaits. Do you understand, Sacrifice?"

The door to the room suddenly busted open, revealing Sai, Yamamoto, and a handful of other manor staff. The former pulled his knife from its holster, "You curse! Step away from Lady Haruno!"

Ino cried out with tears in her eyes, "Lady Haruno, you must escape! He will kill you!"

Sakura sucked in a stunned breath when she was suddenly pulled into Akuma's arms, her face buried into his shirt. His chest vibrated as he warned the others, "This woman is mine. If one of you insects harms my sacrifice, I shall coat the floors of this manor with the blood of those you hold dear."

"Lady Haruno does not belong to you, Curse! Release her before we're forced to take her with force."

One moment the room was still, and the next, Sakura was shoved away from Akuma. Her back hit the edge of the desk hard, and she fell to her hands and knees with a cry of pain. Through winced eyes, she looked up in time to see Akuma skillfully disarm Yamamoto, steal the knife, and behead the man in a matter of seconds. Everyone froze in an instant, the only sound being the freshly murdered man's body hitting the ground.

Sakura's blood ran cold as she watched blood drip from Yamamoto's decapitated head onto the thick carpet. 'He wasn't lying earlier! He really is a demon!' Before Sakura could properly process the sickening fact, Akuma tossed the head aside and lunged at Sai, who shoved Ino and the others behind him while raising his blade.

"W-Wait!"

The dark-haired man with red eyes stopped in his tracks, turning his neck swiftly in her direction, "You dare give your master an order?"

Sakura tried to get to her feet, but a sharp pain ran up her back and brought her to her knees again. Gasping, she lifted a hand and bowed her head, "Please don't hurt anyone else! I-I'll submit to you. I'll do whatever you ask."

"Lady Haruno…." Sai breathed out in disbelief.

She lifted her head and met the butler's eye, "Please leave us."

'I can't bear to see another person brutally murdered like that! I won't be able to take it!'

They stared at one another for a few moments before Sai turned to look at his fallen comrade's body. Then, he nodded once, "Understood. We'll leave this room until dawn."

Once the door was closed, Akuma tossed the bloodied knife aside and leered down his nose at Sakura, "The helpless rabbit has a voice, after all." He nudged Yamamoto's head with his foot, smiling devilishly, "Are you flattered I'd spill blood in your honor? Don't be fooled. I did it to remind them of their place."

'What have I gotten myself into?' "Of course, Akuma."

"Rise and approach. I wish to look upon the face of my bounty."

The Haruno woman tried to get to her feet again, this time succeeding regardless of the pain because she feared what the man would do if she disobeyed. Once she was close enough, he grasped her jaw and firmly lifted her chin to search her face closely. He mused as though speaking to a pet, "I wonder if I'll grow fond of you, Sacrifice. It's in your interest to please me."

Icy pain climbed Sakura's spine from the point of impact from earlier to her head. Akuma's smirk fell, and he said something, but she couldn't understand it. Then, her legs gave out from under her. She was unconscious before she could even hit the ground.