Sakura nervously stared out the nearby window. A week had come and gone since Hana arrived at the winterland's estate. She and Sasuke were still quiet and tense around one another because of him keeping the truth about their first night together a secret.

Regardless of that, the issue of her little sister's strange demeanor was concerning. The prince also refused to allow his new sister-in-law to be alone with his wife. As a result, at least in Sakura's opinion, Hana hadn't come out of her shell at all. It was clear that the girl and the prince didn't enjoy one another's presence, so anytime they were all together, it seemed to do more harm than good.

The time had come where they'd exhausted all their options, leaving just one thing: allowing Akuma and Hana to directly interact.

Usually, Sakura would be excited to speak to the demon after not doing so for such a long period of time. She was scared, though. Akuma had betrayed her trust just as much as Sasuke had by pretending to be her husband in a very personable moment.

The princess unconsciously wrapped her arms around her growing stomach. No one could be sure what fate awaited her and the child. It'd become a source of stress for the woman. With that said, she loved the unborn baby more than anything and vowed to herself to protect it regardless of whether Akuma's involvement had an effect.

'Will we even be able to tell if it has demon blood?' She suddenly recalled the fact that Akuma had hidden his true appearance from her for a long time. Red eyes, sharp nails, and fangs weren't the only features a demon possessed. Her pulse quickened as she imagined a tiny baby with the same dark skin and fleshy wings she'd seen the one time she'd been given a glimpse of the demon's true form. 'What type of life will I be able to give them if they don't look human? Will they be able to grow up normally? What about when they're an adult? Will they be able to find love and acceptance?'

"Dove, being with child suits you." A familiar, gravely voice broke Sakura of her concerned thoughts.

She slowly turned to face Akuma, her breath catching when his glowing eyes bore into hers. It'd been so long since he was last present, but in that moment it felt as if no time at all had passed.

His brow furrowed slightly as he studied her cautious appearance. It was clear he was holding himself back as a result of what'd occurred. Usually, he wouldn't hesitate to pull her into an embrace, run his fingers through her hair, and say brazenly sexual or domineering words. And Sakura would've let him because Sasuke told her to never upset the demon. She didn't mind much because she and Akuma had a special relationship. Well, they did before he violated her trust.

The demon's eyes narrowed, his fists clenching at his sides as he sneered, "Does the princess still possess a voice?"

Tears met Sakura's eyes, making Akuma close his mouth quickly. She looked over his appearance with a sad frown. When she finally mustered the strength to speak, her voice wavered with emotion, "Why did you do it?"

Akuma swallowed hard. He seemed uncharacteristically uncomfortable, maybe even nervous. His furrowed brow deepened before he closed his eyes and turned away as though he couldn't look at her while speaking, "You forget what I am."

Hurt panged Sakura's chest, her tears overflowing, "...What?"

In an instant, the demon stood before her with his glare alight, fangs bared angrily, "I am not human! Would you place raw steak before a jaguar and expect it not to feed?"

Sakura's hands met his chest instinctually, the lump in her throat becoming harder to swallow. Her voice met his raised level, "I thought—" "You thought what?" Akuma hissed, suddenly quieter. His glare was menacing. "Did you think I'd be able to carry on pretending not to desire you when I'm forced to watch that cowardly, unworthy prince claim what should be mine?"

The princess's tears finally overflowed, and she lightly shoved him away, betrayal clear on her features, "What changed? This isn't like you! None of it is!" A swift gasp passed her lips when she was suddenly against the window, Akuma's hand flat on her pregnant stomach. It was silent for a moment. Sakura could see the demon struggling to keep Sasuke at bay.

His voice was forced as he growled, "It was all for you. I acted civil and weak for your benefit. I made a deal with the prince for your sake." Sakura was too scared he'd do something to the baby to move, so she stood there, trembling with wide eyes as the demon explained himself. "I all but played the role of a loyal dog because it made you happy."

Akuma's hands moved slowly, untying the ribbons that held the top half of Sakura's dress closed. When it was finally possible, he placed his calloused hand flat against her warm skin. He closed his eyes and paused for a long moment before continuing, "I regretted my actions as soon as I'd performed them. I cursed myself further when you disappeared. I vowed to do whatever possible to locate and ensure your safety, but that didn't come free, did it?"

Sakura shakily placed a hand over his, hoping to calm him.

His eyes shot open to lock onto hers again, this time stilling her body with terror so she could barely breathe. "What thanks did I receive for making your rescue possible? Life as a prisoner in a body I can no longer control."

"Aku-" "No!" The demon roared, causing Sakura to sob. "You didn't ask to speak to or see me even once after learning what'd happened!"

'He's right…. I was so sure Sasuke would be hurt by the request that I was too scared.'

"I'll spend the rest of the prince's life stuck inside this body. Even I do not know what will happen to my soul when he dies."

'Is he saying the curse that Orochimaru used to bind him and Sasuke together has been overrun by the deal they made? If that's the case, does that mean he can't return to hell anymore?'

The demon opened his mouth to yell something more but froze. His eyebrows rose. His eyes widened as he looked down to where he was touching her stomach.

That's when Sakura felt an odd sensation, like the fluttering steps of a butterfly against her skin, but on the inside. The terrifying situation and negative emotions disappeared in a moment of realization. She looked down at their hands before meeting Akuma's equally-as-stunned gaze, "I-I think that's..."

The door to the room opened suddenly, and the duo turned to see Hana standing there. Her blue eyes took in the scene before narrowing, "Step away from her, Demon."

Akuma did so, but only so he could face the short girl with a low growl, "You."

Sakura fumbled to retie the top part of her dress so her undergarments weren't visible and peeked around Akuma at her little sister.

The prince's face contorted with rage as he barked, "If you think I won't kill you because you're in that body, you are mistaken. I may have temporarily forgotten my strength, but that is the case no longer."

For a moment, Sakura wondered why Sasuke hadn't taken control of his body again, but then realized he was almost certainly waiting because Akuma was better suited for defending her from another demon if that was truly the situation. The truth of the fact made the woman feel nauseous. The prince probably hated himself for it.

One moment, Hana and Akuma were glaring at one another in silence, and in the next, they were grappling. Sakura screamed, backing away as they damaged the tea table and chairs without even a pause.

Ino and Sai arrived in the doorway seconds later, realized what was going on, and began maneuvering their way around the snarling duo fighting so they could retrieve the princess. Sakura just stared at the deformed image of her baby sister. Her blue eyes had become a yellowish glowing color, and her teeth had become sharp like a snake's. Her skin bore a reptilian sheen while her fingers sharpened into deadly claws.

'It's true... She really is possessed. I can't believe this is happening!'

"Lady Sakura, stay behind me!" Sai shouted over the loud room. Ino pulled her close and guided her at a measured pace toward the door, the dark-haired man acting as a guard for the two women with his eyes keenly on the fighting demons. His hand was on his sword's hilt as he readied himself to defend them if necessary.

Sakura only fought when they were past the doorway and in less danger. She tried to pull away from Ino, sobbing almost hysterically, "We have to stop them before someone gets hurt!" The two people she loved most were trying to murder one another. It felt like it was her fault, too, since she was the common factor between them.

Ino wrapped her arms around the princess, motioning for Sai to help her, "Lady Uchiha, you can't! Think of your health, and the baby!"

It took a while of the two restraining the upset woman for her to tire out. Then, she was helped up to her bedroom, where she promptly fell asleep, too exhausted from the stress to form a coherent thought. She was next woken by the sound of hushed voices. She kept her eyes closed and breathing even in an attempt to fall back asleep, only to snap to attention when she recognized Sasuke's voice, "-tell her. It should come from me."

"But, My Lord, is that truly the best decision? Such news will only cause the princess more stress."

There was a long pause before the prince spoke again, this time in a noticeably sadder tone, "I can't continue lying to her as I have."

The room became silent once more. Only when Sakura heard the door open and close did she stop pretending to be asleep. Slowly, she sat up, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear with one hand while gently holding her stomach with the other.

Sasuke was sitting bedside with a guilty expression. No words were needed from the woman. He began speaking immediately. "Akuma has discovered the truth behind your sister's condition."

Sakura's eyes danced over her beloved husband's body, looking for injuries from the fight he'd been a part of, only to find none. He'd changed clothes, too, so it seemed as though the terrifying event had never happened. Suddenly, he pulled her hands into his, a gentle request to focus and look him in the eye. She did, fearing what he might say next.

His gorgeous, dark irises searched her face almost desperately for a long pause before he finally admitted, "The wizard Orochimaru resides within Hana."

Sakura's blood ran ice cold. She struggled to verbalize her confusion, "B-But he died..."

Sasuke nodded, "What methods Orochimaru used to take the form of a demon is still unknown, but Akuma confirmed the soul controlling Hana isn't that of a human being." The pregnant woman was too stunned to speak or even cry. Her mind raced, trying to wrap itself around the revelation. "That's not all…" Sasuke interrupted her panicking.

Her brow furrowed, 'There's more?!'

With a voice dripping in self-disgust and regret, Sasuke explained, "The day your family left the capitol, your father accidentally admitted that you're not of his bloodline."

Slowly, Sakura shook her head, "He must've meant he doesn't see me as his child because of my illegitimacy."

The prince squeezed her hands, mimicking her head movement, "According to him, your mother had already conceived when they first lay together."

Now the tears were welling up. Sakura was bewildered. Her chest heaved slightly as she attempted to remain calm and failed, "I-If he's not my father, then who–" "Orochimaru."

Just like that, Sakura's sense of self shattered. It couldn't be true. The lover her mother spoke so fondly of was the same evil person who'd cursed the young Uchiha prince, not to mention her biological father?

It couldn't be true!

But what if it was?

Some things which previously seemed odd began to make sense. The strange dreams she often had that took place in a garden so similar to that of the royal palace's, her strange ability to heal herself from the brink of death, and even why Baron Haruno hated her so much.

Sakura's hands shook within her husband's. She stared down at them in shock, "Is this why all these things happened?" Her green eyes lifted to meet Sasuke's darker ones. Her chin quivered along with her voice as her brow furrowed, "How could you…?"

She couldn't even finish the question. This was the third time she'd been notified that Sasuke had kept the truth a secret from her. The prince allowed her to pull away. He watched with a look of gut wrenching guilt as she stood and backed away toward the door.

'What could he say to remedy this? Is there anything he can do at all to make these feelings of betrayal hurt less?' Sakura memorized the somber expression on the prince's handsome face before leaving the room and closing the door behind her.

'Where do we go from here?'