Sakura woke up the next morning to the chirping of the birds, light headed with her hair scattered in different directions. She yawned and rolled over, landing her hand on somewhere rough.

That certainly does not feel like a bed covering. She straightened up, frowning as she tried to escape from her furry mind, glancing at her surrounding in confusion.

Her mind cleared and everything flooded back. Sasuke had drunk himself to stupor last night. She turned to her side and saw said man asleep next to her. She noticed how the covers was in disarray and the location of her limb. Plus, the side of her mate's face was matching her hair in colour, except that it was a darker shade.

Flustered, she withdrew her limb from his thigh and leaned towards him, noting on the peaceful blub of cloud hovering over his face. Not minding how close their noses were almost touching, she reached out a hand and placed it on his cheek.

It was hot. "Is he having a fever?" Her eyes trailed up, and they caught sight of intense pools of darkness staring back at her.

She fidgeted in shock and backed away from him as he rolled his eyes and sat up groggily, grunting with his hand dragging down his face.

"What happened to you? You're red."

"Well, someone thought it was amusing to hit me on the face every time she rolled."

Sakura's eyes widened. "I did that?"

He glanced at her, unamused. "What do you think? I tried to hold you in place but you are such a fighting machine even when you're asleep.

The side of her lips twitched as she placed a hand over her mouth, resisting the urge to laugh, but it was too late, she was already chuckling between words. "Why didn't you let me go?"

He rewarded her with an intense glance then, holding her green eyes with his dark ones.

Startled by the seriousness in his eyes, she stopped laughing. "Why... why are you looking at me like that?"

He sighed, looking away as he got out of bed. "We have a meeting with the King and Queen this morning."

"You didn't answer my question." She frowned, following his movement. "Wait, what do you mean we have a meeting with your mother and father?"

"The King and Queen." He grinded out.

She shook her head thoughtfully. "I get that it's your mother but your father?!" She appeared in front of him, her surprise, anxiety and nervousness exposed.

He glared at her. "Just get ready." He manoeuvred his way around her, walked towards the door and knocked on it.

Sakura frowned at him. Was it just her or was Sasuke behaving rude to her all of a sudden?

She decided to talk to him about it but her willpower disappeared when a long line of servants walked in and stood in a slightly bent position by the side of the room.

Fine then, we'll get to this later. She glared at him as she walked out of the chamber and went straight for her own, ignoring the questioning look he gave her as she walked past. A row of maidservants were already awaiting her in her room.

Few minutes later, Sakura was dining with the Supreme Alpha and Luna of Raikanrando in a specially reconstructed large hall, similar to that of a huge ballroom. The room was so quiet that a pin drop could make the loudest echo. The guards here had on an entirely different apparel. The apparels had more cotton and glow than those in the other wings of the castle.

The royal guards, as Sakura noticed, were disallowed to watch the royal family eat so they waited behind a long gold-rimmed door which was ornamented with dark rubies and emeralds.

Sakura, Mikoto, Fugaku and Sasuke were the only ones in this huge place. Sakura noted on the atmosphere, unable to eat properly as she spared glances at the King. The Queen sat at the opposite end of the long table, from the King, eating like nothing was amiss, and so did the king. Sasuke sat beside Sakura, undisturbed by the choking and heavy atmosphere, plus he wasn't eating.

Sakura couldn't really tell if this was a family breakfast. Everybody seemed so distant. It was probably because the aura from the King and Sasuke were turning off like steam from a pot.

She glanced at said King again. He had a very serious and intimidating expression on his face. The clothes he wore looked generously royal alright, with the gems and rubies practically looking like it was embroidered into the clothing. There were age lines underneath both sides of his lips, giving his face more stoic and authoritative appearance. Overall, he had a bustling aura of royalty and dominance surrounding him. Sasuke had more resemblance to his mother than he did his father though.

Suddenly, he stopped eating and made eye contact with her. With a beating heart, she averted and studied the pallette before her instead, noting on how diverse their salad and lamb chops were, if that was really what was in the plate.

"Will you stop it, dear?" She heard Mikoto say. "You're making her uncomfortable."

So, that was why she felt like a thousand holes were drilling into her soul. The King was staring at her. She tried to take a breath.

"You haven't touched your food, Sakura."

Sakura gave the queen a sloppy smile. "I... I'm.."

"So have I." Sasuke suddenly said as he turned to the King, who raised an unimpressed brow at him.

"Shall I ask why?"

"That's what I'm asking. Why did you invite us to have breakfast with you?"

"You weren't in the list." Fugaku answered, turning to Sakura. "I invited her."

Sakura squirmed a little, trying mentally to find her voice. For some reason, she couldn't help but notice the resemblance of sass between father and son.

"The reason being?"

"Can't I have breakfast with my son's mate?" Fugaku matched his son's steady glare.

"No."

"Right, because it would seem suspicious." The King sneered. "Be rest assured, Sasuke, I won't be causing any harm to your mate at the moment."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

The clanking of utensils was heard and Mikoto's annoyed voice followed. "Can we just have a nice breakfast?!"

Sakura almost blew raspberries, noticing how thick the atmosphere grew and watching as Fugaku and Sasuke sighed simultaneously.

"Sorry." Sasuke muttered.

"Glad that you understand." Mikoto laughed, looking at him. "I'm just happy you're well and healthy." She sighed. "I wish Itachi could join us."

Sakura watched Sasuke close his eyes, replying with silence. She knew that he loved his mother. When they had first arrived, Mikoto had hugged him so tight and for a long time. Even though, he hadn't reciprocated it, he'd melted in her embrace. That'd brought a smile to her face.

Fugaku caught her smiling just then. "Is something amusing, Human?"

She snapped black to reality as soon as possible and looked at him, bowing her head with a tight smile. Kill me, kill me now! He thinks I'm laughing at him. "Nothing of the sort, your majesty. Please, ignore me."

What?

She glanced at Sasuke, frowning at him for intruding into her mind easily. She was still trying to learn how to cut off the mind link so that he could stop having an easy access to her mind. Stay out of my head. His gaze intensified and she averted, reaching for a glass of water.

"I presume you have consummated the mate bond already?"

That question was a bomb out of nowhere. Sakura choked on the water she drank, setting the glass down carefully and immediately.

"I don't think you have any rights to know regarding that perspective." Sasuke answered, looking at him. He was simply saying; You don't have to know.

He looked at his mate, masking his worry. Are you okay?

Yeah. I think I twisted a muscle.

Need me to help you out with it?

You'll kill me, no thanks. He could accidentally use his brute strength to choke me. That's far from what I need right now.

Unconsciously, Sasuke let out a chuckle. He was quick to collect himself, but Fugaku had noticed.

The King grunted, standing to his feet, and automatically the door opened. As the royal guards walked in, Fugaku walked towards his son and his mate. "Human, walk with me."

Swallowing, Sakura nodded and followed the King out. Sasuke was quick to interrupt but Mikoto was quicker. She latched unto her son's arm and gave him a smile as he stared confusedly at her. "I have troubles walking for a long period of time. Support me."

He agreed and seconds later, they were trailing behind Fugaku and Sakura, passing by the colourful gardens in the field and the transparent glistening water in the various ponds nearby.

"Do you love him?" The King suddenly asked, looking straight ahead, ignoring the bowing of the servants as they walked past them. "My son."

"I..." Her voice cracked and she bit in her lower lip. On impulse, she turned around and saw him staring intensely at them while taking turns to listen to what his mother was telling him every now and then. She turned to the King. "He can be arrogant and annoying at times and sometimes, you'd just want to tie him up in a sack and throw him in a river or someplace far to teach him a lesson."

Fugaku scoffed in amusement.

She smiled as she lowered her gaze. "But nothing can ever change my feelings for him. I love him, unbreakable and aggravating as he is."

"Hn." The King exhaled, his expression unreadable. "Even if it means you won't spend eternity with him? Humans die sooner than we immortals."

She shook her head. "Doesn't change anything."

"You can die from giving birth to our offspring. You humans are we..."

"Your majesty, you will be surprised to know what we humans are capable of." She said with a challenging seriousness.

His thick, dark eyebrows drew together in contemplation as he hummed, amused. "You do know about the mate bond, do you not?"

"I do, and I must say, I am nerved at it. I understand that it is all a system, he can't really feel the same way naturally." She paused thoughtfully before shrugging. "I don't care. I get to stay with him. That's just enough for me." A sincere toothy smile appeared on her face as she said this.

Fugaku was silent.

A look of dismay crossed her face just then. "Or am I too selfish on that part?"

"Would you like to flee?"

She laughed, closing her mouth immediately. "I've tried that. He always finds me. Perhaps I'm intentionally not trying too hard. I don't think I want to run away anymore."

"It is not selfishness. The mate bond doesn't always bound a lycan to it's settings. Most times the choice is ours to make."

"..."

"You will not understand now, do not intend to ."

Sakura smiled. "Yes, your majesty."

Fugaku nodded, exhaling heavily. This would've been what it was like, having a daughter.

"Are you okay?" Sasuke was asking for the fiftieth time now since he saw his mother cough into her kerchief.

All her responses have been in nods. "I'm fine, comes once in awhile and leaves."

He's tried to take a peek at the kerchief but she always took it away from his sight, like she was hiding something.

He frowned at her, looking at her questioningly. "Mother?"

"I'm fine, Sasuke, please." She glared at him and he looked away, over thinking as he stared at the back of his mate's pink flowery hanfu.

"What do you take everyday?"

"I eat everyday, thank you."

He wouldn't drag it. His mother could prove stubborn but it still bothered him. He will find out what it is. His father talking with his mate added to his worry, and thirty minutes later, even as they were in his chambers, he still couldn't get it off his mind. Truthfully, he'd been restless. He imagined his father hearing about Sakura and taking her away to be sacrificed. That did not just sit well with him. Ever since that day with Masashi, he'd been out of places.

"What did he tell you?" He asked her, his eyes following her every movement as she walked about, removing her Kanzashis and ornaments. Sasuke had warned the servants to stay out for a while and Sakura wasn't bothered about it.

"No."

He frowned. He also couldn't intrude into her mind anymore. "Did he teach you how to control your thoughts too?"

"Hehe."

"Sakura."

"Stop fretting." She walked over to him. "Your worries are all over the place."

He grunted, running a hand down his face. His mate played a significant role in his world and he was trying to keep her away from it, how could he not worry. "Forget it, we have to meet up with my brother later this afternoon."

Sakura glanced at him in surprise. "Ehh?!"

"He wanted to meet you. We'll be going to my territory so we'll use that opportunity to pay him a visit." He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him, letting her sit on his lap as he snaked an arm around her waist and rested his face in the curve of her nape.

"Sasuke, don't I need to get ready?" She was going to try to get used to everything that was beginning to take place in her life. Breakfast with the royal family turned out to be not so bad. The discussion with the King felt surprisingly like a daughter-father talk. Now, she was going to her mate's territory and will be meeting with his older brother soon.

"Allow me to stay like this for a while." Her intoxicating scent was all he needed. He tightened his grip around her waist when he felt she was going to protest. "Please."

Sakura relaxed, worry etched on her face. She remembered what he'd asked her last night. It's the decision he has to make. She sighed, surrendering to his embrace and providing warmth with it.

Naruto held up a small cone shaped object to his face as he peered at it intently, feigning comprehensive hums, nodding his head and rubbing his chin in forced seriousness. Soon, he stopped and turned to the two men standing behind him. "What is this again?"

One of them answered him, his voice matching his stoic facial expression. "It's the fang of the great serpent, Gyole, of the Gorgon folklore. Said to be effective in spiritual awakening and in the summoning of the dead."

"Really?!" He looked from his Beta to the object. "Why is the fang small though? Should it even be called a fang?" He squinted his eyes at it. "It looks like a canine. Are you sure it isn't..." He was cut short when he heard disapproving grunts from the seller.

He laughed nervously before placing the cannine back unto it's spot on the stall table, with the seller drilling holes into his very being as he moved.

Mahn, Gorgons are too anything oriented. One small teasing and they're ready to pounce on you. He sighed, turning to his Beta and Gamma.

Ah, right. He was the Alpha of the blood moon pack. He always forgot about that. As soon as he'd recovered from the fight with Ras, he'd been abducted by the pack. He'd taken over Ras' territories and was now a respectable figure in the assembly meetings organised in Raikanrando.

Anybody might think that this was an admirable position but not to Naruto. He had to sacrifice all of his free time just to attend to issues and political matters. It drained his whole being. He had to check out his territories one by one and become accustomed to the different clans and kingdoms in Raikanrando, as his men had suggested.

Which was why he was in Gorgon land, parading their weekly festivities and moving from stall to stall, ignoring the large crowd spread out and asking his men questions about things he definitely knew nothing about.

His Beta was a stoic lycan with an expressionless face. He had shoulder length jet black hair and piercing green eyes. He had a certain dominant aura around him and he was always serious. He was crazy tall and his dressed in cool money fashion every now and then. He's been to the human world multiple times. Kyu, the Beta, reminded him of Sasuke except for how emotionless he wasn't. Naruto was certain that he was a heartbreaker. Just look at that face.

His Gamma, Mori, was Naruto's height. He was easygoing and generous but he wasn't careless. He knew when to be serious and when to be comedic. His eyes were the same color as a burning flame and his light brown hair dripped at the ends with a hint of gold. He had feminine features and even looked like one but his personality was far from it. Infact he was rougher than Ryuuji. He has award winning attributes.

Naruto has been busy. His mind railed as he sighted an ancient glassware with serpent drawings on it and walked over to it, not remembering why he had to do this again. He didn't get to see Sakura so he didn't know how she was faring. He wanted to check up on her and Sasuke since receiving the news that she was the prophecy.

He didn't know what to think. Their prayers have been answered but in the cruelest way ever. Naruto wanted to save his world and win the war of course, but he definitely didn't want to do it at the expense of his friend's life and his other friend's dead life. He was worried about Sasuke. That fool might even be more depressed at the world-threatening decision he has to make.

He groaned, sighing heavily. "This is hard."

"Not really though." Mori shook his head with a smile. "You just didn't know that serpents don't have canines."

Naruto looked at him. "Don't they used to?"

"What?" Kyu frowned.

"What?" Naruto's expression was blank. His Beta groaned, shaking his head.

The crowd began to move as their noise became incoherent. Naruto and his men ignored the increasing notion of the Gorgons as they observed an handcrafted outrageous flute in another stall infront of them.

"Say, what is this?" Naruto asked, staring at the object. It was a long wooden flute painted in crimson. It's edges were sharpened upwards like two horns on both sides. It had carvings with weird writings on it and it's mouth piece looked like a serpent's forked tongue that was pierced. Is that even real?

Yes, we're looking at it, Naruto sama. Mori answered through the mind link.

They all seemed shocked and awed at the object that they kept quiet for a disturbing amount of time.

As the noise and crowd increased, Naruto rose his head from the object to question the seller but the Gorgon had his attention fixed elsewhere instead. Curious, Naruto followed the direction of his eyes and he found a growing crowd gathered infront of what looked like an execution ground. Gorgons burnt their own on staves or beheaded them if they be found guilty of committing crimes.

"Someone is going to be executed today." Ryuuji stated with a concentrated countenance as Naruto drew his attention away from the dried bloody arena.

"What about this one then?" He said, pointing his hand at a pearl ball in the stall. It's content had captivating features like stars scattered in a mysterious glistening galaxy. It was beautiful.

Hinata will like this. He smiled sadly at the thought.

He missed her.

He wanted to go back to the human world but his men and the rules wouldn't allow him, which was why he wanted to make sure he completed what he was doing so he could go back to her.

It was one moment, only a passing second, but he had inhaled her scent. Naruto laughed nervously. He must be thinking about her too hard for her scent to come through. He took the sparkly ball in his hands and stared at it.

Her scent wafted into his nostrils and he closed his eyes. Shaking his head, he thought, I must be growing lovesick. I need to hold out, until I've attended to what needs to be done. He needed to stop hallucinating the sense of her presence and her glorious scent because there was no way she would be in Isekai, especially in Gorgon land where she will be punished for fleeing the land in the first place...

...

The ball dropped from his hand the instance something clicked in his head. His eyes widened as he turned around abruptly. His Beta and Gamma tried to call out to him as he moved through the crowd, apologizing for shoving some out of the way and as he made his way to the stage. He didn't hear them.

Her scent. Her overwhelming presence. Why didn't he think of this before?