"I have freedom in my misery," she replied. "Is that what you seek, freedom?"
Sakura had asked him in jest, but there was no denying her interest in his answer.

"Yes, but only with you." Sasuke replied, voice more serious than he intended, but the words rang true not just in his heart, not just in his bones, but in his soul.

He was not sure what came over him when he first laid eyes on her. Sasuke was certain of one thing however, seeing her made coming to the ball worth it. She was the most beautiful person in the room, and he was not alone in noticing her beauty. He saw many men, some married, some widowed, some single stare at her. He almost wanted to get them buckets, but then again did he have a right to judge when he could not stop looking for her in the room?

Not that she was difficult to spot, it was clear there was some stigma following her however, for no one asked her to dance, and the other ladies seemed to sneer at her where she passed. No one seemed interested in approaching her, at least not publicly. Most of the men in the room clearly would not mind spending time alone with her. Pigs, he thought, this time ignoring his hypocrisy.

Eventually she grew tired of the sneers and walked out into the garden. All he could think of as he followed her out, were her eyes, all he heard was a voice inside of him telling him, follow her, you will regret it otherwise.

It was his heart he realized once the sounds of the ballroom became nothing but a small buzzing in his ears.

For the first time in his life he listened to his heart. He ignored the music coming from the ball, the people that had clamored for his attention, everything. For second there was no one but her. Sasuke watched as she sat on a bench that overlooked a fountain, the one he once pushed Naruto in, he smiled at the memory.

"Sir,I fear your reputation will be ruined if you are seen with me ." She informed him, there was no accusation, no humor in her voice, just a stark warning.

"Sasuke," he answered, he did not want to be a stranger to her, "my name is Sasuke." She eyed him suspiciously then, "I find that I am not too fond of the company of others."

"Then you are in luck, my good sir," she smiled, "for others are not fond of my company."

"Seems I have found a knight to protect me." He jested.

"But sir," she replied, all humor aside, "to them I am the dragon, the one to fear. I bring nothing but misery to others."

Sasuke ignored how she refused to call him by his name, "I have good news for you, I've recently discovered a love of fire." He was not sure where these words were coming from, it was so unlike him, for a moment he wondered how much he had to drink.

"You are a lucky man then Sasuke," he felt his heart beat accelerate at her calling him by name. "I've heard it said by many that the flames of the Uzumaki family shine bright on your wife." He felt the smile that had been threatening to arrive vanish. She had not meant it to be more than an innocent statement he knew. She probably believed him to be referring to his wife, Karin's hair was well known. "I myself have not had the pleasure of meeting her unfortunately."

"She is a fine lady," he added quite lamely. My wife, I am married, what am I doing?

Then she looked to him in such a way that he could really see were her eyes and extended her hand. "I am Haruno Sakura."

"Uchiha Sasuke," he said aware that there was no going back, for the first time in his life he felt alive.

I am falling.

A/N: so before anyone complains about the SasuKarin thing, it was an arranged marriage... things about this AU to keep in mind

1. Sakura is/will be the mistress

has a horrible reputation, even before meeting Sasuke

3. the title comes from Sasuke, the original title was "setting me on fire." do with that what you will

4. time will not be linear in this AU (or so I think), I have random parts of this AU written

5. they are young, because youth is when you are most impulsive, and because of the setting of this AU, think 18th-19th century Europe with absolutely no real specific era or place, just imagine girls wear dresses and corsets, men wear top hats (no Sasuke in a top hat, but also Kakashi is the only one I can imagine wearing one ever)

6. focus of the story, Sasuke and Sakura.

as always thanks for reading.