Welcome, welcome! This story started from a prompt on another piece of work (Reflective - Chapter 4). I fell so in love with the concept and couldn't contain the story to a single chapter, thus this was born. If you'd like, feel free to read that chapter in Reflective, however it is by no means mandatory and will be included within this story, most likely with a few minor alterations. Enjoy!

"Are you ready?"

Though the disembodied voice seemed to echo around him, there was nothing but a pitch black expanse before his eyes. He turned his head to the side, felt the motion of the shift from the base of his neck, and still he was met with a vast nothingness. Stretching his arms out, he tried to feel around for something tangible, but came up empty. There was only black, darker than any night he had ever known. As he took a few steps forward, the crunch of dirt beneath his bare feet startled him. He could feel that, the sharp pressure of rough pebbles digging into his soles.

The voice spoke again,

"Are you ready? We have to run."

He recognized something in those words, or maybe it was the tone in which they were spoken. He had been running, they had been running all night; that was why his legs ached and his lungs burned. How could he run anymore? They were trying to escape something - something that seemed inevitable. . .

Suddenly, he was jerked forward by a sharp pressure at his wrist. He spurred himself on, trying to keep up with the person that must be in front of him. His fingers flailed in the darkness, searching for something to hold on to, for the person that had a hold on him.

"Close your eyes, Sasuke. Don't look, just keep running. I've got you."

His heart pumped furiously and he felt his eyes watering, the wind rushing past him, but seeing nothing around him. He swallowed gulps of air as he fought to breathe, but it felt like he was swallowing smoke. He turned his head even as he was pulled in another direction and this time he saw it; the towering inferno billowing into the night sky. He stumbled at the sight, foot catching on something in the darkness, and then he felt himself falling down, slipping further, winding deeper, succumbing forever -

Sasuke shot out of bed, throwing the covers aside. The tendrils of his nightmare still clung desperately to his psyche, warping the shadows that creeped in the corners of the barracks. He paced the length of his small cot, the cold stone floor numbing his bare feet, while his fellow soldiers slept soundly around him. Seizing fistfuls of his hair in his hands painfully so, he squeezed his eyes shut while the echo of his memories rippled through him.

His chest rattled with every shaky breath he took as he attempted to settle the erratic beating of his heart. He dropped his hands to his sides, clenching against the tremor in his fingers. How many restless nights had it been? Sasuke turned to the high windows situated beneath the beams of the roof where he saw that it was still dark outside.

What was the point of sleep anymore?

Throwing on his uniform, he stepped quietly out of the barracks. Thick, heavy clouds hung like a low canopy overhead. Looking up to the tops of the tall, slatted roofs of the buildings that sprawled across the grounds, he saw upon each sat a blanket of snow. The training fields to the right of him, where he desired to spend most of his free time, had begun to freeze over, rendering them unusable in such weather. But the significantly sized facility that resided nearby would serve as their sparring area in a pinch. He resolved to go there soon, when it was his day to rest.

Bracing himself against the bite of the wind, he began on the icy trail that branched into the gardens. With the frigid air encompassing him, he was grateful for the extra layers his uniform awarded him. Winter had announced its presence and now it was well on its way.

As Sasuke wandered down the path, the other palatial structures came into view. He could just make out the tiered silhouette of the Emperor's hall, the ridges of the mountains bordered by the burgeoning light of dawn sitting just behind it. Beyond his edifice lay the separate halls belonging to his daughter and their courtiers. While there once had been a time when this Summer Palace had housed hundreds of soldiers, noblemen, and diplomats, there was scarcely a fraction of those populations left. It had once been a thing of splendor and frivolity, but its grand halls of tapestry and art, of decadence and revelry, of indulgence and veneration, had long since been abandoned. Bordering the central most structures, past the infirmary and the stables, were a smattering of primarily deserted buildings; galleries, rooms, and social areas that might never be graced with the court's presence again.

Such was the cost of war, he supposed.

Sasuke stopped by the edge of the vast frozen lake situated at the heart of the gardens. In the warmer months, the koi fish, a prize of the Emperor's daughter, would glimmer beneath the surface of the water. But since the first snowfall, they had been moved to suitable tanks indoors where they seemed to thrive even more under her care and attention.

"Uzumaki-san?" Sasuke turned promptly to find the very same woman standing on the snow covered path in a starkly colorful robe reminiscent of spring. The updo of her hair was decorated in golden jewels that dangled down to the high neck of her jūnihitoe. Her hands met at her waist, the sleeves of her dress covering them from the cold. Her green orbs alighted at the sight of him, "I thought that was you."

Sasuke bowed low and rose slowly in respect, bringing his eyes up to her kind visage. He could see the rosy kiss of the cold wind on her cheeks.

"Perhaps we should get you back inside, Haruno-sama," he made a small gesture in the direction of her quarters, but she shook her head.

"I am afraid I am unable to sleep," she met his gaze then and grinned with an exuberance he doubted anyone could rival, "I do not do well in Winter."

Before he could stop her, she was kneeling in the snow by the side of the water where lush foliage had once bordered the lake. She reached a hand out, small fingers curling around the air.

"Much like the flowers, I find myself wilting in this weather, trapped by the cold and unable to thrive outside," and yet, he thought, she managed to carry herself with no less grace. But, he supposed that was largely due to her upbringing, "Do you enjoy books Uzumaki-san?"

"I have not read many," he kept his distance from her, adverse to her question, merely observing as she glanced her fingers over the slick ice. Even from the profile of her face, he could see the twitch of her lips moving upward.

"I find that I read more during Winter," she said wistfully, gathering the hem of her skirt as she began to rise, prompting him to rush forward and offer his hand instead. She appeared almost surprised by the gesture, "Oh, thank you."

Her soft, pale fingers gripped his tightly as he pulled her up steadily, but both being equally as frigid from the weather, they hardly felt the touch at all. As she dusted the snow off of her delicate robe, he noticed the damp patches left from where it had soaked in at her knees. When he released her hand, she walked forward, keeping to the barely visible trail. Sasuke stayed within a reasonable pace, following her up the path until she paused by a stone bench that resided beside a lone willow tree.

"Wait," he stopped her from sitting down with a flourish of his hand. She crooked a delicate brow at him, but then he reached down and shoved the snow off the bench so that she might have a partially dry seat. A bemused look overcame her.

"A gentleman, too," she sat and smoothed out her skirts, the flush in her cheeks deepening. Sakura crossed her legs and rested her chin on her hand as she watched the sun rise from behind the mountains. As light began to filter into their frozen world, so it seemed sound did as well and, though they were both silent, birds began to chirp, singing the song of morning. Sakura's gaze was entranced by the way the sun caressed her empire, but Sasuke paid far more attention to much smaller details. While she watched the snow glisten and sparkle as rays of light hit patches, he noted the way her porcelain skin took on an ethereal glow under the sun. While she listened to the chatter of the birds in the trees, he was attuned to the soft giggle of her amusement at them. While she smiled at the dawn of a new day, he saw the luster in her eyes dull as the light fought to break through the thick clouds. And, as he admired her, he wondered what she meant by that word 'too.'

He had heard the songs written about her beauty, the sonnets, the odes, long before he had ever seen her. Of course, he had never believed them to be true. How could they be? Poetry was hyperbolic nonsense.

But then Sasuke had seen her for the first time. He had been working at the palace for a full month before he had had the pleasure of laying his eyes upon her. As it was, she happened to be on the other side of the grounds, passing under the columned walkways of the palace to avoid the rain. He had been stationed outside of her father's quarters that afternoon, diligent and strict as ever. Yet, he found himself craning for a better look. He wished she would turn her head so that he might see more of her beautiful features, but he managed only to glimpse the curve of her lips as she laughed at something a courtier said.

The first time he looked at her, really looked at her, he was presiding over a banquet with an honored guest of the Emperor's. She was breathtaking and he had wondered in that moment not the validity of those dedications to her beauty, but rather why they had all failed to do her justice. Dressed in the finest gold silks that night, with her fabrics winking in the lights, he had watched her dance and twirl around the room for longer than he cared to count. She had stopped only when her eyes finally rested on him, and then she smiled.

"Some mornings I wish the sun would not rise," she spoke so softly, as if she could keep their quiet seclusion intact, despite the appearance that life around the palace had begun to awaken, "I prefer the intimacy of nighttime and early mornings. I find it more peaceful, contemplative even. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Of course," he answered automatically, too quickly, and she caught him with a sly grin.

"I asked you a question, Uzumaki-san. Do not agree unless it is how you truly feel," she appeared sharp and coy, even as she spared him a glance.

"I agree, Haruno-sama," he said carefully, gaze flicking between her and the grounds where the activity around them continued to grow.

"And yet?" She prompted, turning to face him completely, vivid green eyes boring into his.

"And yet, I do not care for the silence of the night. The business of the days are a welcome distraction," he set his jaw tight, adamant that he would say no more, even if she commanded it of him. But to his relief, she spared him.

"I suppose intimacy can often be synonymous with loneliness," she murmured, looking back to her domain, before rising to her feet. He had been so concerned with concluding their conversation that he had forgotten to offer her his hand. She tossed him a subdued smile and said, "Good day, Uzumaki-san."

He watched her go down the path, retreating to her chambers, and waited until she was entirely out of ear shot to say,

"Good day, Haruno-sama."

When Sakura entered her quarters, the hearth off to the right of her holding a blazing fire, she settled herself at the small table by her window where she had left her books out. For all the grandeur of her title, she kept a decidedly modest sitting room. Either side of the large window that overlooked parts of the gardens and palace grounds, stood lofty bookcases filled with acquired journals, mostly of medicine and its advancements. While she kept the ornate throne on her dais at the back of the room, she rarely found herself using it, preferring instead her little seat by the window.

As she traversed the lines of the text in front of her, she found she could not keep her concentration for more than a few words. It had been some time since the Uzumaki brothers had arrived at the palace, but it was more recently, since her initial encounter with the older brother, that she found her attentions had become somewhat diverted. In fact, it had been her ladies in waiting that had set him in her sights first and so they then found themselves shamelessly out in the sweltering heat the summer before last to watch him on the training grounds with the other soldiers. His striking features aside, he had commanded her focus with his fluid movements and quiet ferocity. Most notably, though, she found herself transfixed by the mystery in his dark eyes, eyes that she had only ever had the pleasure of looking into on a few occasions. As such, whenever she found him around the palace, she always made a point to speak with him, even if he did not always have something to say in return.

She smiled to herself, he was not terrible to look upon either. A knock sounded at her door and she righted herself, coming to her feet, before her father strode in. A small group of soldiers followed closely behind. Emperor Kizashi was a sturdy man, imposing both in his stature and through his booming voice, but his eyes were gentle, those of someone who had known the burden of grief.

"How are you fairing this morning?" he stopped just short of hugging her, placing his hands on her arms and squeezing slightly. The lines in his face crinkled as he smiled at her.

"Well, father," she nodded, "And yourself?"

"I have experienced better days," he began to pace the length of her room, his head bowed as he spoke thoughtfully, "We have discovered a number of spies within the ranks of our soldiers. They watch us for the Akatsuki. One of them was a guard stationed to you. Rest assured, they will be dealt with appropriately, but in the meantime, the Uzumaki will be at your door."

"Are we safe?" Her breath hitched in her throat and she clutched a hand over her stomach. She felt a cold sweat breaking out over her. Traitors? In their own palace?

"For now," her father peered out the window, catching sight of something and nodding in response, "I will keep us safe."

He regarded her carefully. The number of people at his court and in his employ that he could trust was dwindling steadily, but he could not let anything happen to her. The Uzumakis were a fine, upstanding family and, at one point, the Emperor's most powerful and loyal allies.

"It would be best that you not roam around the grounds on your own anymore," he said firmly, then, with a nod, turned on his heel.

Sakura watched her father retreat with his soldiers and caught a glimpse of the Uzumaki's back as they exited. She rushed forward before the doors closed. He turned at the sound of her hand hitting the wood.

"Uzumaki-San, please come inside," she beckoned him forward, but only the wind that stirred his hair moved him, "It is too cold for you to be out here all day."

"I am grateful for the concern but I am to guard your door," he said plainly, sounding as though he were reciting a prepared speech to her.

"Would it not be better to guard me in here," she asked, swallowing thickly, "Where it is warm?" She hoped he might chock her flushed cheeks up to the bite in the air, rather than the heat she felt from being held under his stare. When he did not respond, her words became harried, "If that is not reason enough, then I am bored and require company."

She swore she saw him smirk before he settled into a concentrated stoicism and turned fully to face her.

"You think me better company than your ladies in waiting?"

"You are more entertaining than they," she smiled, relieved by his humor, then urged him, "Please, come inside."

He seemed to consider her for a moment before giving a brief nod and following her within. She was right, it was much warmer in her chambers, due mostly to the ample fire burning in her hearth. He stood stiffly in the center of her room, taking in the scant paintings that adorned her walls, until she beckoned him over to a small table. He took the seat opposite her hesitantly, and would not take his eyes away from the window, preferring to remain as diligent as if he were stationed at her doors. She watched him curiously, noting the intensity of his gaze and acuteness of his focus, wondering what exactly it was that he was searching for.

"Did you know that a doctor in India perfected a tensile string that's used in most stitching procedures today?" She asked suddenly.

"No," twice in a day, Sasuke found himself floored by the unexpectedness of her questions. At her silence, he snapped his eyes up to hers.

"It is incredibly fascinating," she pushed one of her scriptures towards him. He gave her an odd look, opening his mouth once more, perhaps to question her, but she spoke before he could formulate the words, "Indulge me. Please."

With a short nod, he took up the pages and began at the top, following the words down. Sasuke knew she was watching him in a most peculiar way but he could not bring himself to react in such a manor that showed he held favor with her interests. To be quite plain, he thought the text was entirely too dull for his liking; it was only an account of the production of the medical tool as well as the application of it in surgery. He recalled the grand tales of valor and adventure that his brother had read to him in their younger years and felt that they held more fascination for him than the words in his hands. However, he had to respect her ability to take pleasure in such a dreary subject, let alone to comprehend it the way she appeared to.

"What do you think?" Her soft voice broke the silence; she seemed to have noticed his eyes lingering at the bottom of the page.

"I am afraid I have no opinion," he shook his head slightly, thumbing the parchment, "It is not a subject I am well versed on."

"Not many people are," she smiled and took the journal from him, fingers brushing against the rough pads of his. Quietly, she delighted in the jolt of his hands as he pulled them out of her reach, "I suppose I have the luxury of studying whatever catches my attention."

Like you, she thought.

"What is your opinion on it?" He countered, watching with curiosity as her already vibrant eyes grew brighter with the opportunity to speak on the subject.

"I am afraid I, too, have no opinion," her response puzzled him. Had she not incited such a conversation for the purpose of meaningful discourse? "It is difficult to form one when I have not experienced it personally," Sasuke nodded in understanding, although he was surprised by the depth of her explanation, "However, I do find the practice of medicine fascinating and I should like to think that if I were a surgeon, I would find this new product very helpful. They say, due to the strength of the string, it has cut the time of healing in half. It does not break as easily, therefore the wound is less likely to become infected or require additional attention."

"Do you think you have the will for surgery?" he asked pointedly. Sasuke doubted very much that she would do well operating on an injured person - being a woman of her prestige, he found it difficult to imagine her in such an environment - and so he couldn't keep the words in his mouth.

"I would like to find out," challenge flared within her as a small smirk beset her charming features, "The body is a remarkable thing. We have the power to heal ourselves in many ways and now, with the progression of medicinal techniques and tools, we are able to take that power a step further," Sasuke could feel the excitement she exuded as she spoke, so he held his tongue, "When I was a little girl, I fell off my horse and landed right on my wrist. I could see the outline of my bone through my skin," Her lips quirked into a smile at the memory, "I was sobbing, it was utterly painful, but I remember being so fascinated by the way the nurses had to set it properly, so carefully, so that it might heal correctly. I found it inspiring and I remember running to my mother that night to tell her I wished to study medicine," Sasuke was silent, his sharp, captivated eyes daring her to go on, until he saw her face fall. She was quick to pick it up, though, smiling with a practiced acceptance, "Alas, I am not eligible for such a profession."

Sasuke caught himself before he could utter the question that hung on the tip of his tongue. The rest of the world came in clear then. He had been so focused on the curve of her smile, the shade of her eyes and the happiness lurking beneath there, as she shared such private thoughts with him. Thoughts that, quite obviously, were just that; ruminations of dreams that had been lost to her before she could even reach for them. He had been so enthralled by her words that he had forgotten why she was dressed in the finest silks, why her room was so vast and adorned with the finest things, and why she'd spoken with reticent desire instead of zealous intent.

She was meant for a different life.

Her eyes moved to the window where she watched as the snow began to fall and everything around them quieted. She rested her chin on her fist as she'd done earlier, looking far more morose in that moment. As he looked upon her, studying her meditative appearance, Sasuke felt something seep under his skin then, a hushed chill that disturbed his thoughts. It occurred to him that, despite it all, he might feel sympathy for her; that despite her luxuries, privileges, and standing, she was only a person. She had hopes and ambitions like he once did, before it all.

"It was not my intention to make you sad," he paused, scrambling for some semblance of an apology that held more than 'I'm sorry.'

"Of course not," she lowered her eyes, passing over the books in front of her, "It was not my intention to be so candid," she lifted them to look up at Sasuke.

"I believe you would have success in that field, if - ," his voice subsided until he lost his words within her gaze.

"If I had the opportunity?" She finished, brows raised in anticipation of his endorsement. He nodded and a flush of pink graced her cheeks.

"Perhaps one day," he winced internally at his brash language and fisted his hands tightly as though it might keep him from insulting her any more.

"Perhaps," she laughed lightly, alerting him that maybe she was not so offended by his suggestion, and tapped her fingers on the table, "What about you? Did you always want to become a soldier?"

"I always knew I would be," his eyes deflected to the window, unnerved by her unyielding gaze. Did she know that she did that, looked at him that way?

"But, did you want to be?"

"Yes," given the circumstances, he added quietly.

"Was it because of your parents? The Uzumakis are well known for their valor," she grinned like she was giving him a compliment, "I have met Naruto-san on a few occasions. I admit, I do not see much resemblance," she made a small gesture towards Sasuke, "In features or personality."

"Hn," he nodded curtly, "You are not the first to tell us that."

"Was it your parents? Or was it your brother's influence?" He glanced at her briefly and saw the curiosity evident in her features. What did it matter to her? Why was she so interested?

"Both," Sasuke began to fidget, adjusting himself in the chair. Sakura giggled suddenly.

"Do I make you uncomfortable?" She smirked, cocking her head to the side, "Or is it the discussion I've chosen?"

"Both," he frowned, finally turning back to her. He was beginning to wish that the Emperor had chosen someone else to look after his daughter.

"Why?" She leaned forward, prodding him with the language of her body, the fierceness of her eyes, and the bluntness of her words.

"You ask too many questions," he said boldly, brows furrowed as he leaned away from her.

"I could never sit still when I was a child," her tone was mirthful, "Especially when I had lessons of etiquette. I know how to behave properly, of course, but at times I make the decision not to," again she smirked as he squirmed beneath her gaze, "How unfortunate for you that I have chosen not to be proper in this moment."

He froze; she was teasing him. Mercilessly, too. Had she nothing better to do? A sharp knock came to the door and Sasuke shot to his feet. Surely he would come into trouble because he had obeyed this indulgent woman, but as he went to open the door, he found only one of the kitchen servants holding a tray of food. She walked silently to where Sakura sat and placed the platter beside her books. Sakura thanked her with an innocent smile and the servant left. Sasuke turned back from the door to see Sakura watching him intently.

"Join me. I suspect you missed breakfast this morning given how early I found you in the gardens," the dismissiveness of her command told him that she would not take no for an answer. So, against his better judgement, he resumed his seat facing her as she pulled the coverings off her food. Steam arose from the freshly cooked meats and roasted vegetables, alluring Sasuke. She began to cut away pieces, pushing them into a pile towards him. When she had finished she offered him the fork. He shook his head.

"I will eat tonight."

"I am not offering, Uzumaki-san," she held the fork out to him again. Sasuke bit his tongue and took the knife instead, stabbing it through a piece of chicken. Sakura waited until he had placed the food on his tongue to begin eating. He tried not to let slip to her the enraptured bliss his tastebuds were experiencing from the delicacies before him, because he could see her watching for any indication of it.

They ate in silence for some time, throughout which Sakura continued to push different things to what was becoming his side of the plate. He tried not to watch her, not to look at her, especially when she caught him, but he found it very hard to avert his eyes. For all her delicate sensibilities and soft features, she ate like many of the men he roomed with in the barracks. Sakura attacked her food as one might an army, and showed no shame for it. Yet, somehow, she still managed to look no less beautiful as she tried to break off a piece of chewy meat with her teeth, laughing all the while.

Finally, they had cleared the plate and, truthfully, Sasuke had not found it hard. Skipping breakfast had made him particularly famished and he found that the cooks spared no expense on the seasonings for her meals.

"Thank you," she patted her full lips with a cloth napkin and set it down on the table, "They always give me too much food."

Sakura gravitated to a cup of red, prickly spheres on the tray and took one up, twirling it between her fingers.

"Hn."

He watched as she peeled back the spiked skin, revealing an almost translucent flesh.

"Have you had one of these before?" She asked, wielding the small, now naked ball. Sasuke shook his head, "They come from China. They're called lychees. It's a popular fruit there and I came across them while we travelled one summer. It was such an unbearably hot day," Sakura admired the fruit fondly, "And they were so refreshing. I grow them here, but I've yet to produce one as sweet or succulent as that first one I consumed," Sakura offered him the berry and he took it without question; he didn't have the will or the chance to defy her.

When he popped it in his mouth, she picked up another one and began peeling again. He chewed and found that the skin gave way easily, but a hard pit lay in the center, causing him to almost spit it out. Sakura laughed, recognizing the look on his face,

"I was surprised the first time I ate one, too. I was not expecting it."

Sasuke chewed around the pit carefully, tearing away the sweet, clear pieces of fruit and savoring the juices that gushed forth. When he finished, he pulled it out of his mouth and left it on their finished plate. He watched as Sakura sucked part of the fruit into her mouth, an obscene flick of her tongue aiding in flaying the skin off the berry. He dropped his eyes when she caught him staring.

"I have never had anything so sweet," he spoke with a sense of marvel.

"It is my favorite fruit," she declared, tossing her pit beside his, "So harsh and foreboding on the outside, but completely contrary on the inside."

She began to peel another berry, eyes glinting in a way that he found most mischievous and, quite suddenly, he felt himself falling into a familiarity so perilous that it enveloped him whole; a sensation that awoke his mind, ripping him from the confines of his own misery and infusing his blood with a radiance that kindled a fire he had not known he held.

Why did she look at him that way? Why did she scrutinize him with such fervor?

Why did he let her?

She appeared to want to possess him, to strip him of his armor until he was bared before her, until every part of him was exposed to her gluttony. And even then she would not be satisfied until she burrowed within that secret place inside of him, that well of darkness where he cast his deepest secrets.

But instead of fear, it inspired a precarious fascination within him.

And yet, he felt something warning him to leave, to keep his distance from her in that moment. He did not know her, was unaware of her true intentions, and had somehow become the subject of her eccentric impulses in a single afternoon. If he was not careful, he might overstay his welcome.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Haruno-sama, but I should resume my post now," he rose from the table and, though she was attentive to his movements, she made no move to stop him. Sakura watched him go, keeping silent until he was at the door.

"Thank you for the company," she said quietly and he caught sight of a contented smile on her lips before he stepped outside, shutting the door behind him.

In the cold, crisp air, he felt like he could finally breathe again, like time had resumed and he was no longer imprisoned by her presence. He shook his fingers through his hair and ran his hands down his face, exasperated breath puffing in front of him, as the snow blanketed the world around him.

Sakura found herself disquieted that night. The fireplace in her bedroom burned heartily, warming her chambers, and her thick sheets were as soft and comforting as ever, but she could not find sleep. At nightfall, somebody new had been posted within her sitting room should she need anything, but the fact that it was not Sasuke irked her terribly. Try as she might, she could not cast out the haunting depth of his eyes nor the strength of his features that so incessantly plagued her.

He was a handsome man, made even more intriguing by his obscurity, but she had to wonder how it had been for Naruto to have grown up with a brother so different. From the little time they had spent together, she had always known Naruto to be so exuberant and happened to share Sakura's enthusiasm in all things, yet it was difficult to obtain a response in anything from Sasuke. She remembered how outspoken Naruto had been about his affections towards one of her ladies in waiting. It still brought a smile to her face thinking of how unabashed Naruto had been in his courtship. She could not imagine Sasuke ever being so passionate about anything the way Naruto was. . . Or anyone.

She turned to the other side of her bed, unaware that he was as restless just on the other side of the palace grounds.

Like tiny threads woven through his body, stitched within his sinew and bone, he felt something pulling him from another fitful slumber. He sat up straight, the echo of Itachi's voice prominent in his mind, calling Sasuke's name like a cursed prayer. He shook the covers off, letting the dream fall away with them. Taking up his uniform, he donned it promptly and took off to the gardens. The world was almost pitch black, only a thin crescent moon and a sprinkling of stars hung over the frozen grounds. He crossed the length of the path surrounding the lake until he'd almost worn away the fresh snow that lay there.

Sasuke was growing tired of these memories that had gnarled and twisted into near unrecognizable visions of terror. It was becoming increasingly difficult to trust the allure of sleep these days. With a despondent exhale, Sasuke seated himself at the bench beside the willow tree and watched the sun rise.

Gradually, the world around him came to life. The birds tweeted merrily, groundskeepers began their rounds, and the Emperor's daughter emerged from her rooms. She spotted him and smiled so brilliantly he thought the sun ought to be ashamed.

"Good morning, Uzumaki-san," she had the fabric of her skirts gathered in gloved hands to allow her longer strides in her effort to reach him.

"Good morning, Haruno-sama," out of courtesy, Sasuke stood and offered her his seat.

"Will you sit with me today?" she would not take it until he complied with a simple nod and seated himself beside her. The arm of the stone dug into his side as he moved to keep a healthy distance between them, "How did you sleep? I suppose it was not well, as you seem to have been out here for some time."

"You slept better than I," he assured her, training his eyes to the icy lake, though he could sense her probing stare.

"Do you think so?" she asked, tugging at the hems of her gloves like she was itching to remove them.

"Did you not?" he meant to spare her a brief glance. Instead, he lost himself to the depths of her verdant orbs, caught in the light that seemed not to reflect, but rather emanate from the recesses there.

"No," she responded gently, as though it were a trivial thing, "I found I had to exhaust myself into the wee hours of morning before I was able to sleep."

"Are you troubled?" Sasuke wasn't entirely sure why he was asking. As a guard, it was his duty to defend her against any physical problems that sought to disturb her. However, he suspected she was not plagued by physical matters. Emotions, issues of the heart, intangible things that he could not grasp - well, that was not his area of proficiency.

"I suspect so," she trailed off then, breaking their eye contact to stare into the horizon, "No matter," she came to her feet abruptly then, causing Sasuke to shoot to his. She laughed softly, "Uzumaki-san, you are more a gentleman than my suitors."

"It is my job, Haruno-sama," he evaded her eyes when she took hold of his arm brazenly and led him down the path to her sitting room.

"With respect to your training, I doubt that is what they taught you to become a soldier," she gave an intonation to her words that bordered on humorous. Rather than offer up an inane response, Sasuke kept his mouth shut tight. He had not learned manners by training with fellow guards, it was true.

It was his mother that had taught him from a young age to rise when a lady rises, to offer his seat when she came, and to give his respect to her in every manner.

"Do you play shogi, Uzumaki-san?" She allowed him to open her doors for her and led him inside. It was still early and no one had come to light her fire yet. Nonetheless, the room had retained its warmth from the previous night.

"I have not played in some time," Sasuke kicked the snow off his boots at her entryway, watching her traipse to her bookcase to pull the board and its pieces out.

"In that case, we should make it a bet," she laid the game out on her table as he approached her with a smirk.

"Because you are confident you would win?"

"Oh, I am certain of it," she said humorously, earning her a chuckle from him. He tried not to notice the way she seemed to take enjoyment from his amusement. As they took their seats and prepared the board, Sakura looked up suddenly, "I do not know your name."

"Uzumaki is fine," Sasuke said stiffly, moving one of his pieces. She tapped her finger on the table, watching him with a curiosity undeterred by his curt manner.

"Do you know my name?" She asked.

Sasuke was beginning to wonder if she was aware that she spoke her thoughts so loud and freely.

"Yes," his brows furrowed. He doubted anyone in the Emperor's land did not know her name, nor the reason for it.

"Say it," she took her fingers away from the board and leaned back in her chair. Sasuke swallowed; was this a trick? A test? What pleasure could she possibly derive from the utterance of her name? His eyes met hers tentatively.

"Sakura."

He had spoken the word so often in his mind, fleeting, in passing mostly, but a shiver ran through him as he gave voice to it. There was a meaning behind it now, a weight to the word that hadn't existed before that moment and he felt it resting on his tongue,

"You were named Sakura, because your mother had gone into labor beneath a cherry blossom tree and had given birth to you on the first day of spring."

"What is your name?" Sakura seemed unfazed by his knowledge surrounding her birth and he suspected he was not the first to recite her own beginnings to her.

"It is unimportant," he crossed his arms over his chest, and regarded her warily,

"I disagree," she shook her head lightly, green orbs sobering the longer she looked at him, "It has become very important to me to know your name. I do not wish to continue to call you Uzumaki-san, most especially if you are to be my guard indefinitely."

Perhaps he was not the first soldier to be subjected to her willful mannerisms, he thought idly. Perhaps this was simply how she was. Perhaps this was the only way she could find entertainment within the palace, through inflicting such intimate conversation upon others unfortunate enough to be in her presence. Perhaps it was just as she said; how unfortunate for him.

"My name is Sasuke," he felt the uneasy churn in his stomach as he spoke, "But you may call me what you wish, Haruno-sama."

"Sakura," she said earnestly, "Please, Sasuke-kun."

He tensed under her open gaze, at the sound of a name not uttered in years. It was so sweet and unassuming as it passed through her lips, unbridled of pain or indignity. But she seemed to sense the onus it bore; she would not look away from him, waiting for his secrets to surface. He supposed she had to know they were there, woven into his skin, burrowed in his bones. They bubbled under the surface, inspiring the heat of anxiety through his body and the chill of fear in his heart. Did she see it, he wondered, the flicker of terror in his eyes or the tension in his shoulders?

She spoke his name once more, drawing each letter out with a pleasured smile so sinful that he felt his heart stutter in his chest. He dropped his eyes to the game between them, wary of letting the consequence of her voice show. He motioned to the pieces on the board.

"It is still your turn, Sakura-san."