Ino's muffled speech intertwined with remote drum beats. Thumps caressed the trees into a hum of contented rustling, the holy light of the moon lit a path toward the darkest corners of the woodland. Preoccupied with the memory of the strange guard, and the terror of that glint of recognition in his eye, Ino's words went unacknowledged.

Bringing this incredibly unlikely development to the attention of her guardian and the village head shook her. It was no fault of her own that her moon-mark was so widely conspicuous. Wholly distracted by her own commotion, it hadn't occurred to her to check the shape of it prior to leaving the house. Her recollection of her walk through the village square highlighted nothing specific of the villagers contemptuous whispers with regards to her mark. Their focus — her heart clenched — appeared to be latched onto her newfound dissimilarity. Although, she hadn't truly been listening for anything, and caught only the wave of a whisper now and again.

No doubt, blame for the guard's newly acquired knowledge would be hers to face alone. She'd left the house without warning, and although she wasn't exactly barred from doing so, Sakura should have known better. Unbelievably (but not really), it was also common knowledge that moon-marks were almost unfailingly hereditary. Impulsivity was definitely one of the behaviors Tsunade had alluded to during their earlier talk.

Green eyes remained fixed to her slipper clad feet. The path Ino had chosen took them the long way 'round the village and for that she was grateful. Her hazy bravery from earlier did not extend to a sequel, largely because she was now heavily worried someone would recognize the sigil of her father's house.

She shuddered to think of the destruction that could befall them. More distressed than she had been at the thought of the backlash Ino might experience, she agonized that she would bring further danger into Ino's life with this disastrous misstep.

A large shadow flew overhead with none of the magic sheen that followed fae, and the urge to run overwhelmed her. She kept her composure, unwilling to alert her friend that anything was amiss.

Hopefully, she could concoct some believable story about her grievous error along the way. For now, though, she couldn't reason it in her mind. The fact of the matter was that she proved herself reckless, and after Tsunade's words earlier, she was very much afraid to admit it. An apology would do nothing to soothe the black fire she might have brought onto their heads. In hindsight, she acknowledged the wisest course of action would have been to stay in the cottage well beyond her death.

Sakura's step stuttered.

Discomfort churned her stomach. Not at the onslaught of panicked thoughts, but at the realization that she had no idea what to do. Not just about the guard, but about her future.

The blonde's near rhythmic speech ceased as she glanced back at Sakura for her lapse of unsteady step. Sakura shook away the startling thought and brushed aside loose ebony strands, the corners of her mouth lifting into a wavering smile.

Not one to be so easily led, Ino laid a hand on Sakura's arm.

"Hanako," Ino began as softly as she could. "Have you heard anything I've said?"

Cheeks flushing, Sakura shook her head.

"I thought so. What's going on in there? It's like you're caught in a mermaid's bubble." The blonde grasped the other young woman's hands. "Are you still worried about before? Tsunade told me she used conciliating magic on you…"

Green eyes widening, she quickly looked away and nodded. Inwardly, she scolded herself for being so obvious. Her new stress had undone the chief's magic. Unbelievable, and yet, this ridiculously timed chain of events reminded her what complacency taught her to forget. How to live everyday as though she were on the brink of death.

Ino squeezed her hands. "You're still scared."

Comforted by the action, the brunette raised her eyes to meet Ino's and was taken aback when she found herself eyeing her own profile instead. Giggles rang through the air, startling Sakura into glancing this way and that, to confirm their solitude. Confused nose twitches noted there was no scent of sour berries that often accompanied the wisp fae. Lips trembling, Sakura watched as her mouth opened to speak and Ino's lilting voice drifted toward her.

"Wha-" Ino started, just as bewildered. A sort of realization dawned in what were now Ino's eyes and she swatted the air in an unconcerned motion. "You don't have to be scared of change. I know it hasn't really done us any favors in the past, but that doesn't mean it's always bad. What matters is that I'll always be on your side and you'll always be on mine, right?"

The expression she wore was more confident than Sakura had seen on herself in years. It bespoke fearlessness and defiance and assurance, and Sakura wanted it. She desired that confidence to be more than physiognomy.

A few seconds passed and it registered that Ino was waiting for a response. She nodded insistently, to which Ino gave a small smile.

Their hands separated with a jolt and Sakura caught herself on a nearby tree. Both their heads shot up, faces painted with incredulous expressions.

"We should… get home?" Ino suggested.

"Uh-huh."

They made a point not to initiate contact for the remainder of their walk. Sakura's mind reeled from Ino's manifestation of power, the event had her brimming with an incredible sense of foreboding.

She was happy for Ino, it was a blessing to have received a power from the goddess at all. Vaguely she recalled a conversation with Kakashi about the abilities that might be gained during their night under the full moon. Ino's were a little more clearcut, because her family had controlled the mind's of others in some form for generations. Sakura, however, was unsure whether she'd attained a power at all. Statistically, her opportunities were split in four; her father's power, her mother's, no power at all, or a power unique to her. The latter being the least likely, as it was — theoretically — a rare occurrence.

Judging by her wings appearance, if she were looking from an outside perspective, they did have the consistency of dragons wings. Eyeing the previously unnoticed scales on her shoulder, she decided that the possibility of a dragon form could not be overlooked. Perhaps she would ask Kakashi about the mechanics of changing forms, whenever her anger decided to cool. She supposed it had to bear some similarities to shrinking into wisp form, but that was also something she only knew of in theory.

Crushing the groan bubbling in her throat, she stared up at the sky silently begging Kiyo to take pity on her.

Finally reaching their home, the two climbed over the fence to their backyard and let themselves into the kitchen where Kakashi and Tsunade were already sat waiting for them.

Tsunade's annoyingly perceptive gaze narrowed on them. "Something happened, what happened?"

Sakura and Ino shared a look, the former shrugging in confusion.

"An out of body experience?" Ino joked.

Sakura snorted. The teapot on the stove steamed with the scent of fresh raspberries, she suddenly wanted to know of nothing but the sharp flavor clawing its way down her throat.

"Where did you go?"

"To the river."

She kept her back turned while she poured her tea. Neither of them could know simply by looking at her, but logic and fear had a tendency to derail even the most sane beings. Silence was her response, the type that told her that they were waiting for her to turn. When she didn't, the chief spoke again.

"Did anyone see you?"

Guilt pressed her eyes together.

"Yeah, at least the entire village. I walked through the square."

Tsunade let out a sigh. "And beyond that?"

"No." She'd meant to say yes, it would be better to admit her error now rather than later, but her lips had other plans.

"Good. That's very good." A false sense of ease spread through Sakura's body. If anyone hadn't believed her, they would have already said so. "This afternoon, when I got done yelling at you, I had a visitor. With the guards being barred from the ceremony – as usual – your uncle and I didn't feel that there was cause to worry. Of course, I wasn't taking into account that you would leave the house after… Well, after."

Sakura turned to face them all, holding her grimace unashamed. The woman's face was contorted uncomfortably, but that didn't particularly trouble her because Tsunade was most uncomfortable when speaking of emotional occurrences. Prior to leaving the house, she'd taken into account that there would probably be questions about her excursion – especially after the episode she'd had – but thinking about consequences and dismissing them was different from experiencing them in real time.

"But, you have always been allowed to leave the cottage on your own and I had no desire to cause a panic between you and Kagami."

Ino flicked her eyes to Sakura's in exasperation. "Lady Tsunade, is this going somewhere?"

"Oh, sorry, did you have somewhere more important to be?" she growled.

Sakura held back another snort that threatened to break free. Letting Ino have this one wouldn't hurt her.

"Now." Tsunade lifted a sarcastic brow. "Since the guards were banned and you didn't have the displeasure of encountering them, there is a temporary new addition to their ranks. The young lord, Itachi."

Horror widened Sakura's eyes almost comically. No, no, no, no, she lamented. Of all the things that could happen anywhere, at any time, this cannot be happening now.

Dilating pupils smothered pale viridian. Sakura brought a trembling cup to her chest in time with Ino's gasp. A chilling darkness stilled her body, shrouding the lively landscape of her mind. Something could be heard in the distance, a voice or a hum. Her heavy breaths eclipsed all senses, until the scent of burning flesh ravaged her nostrils. In her fright, Sakura's eyes darted around, unable to register anything they landed on.

A woman's voice called out to her. There was an urgency behind it, but her words were muffled.

She was startled back to reality when Ino's hand brushed against hers.

Her eyes flashed around the room once more to make certain the firelight covered everything, and in that moment her imagination played a violent trick on her. She imagined that every time her gaze landed on a shadow it brightened.

Foolish was the only way she felt she could be described. She'd earned the title with her demeanor and her thoughts. It surprised her that the word hadn't been one of her titles at birth.

Safety was an illusion, there was no disguise that could perpetually keep one out of harm's way. Of course, out of all the strange men she could have encountered in the forest, it would be the one she feared most.

His reference to the palace, the calculated way he observed her – a killer's gaze. There was no mistaking who it had been... Itachi. It was near impossible to remember all the nobles she'd encountered in her previous life, but the features of the Uchiha were unique to their house. She was supposed to be smart enough to recognize at least that, and yet she couldn't distinguish the actual danger emitted from a charming demeanor.

Sickness swelled violently in the depths of her belly, and her companion's rapid breaths matched the rhythm of her heart. The counter behind her acted as support, the only thing preventing her from succumbing to wobbly knees.

That man was the distant figure of her family's gruesome past, never seen but imagined in contorted and frightening ways. A nightmare, yes, and a polite one.

Flashes of death tittered across her mind, his face looming over the bodies of innocents. She and her little family stood no chance against the exalted killer. The man who, soldiers boasted around her at nine summers old, had struck her father from this world. His only legacies; an empty castle, subdued subjects, and an escaped daughter who shared his crescent mark.

She would join him and the countless others whose lives were snuffed out by the Uchiha's hand.

The gods painted her a fool, a fool who had just stood face to face with her greatest fear and had a casual conversation with him. Insulted him, without scruples, like he was any other man. Worst of all, he recognized her. That alone sealed their fate.

Looking into Tsunade's eyes, she resolved to tell the truth, but her chief spoke again before she could.

"Girls, calm yourselves. I know just hearing his name must feel like the end of days, but I have good news. As good as it's gonna get, anyway."

"Good news? Lady Tsunade, all due respect, I don't see sharing moonlight with the snake who killed our families as anything other bad news. Have you both lost your minds!"

Eyes wide and pinned in place by her own fear, Sakura watch Ino take a furious step forward. The snake comment burrowed straight into her spine.

"Uncle, don't you have anything to say about this? You can't seriously believe this to be a good thing."

She didn't look at him, because she feared his perception, but from her peripheral she didn't see him move in any significant way. He was going to let Tsunade do the talking this time then, he didn't think they would listen to him.

"Your uncle agrees with me," Tsunade stated firmly.

"My uncle can speak for himself."

Whatever kind of standoff this was turning into, Sakura didn't want to witness it's escalation. Ino had new powers and she was prone to losing hold over her emotions, one wrong move and an unknown ability could rip a hole in the cottage. Anxiety had her sliding her hand around Ino's wrist in a single motion, and before she knew what she was doing, Sakura pulled her friend backward with force.

"Thank you, Hanako." Ino's stare burned into the side of her face, which she ignored in favor of nodding for Tsunade to continue. "The good news is that he's not a danger to either of you."

Ino scoffed and snatched her arm from Sakura's grip to leave the room.

"Kagami, you will stay and you will listen. This is important," Kakashi scolded.

"I won't stay here and listen to how we're going to cater to a murderer and then be convinced how that's somehow a good idea!"

"He is not here for anything other than some time off. Look, girls, even I can't believe I'm saying this. The king sent him to investigate an uprising." The woman affixed Sakura with a poignant stare and her breath stilled. "But, he told me in very expressive words that he doesn't care, the guard was lying and it was obvious, and he wants to use this as an opportunity to take time off."

The younger blonde dug against her eyes with the heels of her palms. "Tsunade, this is ridiculous, since when does that good for nothing warmonger ever take time off from murdering for his master? Be honest with me. He's here to kill us."

The chief rolled her eyes at the declaration.

"Take it down a notch, why don't ya? He is not here to kill us."

"How do you know that? He came here on orders and told you he wants to take a vacation and you just believed him?"

"First of all, since you obviously need the reassurance-"

"Don't do that, don't make it sound like I'm being crazy about this!"

"Well, girl, your yelling isn't exactly helping your case. Now, I will continue without interruption," she pinned her with a glare. "Shizune read him. Now, yes, he is one of the most talented thinkers I've ever met, but he meant what he said. I wouldn't be sitting here if he didn't, not for his lack of threats. Regardless of the horror stories and his ruthless reputation, I know the kid. Itachi never does anything that he isn't ordered to. Never mind the fact that he has no idea of your existence in this village."

Sakura huffed out a breath of disbelief. The story didn't sound very convincing, as much as she wanted to believe Tsunade, and she couldn't exactly will the memory of recognition on his face away. Not alone in her thoughts that the tale was far-fetched, Ino squeezed Sakura's hands beseechingly.

"You can't be calm about this… you're worried too, right?

She stared into Ino's eyes, considering her words carefully. Then in a motion faster than she could follow, she was looking at her own face for the second time that night.

"Shit," Ino cursed from Sakura's body.

Hastily, Sakura released her hands and the sensation of returning to her body clashed with mischievous giggles.

"Ino, I never thought I would say this, but please stop touching me," she groaned, knees buckling. Grasping at her scalp, she made an unsuccessful attempt to dispel the spinning.

The recovery from Ino's slip was significantly worse than it had been the first time, Sakura agonized.

"What's that you two just did?" Tsunade queried.

"We keep switching bodies," Ino whined.

Kakashi hummed. "You've inherited the abilities of your father's house then."

"What? I thought my mother was the one who could do that?"

"No, your mother could lure people to her," Tsunade clarified. "In any case, this means that you should probably steer clear of touching anyone until you get a handle on that. We have many things to speak to you girls about, but we'll do that on the morrow because it's late and I still have festivities to attend."

Both young women shot her looks of disgust for her taking advantage of the change in atmosphere. How anyone could think of celebrating anything after the news she'd just dropped on them was ridiculous.

"Before I go, I want to warn you two to keep your heads low during this week. And Ino, you should probably take a glamour to your hair."

"Why?"

"Because you bear a striking resemblance to your father, and in the interest of not getting everyone hung you'll want to keep the attention away."

A puff of air brushed against Sakura's skin. The moment had passed, but her heart beat insanely still. The chief's assured declaration that Lord Itachi didn't know about them unsettled her, she didn't have a hope in shades of making it out of her own foolishness alive.

Should he decide to finish the job his king started, there would be no stopping him. Still distressing the strands at the beginning of her scalp, she listened distantly to Tsunade instructing them to be prepared for the upcoming flight practice. A return to normalcy was the furthest thought from her mind, instead she would focus her energy on forgoing sleep for the night. If he did come, he would be met with a field of grass. She would shield their house from view, even if it meant she would have only one more night.

Form rigid and pensive, Itachi stood in the exact spot he'd occupied the night previous. The guards that weren't Nomura had fussed over him like startled mother hens, suspicious of where he'd scampered off to while their eyes were averted. And while he offered no explanation, they seemed just as relieved that they hadn't misplaced the king's pet. The village square was greatly subdued after the night's festivities, even well into the afternoon. It allowed his mind the freedom to wander.

Neither his dreams nor his thoughts allowed him a moment of peace. So plagued was he by the face of a woman long dead, and the leather that framed it. More than composed enough not to release the grimace he felt, he hardened his expression. A young faerie who had been watching him with a delicate smile yelped at his change in demeanor and scurried away.

It didn't make sense to continue dwelling on the subject, he would receive his answers soon enough. If only he possessed his usual bout of unyielding patience. Of course, these things never did work out in his favor.

Allowing his shoulders to droop a bit, in reluctant acceptance, the sheen of calculating green eyes beguiled his mind. Confident swipes of an agile sword against his, and quickly encroaching clouds above them. Behind her stood a distant male figure whose face was hidden in the shade.

Stiffening his posture once more, he eyed newcomers circling the village square. He hadn't thought of her in many years, the recollection seemed to him more dream than memory.

Tranquil winds lifted his bangs, nearly blocking the sight of a young brunette clad in a green tunic-like dress that would have scandalized court ladies. On her face was unadulterated mischief, the look of someone confident in their playfulness. It reminded him of a similar expression that often graced the face of the demon prince. She wore her dress with intention and he appreciated the humor in the scene she created, the purposeful smiles at the older women eyeing her with disgust, and the genuine ones she flashed at the women who complimented her.

He stepped further into the shadows, gaze locked on her in interest. Just before knocking, she tilted her head back and popped her thumbs up at another person some distance away. His eyes slid to her companion and the figure dominating his thoughts.

Crouched between a shrub and a house, Hanako looked on, stressing her bottom lip.

His attention was seized by the door opening, revealing the face of the young woman Hanako attempted to greet during the festival. His curiosity turned his eyes back to where she was hidden, where he expected to find her still anxiously observing the scene. Her attention, however, was on him.

"Good tidings, Maemi," the brunette greeted.

Footsteps crept toward the two girls, he listened but kept his eyes on hers. Hanako's gaze pleaded with his, yet he was unsure of what he could have done in the last few moments to warrant the tormented expression she sent his way.

"What business have you here, Kagami of Greenbloom?"

The father's appearance, if she could hear him, didn't startle her in the least. The source of her fear, he deduced, was unequivocally him.

"Sir, I've told you many times, you don't have to be so formal with me," the brunette assured.

"So you have, Kagami of Greenbloom."

In an attempt to placate her, Itachi softened his expression and lifted a brow. Suddenly, the father moved to push his daughter out of the way. Itachi attached his eyes to the stout man and was surprised to find the man looking at him. He then slid suspicious eyes to the right where Hanako was, and Itachi realized that he'd given her position away.

With great haste, he unfurled his wings and lifted himself into the air, startling passerby's. From his vantage point above them, he took note of Hanako settling back into her hiding place, head tilted up, observing him. The father of her friend was nowhere in sight. He took that as his victory.

"I apologize, Hanako, for my father's behavior yesterday. He didn't–"

"Kiyo, Maemi," Ino groaned. "Don't you say he meant no harm, he meant all of the harm."

The shy girl didn't try to correct her, but Sakura wasn't offended. She knew her friend was just trying to be polite. So many things had changed in barely a day, but at least she could trust her friends to stay the same.

Her thoughts about her effect on Ino's reputation yesterday were for naught. There was justification in her distress over Ino's safety. The young lord's very erratic ascent during their mission to retrieve Maemi agitated Sakura. His presence in the village was highly variable, the so-called vacation could turn into a slaughter at the drop of a ribbon and everyone around her – save Ino – were unaware of the dangers they faced.

That was fine. The girls sat before her were the important ones, the other villagers were just placements in the backdrop of more important happenings. Her relationship with them was just as uncertain as the man who'd killed her family, and her ability to trust them with her life was severely stunted due to the speed with which they'd turned their backs on her.

She smiled at her friend reassuringly. "Don't worry about it, I know you didn't mean anything by it."

Maemi hunched forward in relief and Ino threw an arm around her shoulders, purposefully crushing Maemi to her side.

"Yeah, don't worry about it. We wanted to hear about you!"

Sakura leaned forward as if to share a secret. "Right, in all the mess we didn't get to see how you were doing."

"There was nothing too exciting really." She looked up into Sakura's grassy gaze with a humble smile. "I tasted honey wine. Of course, father was initially disappointed because only the gathering merchant fae receive such a mild blessing. But, while he was voicing his disappointment, I hoped to disappear…"

Ino's hand dove into the shy girl's hair in a calming rhythm.

"Then the most peculiar thing occurred! One moment father was speaking and the next he was calling out for me, which I thought was very strange because I hadn't moved. When I spoke to say so, he started very violently." Her eyes shone with excitement.

"You disappeared?"

"Yes! I didn't know how to put an end to it either, so I remained in that state for nearly three hours. It was an entertaining night."

Sakura jumped up and encompassed Maemi in a breathless hug. Ino joined with vigorous squeal and knocked them all to the grass.

When the girls excitement settled, they helped themselves back onto their blanket.

"Maemi, that's fantastic! There's no way the Ethereal Court won't consider you a candidate, you'll finally be able to get away from this happy-go-lucky prison!" Ino rejoiced.

Sakura maintained her smile, but her thoughts turned dark at Ino's admission. She had the highest of hopes for Maemi, but none for herself.

The possibility that she would be accepted with the same open arms as her friends grew less and less likely. If the residents of her own village had turned away from her so easily, she was almost positive her mother's people would overlook her with upturned noses. As elite as the Ethereal Court was considered, they were aristocratic in their total disregard of anything other than perfection.

Once again, fear consumed her at the thought that she would be left behind. The fate of a bitter former princess who had to hide behind glamours to preserve her life and the lives of those around her, not accepted by any of her people. Ino lifted a quizzical brow at her and she realized her smile probably looked as uneasy as she felt. She shook her head and Maemi slowed her soft but excited speech to look in her direction as well.

Her smaller friend twisted in Ino's ever present embrace to speak. "Hanako, I hope it isn't rude of me to ask…"She tilted her head to send Ino a questioning glance. When she nodded Maemi faced her with eagerness. "Your wings, are they well?"

Sakura was grateful that Maemi had enough mind not to ask the question that plagued even Ino's mind.

"As far as I know, they're fine. I can exercise them, but I still don't know if they'll be okay for flight…" She considered for a moment, if it would harm them overmuch if she told her friend a sliver of the truth. So far, Maemi's loyalty had never wavered in all of their years of friendship, but recent events had the princess doubting even her steadfastness. That the young woman even spoke to her when the entire village labeled her pariah in less than a day was proof enough that some of the truth couldn't hurt. "It's… a side effect of being a child of mixed species. The chief says she doesn't think there's anything to worry about, even though she'd never seen anything like it."

Maemi accepted the truth without a beat. She hummed and nodded, then her face scrunched together in thought. Sakura and Ino were sick with apprehension as they waited for her next question. Resolved in whatever thoughts she worked through, she asked, "What did you taste?"

"It was awful. Like the essence of the damned, or a carcass." Sakura's eyes narrowed at the treeline.

Maemi noted Sakura's distraction and turned her attention back to Ino to ask the same question. Sakura allowed herself to be consumed by her thoughts, she knew already from Ino that the girl had tasted a field of what could only be described as rotting flowers. It was the standard for her house, and Ino was almost disappointed at the fact.

What Sakura wouldn't give to have such minuscule worries. Her friends couldn't help her, though. Nor could she help herself. She would have to get used to watching them live carefree lives and ensuring that they stayed that way. That future hadn't yet been determined out of her reach, but it was looking more probable as the hours passed.

Even worse, she now had to deal with the problem that was a particular young lord. Or, not deal with him at all.

Her companions chatted animatedly as Sakura watched a slow wind dance along the treeline. The leaves were whispering. She furrowed her brow and looked to the other girls who were suitably occupied. Leaning forward on her elbows, she listened harder to what was being said. The familiar voice furrowed her brow.

Sakura's face slackened. Urgency accompanied the goddess's whispers. There was no clear message, but the rustling leaves spoke of danger. Sakura slipped an eye to Ino once more and found her planting a kiss to the corner of Maemi's mouth. She couldn't leave them tonight, it was far too dangerous. When the trees spoke, one listened. She would face the young lord's wrath another day.

Hello, I'm back. Hold the applause. We'll just pretend I didn't have this thirteen page mess sitting on my laptop since April because I wasn't satisfied with it. To be completely honest I had several more pages written in a notebook that just weren't working for me, and a bunch of ideas that were scrapped. I finally decided to keep it simple and here we are.

Please don't hate me too much. Review and let me know how you liked it. Leave suggestions for improvement, where you would like to see this go, and even your favorite characters up until this point. Also, shout out any mistakes you see! We love a good laugh.

I would like to say explicitly that I am not abandoning this story! I do try to update quickly, but what kills that is how very critical about my writing I am. I'm trying to get better at what I do and it sets me back a lot. Please be patient with me.

See you next time!