She moved around the large room with delicate care, doing her best to get everything organized before her master came back from his mission. The master of the house was gone as well, along with the younger masters. Father and sons. Sakura moved around the bed to gather the linens from the floor. Usually the master of this room kept himself organized, but she was glad he had made it messy. The cleaning soothed her. As a chamber maid, she was often found in this room, trying to hold off leaving for as long as possible. This was his room after all, the room he was in for the majority of the day. His stuff, his bed… All of it belonged to the man she loved.

In the quiet of the room, she could hear the front gate chamber door closing with a loud rattle. The warriors were back. She gathered her gown in her hands, hurrying to the main hall. The other helpers of the house lined in one long line with their heads bowed. She fell in line beside the man at the end. As the slaves of the house, they were required to show their masters a nice return. They got paid their fare amount in silver for it. And the masters could afford anything they wanted. As the head of the village, the King as he liked being referred to, had everything he could ever want. This castle was nearly five stories tall, with one level being built. There were dozens of rooms, a proper holding room with one of those horrible dungeons, though they never called it the dungeon. They called it the sub-rooms. She didn't know why. Then there was the kitchen the size of a big barn and a dinning hall fit for nearly a hundred people. The stabled and gardens could be reached by a door from the kitchen. Sakura loved working in such a big place, though it got tiring. And the master that she loved made it all the better. She wandered if he at all noticed her.

The three warriors strode in to the hall. The father, Master of the house or King as he likes, was first to come in. His sons, fallowing close. Her eye's locked on the youngest. He was her age with a beautiful posture. The deep black eyes and his luscious black hair could make anyone faint. Today he wore a pair of brown pants with black boots made by the finest shoe maker and a white loose shirt that exposed his broad chest. His family jewel secured on his index finger. He was like his older brother and father. All power and no weakness. His brother looked the same, but with longer hair. He always wore the finest clothes the tailors could make. And the Father, big build like that of a true champion. His faced was permanently etched with a deep terrible scowl, never relaxing for anyone but his wife. They all were a perfect match.

The Mistress of the house came down the grand staircase, holding the gold lapels of her dress, only the tips of her feet showed from the bottom. Her black hair was in curls and bouncing with excitement as she ran to her husband. With a strong embrace the two smiled and laughed, twirling each other around. After making a departure from the group, Itachi, the eldest brother, patted his brother on the shoulder and said a few low words. The elder Uchiha brother grabbed a servant and headed for the kitchen. Feeding! Of course! Sakura took a deep breath, walking up to the young master.

"Excuse me, Master, I wondered if you may be needing assistance?" Oh, God, she was actually talking to him. This was the first time she had dared to do such a thing. His eyes glanced down at her, a smile playing along his lips.

"That would be great, Sakura." He took her hand, leading her up the steps. He had known her name! He had called her by name! "Ill be needing a bath and feeding. It has been a long trip."

"I would be honored to be used by you, Sasuke-sama." Once they were in his private chamber, she moved to the bathroom he used for himself, running the bath water. The staff would already have the fires going to heat the water without problem. She used the scented salts for relaxing muscles in the water. After such a long trip like this last one, he would need all the relaxing he could get. After testing the water with her fingers, she moved back to his room. He stood next to the window, overseeing most of the village. His silhouette covered most of the light coming in through the glass.

She cleared her throat to get his attention. "You're bath is ready now, master."

"Thank you." He stayed glued to the window, watching the town people walk through the streets.

"I would like to undress you now for you're bath." Sakura whispered the words, looking down. He was everything she wanted, and more. How could she think she was even near what he wanted? When he nodded, she smiled. She led him to the bathroom again, her small hands lifting the white shirt over his head. Her eyes went to his chest and locked on the wide expanse of muscle. She hesitated on the pants. When he looked at her expectantly, she forced herself to remove the linen from his legs. He stood before her naked and… amazing.

He stepped into the bath, moaning with pleasure. It was so warm that he felt he would melt at any moment. This was what he was dying for. "Perfect."

Sakura sat on the edge of the pool of water, grabbing a rag from the side table. She trailed the thing along his arms, taking it back to his broad shoulders. When he moved his torso so it was leaning forward, she did his back. "My father wishes me married."

"Sir…?"

"I am sorry. I shouldn't be talking about this to you." The cold black depths of those eyes looked at her from over his shoulder. "You are just easy to speak to I suppose."

"I am grateful for the kind words." Sakura smiled, moving the rag to his chest. He caught her hand in his, kissing the knuckles. She felt the blood rising to her face instantly.

"I am glad to have given them." The master looked at her with tender eyes as he said, "Please, do not worry for me. I can take care of myself. Go join the others for dinner." She almost protested. But then her stomach would have thrown a fit. She left him in that bath while she went to eat with the other servants of the house.

On her way downstairs she caught sight of something she hated. Ino Yamanaka. The richest girl in the entire village. Her long blond hair curled into a tight bun while her dark blue velvet dress did everything to make her look as small as most girls in this day and age wanted to look like. She was poised to get down to business. Sakura could see the money lust in her eyes. This wasn't about wanting Sasuke-sama, this was about wanting the money he has. She wanted to march back up to his chambers and tell him it was all a mistake. That he was marrying the wrong person. But that was out of her hands, and she would surly be punished for such insolence. She could only watch as Sasuke moved down the stairs in a fresh outfit, bowing low to the blond beauty in front of him. They walked away arm encircling arm, to the Kings chamber.

Sakura was unable to sleep. When she tried for the fifth time this night, she groaned with annoyance. No way was she going to be able to sleep. Not when she was thinking of Sasuke with that awful woman. His hands all over her… Ew. Sakura glared at her wall. Like the other servants, she was in a small bed chamber in the servant quarters. Each was given a room with a bed, sink and wood trunk. That was all they really needed anyways. Anything they were carrying as personal belongings was to be put in the trunk. It was just how things worked. She did not mind having a small space to herself, because for most of the day she is doing her own thing outside this chamber.

After slipping into an over gown, she moved outside and down the corridor. The castle was quiet and dead. Because no one was awake. When she reached the top of the stairs she paused. So close to his room, but she felt so far.

Two strong hands came out and grabbed her around the waist and one around her mouth. She let out a scream that never made it far. The hand soaked up the noise. She thrashed in the strong hold, only to get pushed against the wall, pressed against a body and cold stone. Oh, God, this was a robber? In the main house of the village, was he insane? Sakura bit into the hand, jabbing her elbow into the males gut. After she heard a grunt, the man spun her around, trapping her hands and using his arm to hold her throat in place. In the shadows of this corridor, she could not tell who the attacker was. She had to alarm the guards. She took a deep breath, gathering as much air into her lungs as possible. The hand came back and clamped on her mouth.

"Don't even think about it." That deep voice she loved was filled with sleep. He had woken up.

"Sasuke-sama?"

"Sakura?" His arms dropped. Oh, how grateful she was it was not a robber. "What are you doing out and about at this time of night?"

She looked down. "I couldn't sleep."

"Come on, the guards are sure to come along here soon." He took her elbow in his hand, making a bee-line for his room. Once they were secured inside, her breath completely left her. His bed was completely tousled, the spot where he sleeps looking so inviting. His shirt was hanging over the bedpost and his pillow still had the outline where his head was laying. She would bet anything that the linens were still warm.

"Sasuke-sama, I am so sorry for the trouble."

"You couldn't sleep, wandering around is only normal for someone who can't sleep." He smiled, shaking his head. "To tell you the truth, I was still awake too."

"You…were?"

"Yes, I was. Come on, maybe we can try again." He strode to the bedside, pulling back his linens again. She watched her master arranged the pillows so that there were two mounds on either side of the bed. "Come, lay with me tonight."

As a servant she was required to say yes and do as she was told, but as a girl… She was smiling on the inside doing this without needing to be told. "Thank you, Sasuke-sama."

She slid into the bed. Oh, it was warm. She lay back against the mound of pillows that were meant for her, bringing the blanket up to her chin. Sasuke slid in after her, flopping onto his side, facing her. He let his naked torso stay out of the blankets.

"Why are you letting me sleep in here?" She did not mean to say that out loud.

"Because I like you're company. And we both can't sleep. I thought maybe this would help." He smiled with closed eyes, burying his face in the pillow. "Sleep now."

She did. Sleep claimed her within minutes of settling into the bed. She could have sworn she heard the master beside her humming a quiet lullaby to her before she was totally gone.