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Sakura sat in front of the mirror as Shizune styled her hair. The older sirena had been sworn to her father's service until she worked off some debt of honor. She had been serving the King of Kataws for almost a hundred years now, but now that Sakura has come of age, her father had asked Shizune to serve the remaining years serving the princess instead.
Shizune smiled as she finished braiding her hair into an elaborate style that made it look like Sakura had placed two conches on either side of her head, with the lower half looking like pink tentacles. She added white shiny pearls spread all over her haid, and finished by tying some lato by the base.
Sakura looked at herself and saw how regal it made her look. She smiled at the servant in appreciation.
Today was the day she would be officially introduced on the land as the Princess and Heir of the Waters. It would also be her first time to go on land and meet the royal family governing the other half of the immortal world.
She had already been told of what to expect from them, however. The Water King has always been generous to her only daughter when it came to knowledge. Ever since she can remember, Sakura had been given lessons about all there is to know in their Kingdom, anything there is to know about the land, and even some things about the mortal world. Sakura grew up with all her questions being answered, should the answers be available.
The King of Engkantos have five children. The eldest, Prince Yahiko, unfortunately has been killed a few years ago, when the lower courts have tried a coup. From what Sakura had learned from her father, Prince Yahiko has all the makings of a king. He was a good, if not strict, leader, and above all he truly cares for his kingdom and its people. He had been groomed to be the king and the people adored him.
So his death had brought a division on land.
The second son, Prince Hidan, and the third son, Prince Sasori are now vying for the crown.
Prince Hidan is said to be a prince of the battlefield. He is a great warrior and dueler, but he is also power hungry, arrogant, and violent. Even with this though, he have a lot of support from the black duwendes and the nunos, who of course, always crave chaos.
Prince Sasori is said to be the complete opposite. He is a strategist more than a dueler. He is said to be very adept in mindgames and relies mostly on his engkanto magic. He would be the better choice if not for the people's fear of the land being seen as weak and possibly inspiring another attempt to seize power from the royal family. He also have a lot of support, mostly from those who do not want to risk Prince Hidan taking the crown.
The fourth son is who Sakura was very intrigue about, however, Prince Sasuk; or the fourth son is an adopted son. Sakura did not know much of the details, only that the queen had taken him from the mortal world, around the same time Sakura herself was born, and raised him as one of the Princes. Other than that, there really was nothing much more known. Sakura didn't know if he was going to try to battle his adopted brothers for the crown, but her father believed that even if he did, it'll be unlikely to happen. There had never been a mortal prince before him, what more a king?
And then there was the fifth child and only daughter, Princess Eri, who has only just turned seven years old. The only information they have about the young princess is that she has a particular gift with wind magic.
Sakura couldn't really imagine it. A mortal as a Prince of the Otherworld. The only mortals she had ever seen in the Waters are servants. Fishermen who had offended or somehow gotten indebted with the Folks of the Waters, or those who have been lost in the ocean and trapped in the Otherworld. And most, if not all of them have been glamoured so they aren't even aware that they are in the Otherworld.
Whenever Sakura thinks of a human, the only image she can envision is of these beings who are never as beautiful as Kataws, but never as ugly as Siyokoys either; beings who have curled ears and blank eyes, an empty smile that very rarely would transform into horror whenever they grasp some form of reality. Horror is always the humans' first response to drowning, her father always says.
The door opened then, and in came King Kakashi himself. His eyes went to Sakura at once, and he smiled.
"Are you almost ready, my dear?" He asked, gently.
"Yes, father." Sakura said, standing up from her seat.
Her gown of midnight blue flew gracefully like waves at her movement. It was adorned with argonites and calcites that looked like stars on a night sky. She was wearing red corals for her earring, to match the crown she would be wearing.
Her father waited for her with a proferred arm. When she was close enough, she took it, and together they walked through the hallways of their palace under the sea.
As they walked, her father held her hand.
"Remember, Sakura," He started, "You need not a King to rule. Your grandmother, Queen Tsunade, had ruled without a King for thousands of years before me."
Sakura smiled at her father. "I know father. I am not looking for a suitor. But it would be good if I am to know who I might be dealing with in the future, as the Queen of the Waters." She says.
The land and the waters have had a long history of war. Fortunately, her grandmother, Queen Tsunade has successfully established an alliance with the current King of the Land, and that alliance has been extended during the rule of his father. But there's always a little unrest when there's a change of power.
Faeries are immortals and therefore, do not need change of rulers as often as mortals would. It would only be needed if the current ruler was killed or wished to retire, as in the case of the King of the Land. And as what the King of the Waters is eventually planning.
"I know that, daughter. But right now the Princes are battling for the crown. And they would be fools if they did not try to obtain the favor of the Heir of the Waters. If not to look worthier than they truly are, they might also thirst for power over the waters. If you should take the next King of the Land as your husband, you would both rule the Land and the Waters." The King said.
Sakura scrunched up her nose.
"Father, I am a being of the Waters. I'm not really fond of the land." She says.
Her father chuckled. "You haven't even been on land."
"I've heard enough about it." She says.
"Never speak words with finality. We, faeries know just how long never and forever are." His father says. "Still be aware. They will try to charm you. If not for your title, then for your beauty."
Sakura smiled in reassurance to her father. He had always been very protective of her, especially after her mother died. It was one of the reasons why it had taken her so long to be able to go to the land--though she did not have much interest, anyway.
"Don't worry, father. I can handle some land princelings."
--
Princess Sakura's journey to the land was quick and uneventful. When they breached the surface, the royal guards where there in wait for King and Princess.
Before getting out of their carriage, Princess Sakura arranged the blood red crown on her head, the same crown her mother wore when she was still alive. It was her father's idea to let her wear it now. She was the second most powerful being in the Waters after all.
They were welcomed by the King and Queen of the Land themselves, clothed in the color of the land--the King wearing a coat of brown fur over his doublet, and the Queen wearing a gown of green grass with peacock feather embellished on its sleeves; and their youngest, Princess Eri, who was wearing a very vivid pink gown, with lotus petals and pink quartz adorning the bodice that greatly complements her silver curly hair.
They took another carriage for their journey to the Land Palace. The carriage was shared with the Land royalties and the Water and Land King had started their small talk
In the interim, little Princess Eri had seemed to taken an interest in Princess Sakura. She kept looking at her, but seemed to be too shy to say anything to her.
Taking a liking to the young princess, Sakura smiled at her to welcome any question the young girl might have. She had noticed her looking at the gills by the side of her neck.
"Yes, Princess?" Sakura asks gently.
The girl seemed to be surprised that she spoke but she was beaming at her.
Instead of a question though, she says, "You're beautiful."
Sakura smiled.
"So are you, Princess. Very beautiful." She replies.
She knew better than to thank the little princess, even though she probably won't do anything with her gratitude. But they were in the presence of their parents. Faeries don't believe in dismissing gratitude with a few words. A simple thank you can be used for bargain and with the rulers of the Land and the Waters, that bargain could affect all.
"Are those pearls?" The young girl asks next.
And Sakura realized that she might not be looking at her gills but rather at her hair. Shizune did do a good job.
"Yes." Sakura replies. She was tempted to pick up a pearl and offer it to the girl without any demands, but she thought it might not be a smart thing to do as early as now. The King and Queen might see her suspicious. And after all, she was still getting to know these people.
They reached the palace soon enough, and Sakura could see that the revel had already begun. The King, Queen and Princess lead Princess Sakura and her father to the grand hall. As the door opened, there was a lull in noise and music. Then as they stride in, their presence was announced, and an even more significant hush fell over the hall.
From the distance, Princess Sakura heard the presence of the King, Queen and Princess announced, and then she hears,
"The King and Heir of the Waters, King Kakashi and Princess Sakura."
The duwendes and the nunos, diwatas and kinnaras, kapres and tikbalangs—all the beautiful and glorious and awful Folks of Faerieland look their way. All their differently colored eyes shine. All their wings and tails and whiskers twitch. And then they rush forward to greet them. Princess Sakura's hand is kissed. She was complimented both extravagantly and hollowly.
Sakura and her father had walked together forward, but she lost him as soon as the folks gathered around her. After a lot of greetings and pleasantries that Sakura could not even reply to, she was suddenly sweeped to the side by a strong arm.
She didn't know who the young man is, but she already had an idea. He was well built, with a sharp and handsome face, and silver--much darker than his sister's-- hair. His eyes are dark purple and harsh, but he was sporting a smile for her.
"Princess Sakura," He says, "Welcome to the Land, it is an honor to finally meet the next Crown of the Waters."
"Prince Hidan," Sakura says and curtsied to the Prince neutrally.
Before the Prince could speak further, someone else had taken her hand and gently pulled it to kiss it.
Now a red haired young man with mischievous greyish brown eyes and a leaner body joins in. He looked younger than his brother, but as unpredictable.
"Never has in any of our father's revels had there been a presence of such beauty." He says. "Princess Sakura, you have made this night more beautiful."
"Prince Sasori." Sakura greets.
Her father had been right. The princes surely are trying to get in her favor. And the reasoning is also as her father says, either for her title or her beauty.
Sakura kept hold of her smile, but took back her hand. Again, she bowed a little to the prince in acknowledgement.
"The honor is mine." She says to both brothers, now even she can feel the tension between them. "I'm afraid I have to disagree, however. As much as I pride myself to be the most precious pearl in the Waters, I'm afraid I've met a fearsome rival here on Land, in the form of Princess Eri."
"Ah," Prince Sasori smiles. And for the first time Sakura sees sincere admiration. Whether it was for her praise to his sister or for her way of avoiding any bargains.
"It seems you have taken a liking to our dear sister."
'I'd prefer to rule alongside your sister than either of you.' Sakura thought. 'It's a shame she's still so young and your father will be retiring soon.'
Before Prince Sasori could talk again, Prince Hidan have moved forward and once more Sakura's hand was grasped. She was getting tired of that.
"A dance, perhaps, Princess?" He asks.
Without really any valid reason to refuse, and because she didn't feel much comfortable to exchange much words with Prince Sasori--who seems to have a way with words and with manipulating you into agreeing with something, Princess Sakura accepted the invitation.
Sakura has learned that the brothers were complete opposites. Prince Hidan was quiet but blunt and straightforward. As soon as they reached the dance floor, he had already proposed an alliance should he be chosen by his father to be the King. He mentioned marriage and presented it like a treaty. It was very hard for Sakura to keep her answers neutral and civil. The words of Folks from the Otherworlds held promise and she couldn't make the mistake of promising the Waters and herself to an uncrowned Prince as soon as she stepped on land.
Unfortunately, after Prince Hidan, Prince Sasori was next to ask her to dance. Her conversation with this Prince was quite different, but as exhausting. The Prince was not ungenerous to shallow and petty praises and had a sway with the words to get to the topic he wants to go to. It felt like going to a maze filled with traps with your eyes blindfolded. A lot of times, Sakura had almost agreed to something he proposed in riddles. And it was only Sakura's quick thinking and throve of knowledge that kept her from swearing herself and her Kingdom away.
By the end of the second song, Sakura truly wished that it could just be Princess Eri who would be crowned.
She had excused herself as soon as the music stops, casually mentioning being parched. And good thing, too, since she saw Hidan coming their way for another dance.
She made her way to the tables where she noticed a diwata who was holding a young child, looking at her. She ignored this, however and just went and got herself a drink.
After taking a glass of diwata wine, instead of going back to the dance floor or attempting to find her father, she instead dodge to one of doors, leading it seems to the courtyard. She just needed to breathe. If she had to try and navigate her way outside of any promises or allegiance the whole night, she might just lose her mind.
As soon as she was outside, she took off the crown. For the first time, she had really felt the weight of the crown on her head. Other than being seen as an asset, she had become a newly erected piece on the checkboard. And everyone seems to be planning just how she would be used; the Princes, more than anyone else.
Unfortunately she also understood too well, she had become the symbol of power over the Waters for them. Both seems to be thinking of the same thing: either marry her to be able to rule Land and Waters, or marry her to still have power over half of the Otherworld—the Waters, in case they were not chosen to be King of the Land.
But she did not need a King to be Queen. And she refused to be treated like the crown itself.
She could now understand why the Land has been so divided. If she was honest, she does think that the brothers has potential to be good King, but she'd be surprised if they'd be great at it. From this night alone, both seemed to care more for their own self than the Land. She didn't even knew Prince Yahiko, but she found herself feeling regret at his passing. He surely would have been better than either. Her mind remembered the little Princess Eri, and felt another wave of regret. She would really much prefer her. At least from how she is now. Who will she be in the future remains to be seen. For all she knew, she might turn out to be just as power-hungry as the other two.
But then that reminded her of the other Prince. The mortal prince. She had not seen him tonight. In fact, she hadn't notice any mortal in the revel. She wondered about that. From what she heard, the Land Queen was very fond of her mortal son. But could it be the opposite for the King? Is it possible that the mortal prince was not invited to this revel?
But just as she thought that, she suddenly heard humming. A male voice. It was curious. It sounded very different from sirenas singing or of any sounds from any sea creatures.
She followed the sound and it lead her to a maze. She hesitated for a moment, fearing she might get lost in it, but her curiousity won out, not to mention the thought of not being able to be found by the Princes.
As she stride in, she just tried to follow the sound until she could hear it more and more clearly. The sound lead her, seemingly to the center of the maze, where a small gazebo was. And in it was a young man.
At first glance, Sakura wondered if it was a Kinnara or Diwata, maybe one of the guests of the Princes, but then she noticed his ear. They were soft and curled. It was a mortal. The mortal Prince, Prince Sasuke
He has black hair, and black, round eyes. That and his ears were the only thing that betrays his mortality. His skin was as flawless as any diwata and he looked boyish but regal. She really thought he was a faerie.
The humming stopped then and their eyes met.
He looked surprised to see her there, but not alarmed. And for a long moment, they were just looking at each other.
He then blinks, and the moment was lost. And then she saw him appraise her whole person. He seems to be having a hard time looking, though.
"I'm sorry." He calls out to her, standing up from where he was seated. "You are with the Water folks? Are you lost?" He asks.
And Sakura realized he was not aware that she was the Water Princess.
"No..." She said, trying to gather herself. "I just... heard music."
"Oh, right." He says, looking a little sheepish. Sakura was fascinated. She had never seen a human outside of being glamoured. She had never seen them act the way they would normally have.
"You're the mortal prince, Prince Sasuke." Sakura says without really thinking.
Sasuke gave her a wry smile.
"What gave it away?" He asks.
Sakura felt warmth in her cheeks. She was not sure what to make of his question, but she answered anyway.
"Your ears..."
"Ah. Of course." He smiles. It seems friendly enough.
"Is it your first time seeing a mortal?" He asks, now looking curious. He had stood up and made his way to her.
Sakura was a little disconcerted. He was very different to both his brothers. She couldn't really read him. He was even more unpredictable than his brothers. At least the other two, Sakura knew what they wanted.
"Without the glamour, yes." She said honestly.
He frowned at that. But it was gone in the next second, and he was back at smiling.
"What are you doing here?" She asks next. "Shouldn't you be at the revel with your family?"
"Ah, the Queen and Princess Eri doesn't really stay at the revel. They probably are already at their chambers. As for the rest of the family, I don't think they'd miss me. Or the rest of the folks." He says casually.
"Shouldn't you be there? You are one of our guests, I presume?" He asks.
"I... just went out for a bit of fresh air."
He chuckled. "I imagine there's not much of that where you're from."
Sakura glared at him, now quite sure he was mocking her and her people.
But before she could retaliate, Sasuke started shaking his head. "I'm sorry." He says and the sighs. "I shouldn't be antagonizing our guest. Come on, I'll lead you back to the hall."
He was in front of her now. And Sakura, confused, stared at him for the moment. She really didn't know what to make of him.
But she noted now that he was looking a little to surprise at her now.
'What now?' She thought.
"You... you're a Kataw." He says, looking a little dazed.
"Yes." Sakura just says. "What gave it away?" She returns his words back.
He flinched a little.
"I'm sorry." He says again, but didn't elaborate.
"You're quite generous to your apologies." Sakura commented.
"Well, as you have observed, I'm a mortal. My words don't count for much." He says with a shrug.
Sakura scrunched her eyebrows then, now wondering if she had somehow offended him earlier, and that was why he was being rude.
"You... don't like being a mortal?" She asked tentatively.
He chuckled.
"I really don't care." He says, but the look at her once more. "You're confused."
"I have to admit that yes, I am. I do not know why you are being unpleasant."
He shakes his head again, but he was smiling.
"I supposed it's really just normal to you, seeing mortals under glamour, not knowing they were giving their services and time to the Folks here, not even knowing they're wasting away." He says. "I don't blame you, it's how it is in our world."
Sakura noted how he considers this his world, too.
"But take a moment to imagine how that's like. What if mortals can do that to Engkantos? Kataws? And what would you do if you found out several of your people are in the mortal world serving mortals without their consent." He tries to explain and for a moment, Sakura stopped.
It really was only then that she tried to see it in that way. Her whole life, it was the roles of humans in her world. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary. It wasn't even seen as cruel. Those indebted are usually returned to the mortal world without any memory of the Otherworld. And those who are lost at sea are fortunate to be given another chance at life here in the Otherworld.
But this here is a mortal. Prince Sasuke is a mortal, and of course he could at once see it in the mortal's persectives. It probably isn't comfortable seeing your fellow mortals that way.
Sakura immediately felt guilty.
"I'm--"
"Sorry? Careful with your words there." Sasuke tells her, now smiling more sincerely. "Let's go?" He asks and was about to move to lead her out the maze, but Sakura didn't move and instead started talking.
"Is it this way, here, too?" She couldn't help but ask. He was the Prince, after all. Maybe the King and Queen had done something to stop that kind of trade. Sakura was thinking it should be one of the first thing she'd change when she is finally crowned.
"Unfortunately, yes. Well, it's always been that way. What can one mortal do?"
"But aren't you the Prince?"
"One of the Princes. And definitely not King." He says. "And not even royal by blood. It was only the Queen's favor that gave me the title. And that's already more than what the King was willing to give to his wife's whims. Of course, they wouldn't change anything else."
"Anyway," He continues saying, "don't you wanna go back to the revel? I imagine I'm not exactly a good entertainment."
Sakura looks at him then. Ironically, even though initially she found him quite unpleasant and she wanted nothing more than to get out of his presence, now that they've talked some more, and he had shared a lot of his thoughts to her, she had grown quite fascinated about him.
Now that he knew why he had acted rudely earlier, she can understand and she can definitely say that she'd rather talk to him than any of his brothers. It seems that he had no interest with politics or power either, so that was a relief.
"Can I stay here?" She asks. "I don't think I'd missed on much."
He looked at her curiously then. "Well, I don't know why you'd want to, but be my guest. The maze is a big place, anyway."
"But can I still ask you some things?"
He looked at her again, another look that lasted for a long moment. Then he looked away and smiled.
"Yeah, sure. Why not?" He just says, now turning his back on her and making his way back to the gazebo.
He seems to be expecting Sakura to follow, so she did. Once there, they both sat.
He gave her another lingering look before he asks, "So, what do you wanna know? More things about mortals?
"If it's not offensive to you..?" She said carefully.
"I don't think any questions coming from pure curiousity would be offensive, anyway." He says, lightly. "Go ahead and ask, I've heard the worst. I don't think you'd even come close with your questions."
Sakura frowned at the implication of that, but went ahead with her questions. This was a lot like how she studies in the Waters. With her asking questions, and her father or their scholars doing their best to answer, or look for the answers.
"What... what is it like..?" She asks tentatively, wondering if that was okay to ask.
"Well, I don't know what it's like to be an Engkanto, or a Kataw." He said, gesturing to her. "So I can't really compare. But the basics, I can be susceptible to diwata fruits and some of them can be poison to me. And, in about a century or less, I'll die."
She frowned at that. She knew all of those, of course, but she was a little disconcerted by how flippant he was by his own mortality.
"Have you ever been to the mortal world? What's it like?" Sakura asks, looking at Sasuke more closely.
Now that they were near each other, she can finally some other small things that differs him from the usual Engkanto or Kinnara. He has a small mole on his neck, his eyes are round, and he seems to be having a hard time at seeing in the dark—that's not a problem for immortals. He also have a bulkier body type than what was usual for immortals. He felt much more solid somehow, and much more warmer.
"No." He says to her question. "Well, I was from there so I had been there. But I never really tried to go back. And I have no memories of it either."
Sakura frowned once more, out of confusion. Sasuke looked at her expression and smiled. Without any prompt from Sakura, he started talking.
"After Prince Sasori, the Queen had another son." He says. "Prince Nagato. It was at the time when Folks are still allowed to have castles and houses in the mortal world forests."
"Unfortunately, one day Young Prince Nagato had stray to a royal palace in the mortal world on his own, and had met an accident. A mortal had cut away the tree of where the castle was located, and Prince Nagato, young as he was by then, wasn't able to get out. The Queen was distraught with the loss of her youngest and was inconsolable. The King had cursed the mortal, but it did not appease the Queen. It was not of equal value to what was lost. In the end, the mortal bargained for his own unborn child. Before I was birthed as a human, before I was taken outside the womb of my mortal mother, the Queen has taken me here with nothing left for the couple but a few blood clots, I suppose."
Sakura stared at him.
He continued, with a small smile on his face. "That was the reason putting palaces in the mortal world has now been banned for the Land Folks."
"So your mortal parents, you don't remember them either?" She asked quietly.
He shook his head. "But, you never really miss something you never had." He says. "As far as I'm concerned, the Queen is my mother. And little Eri is my sister."
Sakura noted that he neither mentioned or acknowledge the rest of his family.
They were both quiet for a moment. And then, Sasuke started speaking again.
"So have we wasted enough time, or do you have other questions?" He asks and Sakura looked at him.
He smiles. "You're Princess Sakura." He says.
"Yes." Sakura just replies.
He let out a chuckle.
"Well, I imagine both my brothers are looking for you right now. I have to say, they probably have a lot of topics they would wish to discuss with you. As well as Lady Konan." He says.
"Konan?" Sakura asks.
He nodded.
"She was Prince Yahiko's consort. They had a son. Since he's of royal blood, I think Lady Konan are hoping he can be High King as well, in the future. Though, I wonder what exactly is she planning." He looks at her, then, "I don't think you're the type to fall in love with a five years old."
Sakura grimaced. "Well, I seem to have been spending my time more gratifyingly here. I am not sorry to miss that."
This time, Sasuke did laugh out loud. Sakura couldn't help but stare. Once more, he looked like he was one of them, glowing like this.
"How about you?" She asks once they were quiet once more.
"What about me?"
"You're also a Prince by right." She says. "Even though, you're not blood, you can also vy for the crown. Don't you want to be King?" She asks.
"There has never been a mortal king here in the Otherworld, not even a Prince before me." Sasuke says.
"Exactly." Sakura answers. "You are the first mortal Prince. What's stopping you from being the first mortal King, too?"
Sasuke actually stopped at that. He looked at Sakura and this time it was with a probing gaze.
"The King and the Princes might grudgingly have accepted to call me a Prince, but they only saw me as the Queen's ward. More like a pet, in all honesty." He says with a sad smile.
She looked at him with worried eyes, wondering what exactly was he implying.
"They have been generous to me." Sasuke says, reading the question in her eyes at once. "They never intentionally harm me. They never really generally bother with me. So no, I don't think I'll ever be King, I have never even thought about that possibility before this. I only wish to care for the Queen and make her happy. And Eri."
Sakura looks at him in that same wondering gaze she had given him earlier—as if she was trying to solve the puzzle that was the mortal Prince.
"But what would make you happy?" She asks.
Sasuke grinned. "Indeed, what will?" He says, in which Sakura frowned once more.
"My father always says," She started this time, "that we should never say anything with finality. We know more than anyone how long never and forever are."
"You know, Princess. Or you'll know. I won't." He says, again with his nonchalant approach when addressing his mortality.
She didn't know how to follow up with that, but she also didn't want to just leave it off with silence so instead ahe asked, "How did you know I was the Water Princess?"
She was still holding onto her crown in one of her hands at the side, covered mostly by her dress.
"It wasn't a matter of how, but when." Sasuke shares. "I'd have known at once if I could see you clearly, but alas, mortal eyes. Can't really see much in the dark."
She looked at him in confusion. "But how would you recognize me? I have never been on Land before, nor have we ever met."
He smiles. "Exactly. If you had been on Land, there's no way I wouldn't have known about you. I've lived my whole life here in the Otherworld. I've seen different folks, even folks from the Waters. But..."
He looked at her once more, his gaze lingering on her eyes.
"With a face like that, trust me, I would have remembered." He says with a grin and then again, looked at her straight in the eye.
The whole night, Sakura had been sung praises, even songs, by all of the Land Folks and by the older Princes themselves. But when it was Sasuke who said it—he didn't even say it, only implied it, Sakura immediately felt warmth on her neck and by her cheeks. She didn't understand why, but she could feel her heart pounding, especially when he gave her that grin.
"And who else could it be?" He continued saying. If he noticed the Water Princess flush, he did not show. "Only the Princess of the Waters have been most protectively guarded."
Sakura tried to clear her throat. She was annoyed at herself for feeling like this with just a few words, from a mortal, no less, whose words don't count for much.
This felt very much different from when Prince Sasori bluntly told her she was the most beautiful being he had ever seen, even excluding his mother and sister. Which makes it all the more ironic because he's the one who cannot lie, not Sasuke.
She couldn't speak for a moment, and Sasuke's grin transformed into an smug smirk.
"What's this? Have I made your immortal heart beat faster?" He teased.
Sakura wanted to hit him.
"You're a mortal." She says, by way of a rebuff.
"Yes, I am. I think we've established that." He said, raising an eyebrow at her.
"I mean, you can lie. You could be lying." She said, rather lamely.
"But why would I lie about that?" He asked, now looking genuinely confused.
And of course Sakura couldn't answer. She didn't really think he was lying. She just wanted him to stop teasing her because she couldn't deny that he did make her flustered.
Her, the Princess and the next Queen of all the Waters, flustered by an offhand comment of the mortal Land Prince.
To her relief, he did not continue teasing her. But he did something even worse: he turned quite serious.
"I'm not lying." He said gently. "You are... very distracting. You probably hear this all the time, but you truly are, very beautiful. The most beautiful Being I've seen in all of Otherworld."
He smiles.
"My word might not count for much, but I've been raised as an Engkanto, even with my mortal body. I was never taught to lie. So I'm quite bad at it whenever I try." Now he was back to looking sheepish, the way he did when she first saw him earlier.
"And more than your physical beauty," He added, "I must admit, even with only just a few words exchanged between us, I find your mind beautiful, too."
Sakura have no idea how to respond at all. But thankfully, Sasuke didn't seem to need any reply. He continued speaking.
"You probably really has to go back to the revel now. You've been here for a while. It won't do if the Water King thought you missing. The revel is in your honor, after all." He says.
He then tentatively reached out for her hand. He did not grabbed it at once, in fact he moved quite slow so Sakura could stop him if she didn't want him to hold her hand.
She let him.
He stood up then, and gently pulled her up as well.
"Let's go." He says.
"Will you also stay in the revel?" Sakura asks him.
"Is that a request?" He responded.
Sakura stopped, wondering if Sasuke would trick him into a bargain with this.
But Sasuke seems to sense where her mind had gone to, because he rephrased it and asked instead, "To keep you company?"
"Yes." She says.
"Well, I only ask a dance as an exchange." He tells her, mostly to clarify that he is not playing mindgames.
And she smiles at the reassurance.
"Thank you." She tells him comfortably.
Gratitude is not something most Folks would dismiss with a few words. But Sakura knew somehow that Sasuke, at least, is not like that.
They went back to the courtyard, and then to the hall.
The revel seems to have continued without any disruption however. And Sakura would not be surprised if they didn't even realized she had disappeared for a while. Folks were dancing, singing, and drinking.
But when they both entered the hall, it seems like everyone has stopped at what they're doing to look at them. Sakura didn't even know how they were noticed coming in.
She looked at Sasuke, but he looked completely unbothered. And she realized now that she was still holding on to him.
But she did ask him to stay to keep her company, so she guess, he's her escort now.
For someone who seemed to not want to have anything to do with the revel, Sasuke seemed completely at home in the hall. Sakura thought.
Whatever he believed the Folks or his adopted brothers and father saw him to be, she wouldn't have thought of him as anything but a Prince right then.
The mortal Prince, escorting the Heir of the Waters. What might have that look like from the Folks?
Sakura was distracted when something bumped into them, but she was not alarmed as she heard Sasuke laugh.
She realized it was Iittle Eri. Sasuke was wrong, she had not retreated to their chambers and is still here. Probably the youngest being at the hall right now.
"Hey." Sasuke says as he picks up the girl with ease. Only now did Sakura noticed the small horn seemingly only starting to protrude from the right side of her forehead. It was covered by her hair earlier.
"Isn't it already your bedtime?" Sasuke asked her.
"I asked Mom if I could stay for a little while and she agreed if I'll behave and stay with Ochako." The little girl answers.
"And where is Ochako?" Sasuke asked.
The little girl pointed at a female duwende standing by the guards and looking at us.
"Okay. And why did you want to stay?" Sasuke asked this time.
"I wanted to talk to Princess Sakura some more." The girl says, then shyly looks at Sakura. Sakura easily gave the little girl a smile.
Then she turns back to her brother. "But Hidan was talking to her, and then Sasori and then I suddenly couldn't see her anymore. So I wanted to find you instead cause I wanna tell you about her but I couldn't find you either. But now you're both here. I should have realized you were together." The kid said quickly that Sakura barely managed to follow what she was saying.
But it seems like Sasuke is very used to this because he was already laughing and replying.
"We met by chance in the courtyard." Sasuke told her. "But Eri, I think you've already overstayed. It's way pass your bedtime."
The girl's smile fades at this. And barely, Sakura heard her saying, "But I've only just found you two..."
"We can talk again tomorrow, if you want." Sakura decided to pipe in. "My father and I will still be here."
At this, the young girl beams. But she still seems to be a little shy and just turns to her brother once more. In a carrying whisper, she said, "Isn't she beautiful?"
And Sakura could feel that warmth again when Sasuke had immediately answer with an affirmative.
After speaking with her a little more, Sasuke had called out the elderly duwende and both him and Sakura had said good night to the young princess.
Sakura was still waving at her when for the second time, she felt Sasuke's hand grasp hers. And she was pulled to the dance floor. Sakura was surprised by the abrupt invitation to dance, but she had already agreed to it, anyway.
"Sasori was on his way to you." He whispers as they walk though.
She groaned and he chuckled at the sound.
"You're welcome." He says with a smile, not requiring Sakura to say the words anymore.
Sakura smiles at him, too and for a moment his face became blank.
He proffered a hand to her and did a small curtsy. Humoring him, Sakura took the hand and also did a small bow. Then they started dancing to the music.
They were quiet as they start, but as they became comfortable, Sakura started speaking.
"You are a Prince." She says.
Sasuke only looked at her, quietly asking her to elaborate.
"No matter what you say about how you think people see you, from what I can see, they all treat you as a Prince. Maybe not the favorite, but a Prince nonetheless." She says. "Except maybe for Princess Eri. She obviously adores you."
At that, Sasuke's face soften into a smile. They swayed some more before Sasuke responded.
"Okay, even being not of blood, I guess I do have priveleges." He allows. Sakura nods.
"Notability..." He started enumerating, "ceaseless invitations to revels in the Palace,"
"Where you live." Sakura piped.
He nodded with a small grin, "Where I live, access to unlimited wine... what else..?"
"Courtiers?" Sakura says.
"Ah," Sasuke says with an easy smile. "I'm afraid I don't indulge myself in such... activities."
Sakura raised an eyebrow at that.
"Are you lying now?" She asks.
Courtiers are a normal part of life as royalty. And whether he was mortal or not, favored or not, he has title and Sakura couldn't imagine folks not trying to get in his favor just for that.
He laughs.
"I swear to you, my lady, I have never lied to you." He says.
Another song has started but neither of them took notice as they continued to dance.
"Well, there are other priveleges, still." He says.
Sakura smiles. "Like..?"
He smirked and glanced quickly at one side. Sakura followed his gaze and found both Sasori and Hidan, watching them from the side.
"Annoying the heirs to the crown and being able to get away with it." Sasuke proclaims.
Sakura actually laughs at this.
"And there's also that." She hears him say so she turns back to face him.
"That?" She asks.
His smile was tender now, he was looking at her with something in his eyes that Sakura can't exactly define.
He shrugs. "That. This. Being able to have the pleasure of knowing and talking to the Daughter of the Waters." He says.
And once more, the mortal Prince has rendered her speechless.
"And being able to make her laugh, and see it up close." He continues.
She could feel the warmth spreading to her face and down her neck.
And then he gave her that infuriating smirk.
"And being able to see her flustered." He breathed.
At this, Sakura actually weakly hit him on her chest, where her hand had been resting. He only chuckled.
"I don't think those last few ones are abilities every Prince have." She says.
And he smiles.
There was a lull then and Sakura looked around only to notice that there were much fewer people now. It seems half of the crowd have called it a night and has went their merry way.
She turns to Sasuke once more, wondering if she could also be excused now, but she forgot about her question when she saw how he was looking at her.
There it was again, that look that is almost prying, as if it was looking straight to her soul.
With a vengeance, she could feel her heart pounding again.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" She found herself saying.
His stare was so intense, but for some reason, Sakura couldn't look away.
And then quietly, as if it was a whispered carried by the wind from his lips to her ears, he says seriously,
"You're at your most beautiful when you are laughing. In all my years living here in the Otherworld, I have seen the most beautiful beings, structures, sceneries, flowers, enchantments... But never have I ever seen a beauty like yours."
Sakura felt as if everything went quiet. Like all the noise around them had somehow been muted. It felt as if it was only the two of them in the room.
But somehow, the moment was gone, when he added, rather honestly, "You're not enchanting me are you?"
That made her laugh a little.
The Prince might have a way with words, enough to contend with her older brother, Prince Sasori. But he admittedly still is a mortal, and therefore is susceptible to enchanments.
Sakura smiles. "I have never used the glamour on any mortal. I don't think I have the need of starting to use it now. But..." She says.
"But..?" He prompted.
His honest and unfiltered question earlier had somehow given her confidence.
"I'm not doing any magic. But... are you enchanted, anyway?" She asks.
Sasuke laughs, and by way of answering says, "I probably should use my ability to lie now."
Sakura forgot all thoughts of retreating for the night. Each time Sasuke speak, the more Sakura wanted to hear more of his thoughts, of what he'd say and how he'd say it. She was truly fascinated with him, and he admittedly is enchanted by her. They spent the rest of the night if not dancing, then drinking and nonstop talking and bantering, with everything else forgotten.
Somehow Sakura was able to reach the chambers prepared for her, sometime long pass sunrise. But even with just a few hours of sleep, as she promised to Princess Eri, by afternoon, she was there for breakfast, and surprisingly, so was Sasuke.
After breakfast, they mostly spent the rest of the afternoon helping Eri with her studies. This seems to be the usual routine for the brother and sister, but it also reminded Sakura of her own lessons under the Waters. She enjoyed that this time, she was the one giving the answers. A lot like how Sakura herself was as a child, Eri was quite curious and has a lot of questions. Sakura was only happy to answer them.
It was also a new experience for Sakura to see how it was, having a much younger sibling. She had been an only child since her mother had been frail.
In the early evenings, Princess Sakura and King Kakashi ate lunch with the Royal family. It was only at this time that Sakura met the other Princes once more. Thankfully, neither tried to give her any proposal probably because King Kakashi was there, and so were their parents. It might also be possible that neither are willing to show their cards to the other.
Long past sunset, it was time for Princess Sakura and King Kakashi to go back to the Waters. As was when they arrived, The Land King, Queen, along with Princess Eri, but now also Prince Sasuke were there to say goodbye to them.
And with a newfound appreciation and knowledge about the Land folks, the Water royalties' carriage dived into the sea.
"So how is your first visit to the Land?" King Kakashi ask just as the last of the sunlight disappears and they dove deeper.
"A lot of what I expected came to fruition... but there was also a lot of unexpected happenstance." Sakura tells her father. "You were right about the Princes. Both Hidan and Sasori tried to woo me into giving them the seat to the Waters." She said with a shake of the head.
The King frowned.
"And should you need to choose from either...?"
"I would honestly choose neither. Better if the crown can go to Princess Eri." Sakura says honestly. "I think an alliance with her would be much more worthwhile."
"And what of the mortal Prince?" Her father asked.
Sakura look at him in mild bemusement. It seems as if the King is asking more than he is saying. She knew, of course, about all the gossips going about the day after the revel. A lot of Beings saw her and the mortal Prince together and inseparable. Her father likely wanted clarification about it, as well.
"Sasuke does not wish to be in power. He simply wish to be with his Queen mother and his little sister." She shares. "And he said he just wish to be happy, whatever it is that would make him happy. He didn't seem to know."
"Ah," Her father says, "sometimes power is easier to acquire than happiness. A simple wish, indeed. A mortal wish."
"He is mortal." Sakura says, nodding.
"Well, there seems to be little to gain for anything more than an alliance to the land." Her father says, frowning.
"Indeed." Sakura agrees. "But as you say, I do not need a King to be Queen. It seems Hidan and Sasori are more desperate to have a Queen to help them be King."
"This would not be the last time they would try for your hand. In fact, it probably is just the beginning." He says.
Sakura nodded. She expected as much.
"Your grandmother, the Queen Tsunade, had had to deal with a lot of men who would desperately pursue her as well, in all the years she was Queen. She never married, but instead taken consorts." Her father was saying. She already knew about all of this though, so she was waiting for what her father really wanted to say.
"Even with taking consorts, a lot of men tried to trick her into a marriage with them. If only to get half of the power she holds. A lot of time, she barely got away with these manipulation." He continued saying. "If you want to avoid such difficulties, one solution I can think of is that you marry a Being of your choosing. Not to make him King, but just to have a husband. Choose someone you can trust to be loyal to you. Maybe someone from the lower courts of the Waters. Those who have been sworn to us."
Sakura took her father's words into consideration. He made valid points. The only thing that can stop Sasori and Hidan to try to take her hand--whether by charm, by trickery or by force, is to have the hand already taken by someone else.
She tried to think of who that someone can be. There were a lot of loyal Beings to their crown. And there are a lot she supposed could be trusted to be loyal... But trusted not to want power? Not to try and overturn the crown to their benefit?
Unbidden, an image of Sasuke flows into her mind. She remembered his disinterest to power, and his wish to only be happy, and enjoy his privileges as the mortal Prince... like annoying his brothers.
'Well, that would certainly more than annoy his brothers.' She thought.
Yes, she did not need a King to be Queen, but maybe having a husband might be to her and her Kingdom's advantage.
She remembers the way he looked at her, and the way he smiled.
He didn't want to be a King nor was he going to be given a chance to be King of the Land. He only wanted to be happy, though he did not know how...
And she remembers how both of them were laughing at the previous night at the revel. How they never seemed to run out of things to talk about.
He says he was never seen as a true Prince. And most of the respect he was getting are an extension to the Folk's respect to their Queen.
A first mortal Prince to the Land, never to be a mortal King of the Land but maybe...
Maybe a new alliance between the Land and the Waters, indeed will need to happen. Sakura concluded. Now she just needed to attend the next revel on Land.
END