Chapter 45

To prevent the wedding guests from panicking, Naruto was discreetly pulled away to help his new bride change and calm down so the reception could proceed. Fugaku and Mikoto summoned three times more Militia to guard the inside and outside of the castle. It was bittersweet to see what should be the happiest day of their lives become tainted by something that could be construed as my fault. If I wasn't here, then they wouldn't have been targeted, after all.

And how did Amegakure's royal family get their hands on Tsunade and Jiraiya, much less overpower them? Who am I kidding? It'd be easy if they had someone like Orochimaru on their side. Even if they've cut ties, the trio are still quote-unquote siblings. They share blood, and bonds like that aren't easy to completely disregard. It's likely if the serpentine man is genuinely alive, the duo hesitated just enough to lose the fight.

Now, I'm left wondering what course of action I should take. If they've truly been taken, there's no way I can ignore Kisame's message, but what if he's bluffing? If I run off to Iwagakure, alone or not, there's a good chance this is a big trap.

All of this fighting and death is beginning to truly take its toll on me. I'm sick of constantly having my life and the lives of those I love threatened. It's like the moment we get rid of one enemy, two more pop up, and I'm sick of it. I just want to rest. I want to be with Sasuke, my family, and my friends. Is that too much to ask for? A little peace?

"Stop. You're making it worse," Sasuke's firm tone pulled me from my panicked thoughts.

As much as I want to be at the reception celebrating Naruto and Hinata's marriage, if I show up with these black veins running up my arms and my skin white as paper, I'll only cause a commotion. After successfully returning the Hyuuga heiress safely to her new husband, the prince sent everyone back to the ballroom and helped me into the kitchen.

Leaning weakly against the counter as he fished through the cabinets for something, I gritted my teeth and averted my eyes to my trembling fingers. I can't afford to be weak like I am right now, not with danger on the horizon yet again. People are counting on me to keep them safe. How long will it take for my energy to be restored? Is there something I can do to speed things along?

"Drink."

A wineglass was in Sasuke's hand as he offered it to me, full of a familiar, thick red liquid. Gingerly accepting it, I nervously swallowed, "...Is this…?"

"Human blood, yes. Drink it, Sakura."

Fire shot down my throat as the delicious scent met my nose. The canine teeth in my mouth sharpened naturally, but I hesitated, "Where did this come from? Who's blood is it?"

Ire met his dark eyes as he glared, but he didn't say anything. He didn't need to because his expression accurately communicated that I'd better shut up and follow his orders, or he would lose his temper.

Heat met my face as I huffed and lifted the wine glass to my lips, barely keeping myself from yelling at him out of anger. Then, when the blood met my tongue, my irritation was forgotten entirely. Sure, Sasuke and Madara's blood was incredible, but it still wasn't from a human. In an attempt to not look like I couldn't control myself, I somehow managed to not recklessly chug the rest of the glass and sipped it silently at a tempered pace.

He moved to lean against the counter beside me, not saying a word.

Ignoring him because my feelings were still hurt by our argument days ago, I pouted with my gaze focused downward. It was increasingly evident that we'd underestimated my exhaustion. No one said it, but everyone was thinking about it.

Usually, drinking blood would put me in a particular mood where I'd have to excuse myself with Sasuke to a place where we could be alone, but that wasn't even happening. In fact, the liquid didn't even offer its sought-after rejuvenating sensation. For all I knew, it could've been regular wine in that glass that just so happened to taste like blood.

As soon as the realization hit me, I became scared and stared into the half-empty glass as my mind raced. Is it having no effect because I'm so weak that I need an incredible amount for it to work, or is there something else going on? When I was in the hotel room with Madara and Sasuke, my body reacted normally to it.

A sharp pain suddenly ran through my body from the pit of my stomach to my throat. The glass slid from my fingers to shatter on the floor, the remaining blood inside splattering the ground and the bottom of my dress.

Gasping in surprise, I doubled over with my arms around my middle, "Wh-What the…?!"

"What's wrong? What is it?"

Tears in my eyes, I shook my head as I crouched down in an attempt to ease the harsh pain, "I don't know! It hurts all of a sudden."

Sasuke knelt at my side, his hand on my shoulder as he looked at my face, obviously concerned and bewildered. Before he could find a response, the pain disappeared.

Just like that, it was gone.

Breathing a little heavier, I raised my head, "It…It went away."

The prince held my arm as he helped me stand again, a look of apparent confusion on his handsome features.

I smoothed out my dress as I tried not to let on just how freaked out I was, "I'm alright, I think."

Strong hands forced me to face him fully, and he looked over my appearance with more careful eyes. If I don't say something convincing, he'll never stop worrying. So, I brought my hands to his chest and sheepishly grinned, "Vampire indigestion? Is that a thing?" I thought it was pretty funny, but obviously, he didn't because his glare only further hardened.

That's when I noticed the dark veins on my hands had crawled further up my arms, almost to my elbows. His gaze followed mine, and he pulled them into his larger ones with a brow furrowed, "What is this?"

I shook my head, staring at the discolored skin, too, "I don't know. This only happened in Amegakure, when I was about to-" "You were dying." I could tell by the husky tug in his tone that he'd concluded this was a warning that my death was imminent.

Heart beating faster, I shook my head, "No, that's not what's happening. I'm sure of it. This is something else."

Though Sasuke didn't verbally respond, it was clear he didn't fully believe me. Luckily, when I was provided more blood, the strange pain didn't return, but that didn't ease either of our minds.

That night, after the reception and the guests had left the castle, the others began joining us in the family room so we could all speak about what'd happened earlier.

Hinata and Naruto didn't stay and left for a honeymoon trip to Naminokuni, a tropical island that was about six days of travel by car and one day of travel by boat away, which was a famous destination for such things. Mikoto sent a handful of guards with them, just in case.

Ino sat beside me on the sofa, examining my hands with concerned blue eyes, turning them in her own for a closer look. Sasuke and Madara stood against the far wall, side by side, with matching expressions of seriousness.

The queen sat on my other side, holding Inojin and keeping him distracted so he wouldn't react to the tense atmosphere. It'd become clear that he was sensitive to that sort of thing. If those around him were happy, so was he. The same goes for all other moods, as well. The family's theory is that he may be gifted like his mother. We'll all have to wait until he can speak to know for sure.

"Does it hurt?" My sister asked softly, as though her question would send me into tears.

I shook my head, feeling uncomfortable with all the silent stares, "Not much. It feels just like ice, though."

"Brother, have you encountered this ailment before?" The king asked in his distinct, gruff voice.

Madara's frown deepened, and I anxiously averted my gaze when I accidentally met his eye, "I haven't. We should write Konoha's allies to ask if anyone has."

Itachi said in response, "It would be quicker to go by foot. That may be the necessary choice since it appears to be spreading."

Traveling like that would put many people in vulnerable states. A tightness met my gut. It was guilt. As awful as I felt, I couldn't even open my mouth to protest the notion because I was simply too scared. These wonderful people are willing to risk their lives to help me when none of us even know what's going on. On top of that, a war might just be on the horizon, too.

A lump rose in my throat that I tried and failed to swallow as I hung my head in shame. It feels wrong to let this happen, but….

I don't want to die.

Plans were made for pairs of two to travel with small groups of Militia to Konoha's allied settlements in search of information. At the end of the conversation, Fugaku, Shikamaru, Itachi, and Madara left for the king's office to iron out details of everyone's route, so the plan could be implemented within the next forty-eight hours.

Sasuke took me upstairs, where we bathed and got into bed so I could sleep. I tossed and turned, too anxious to rest properly though my body begged for it. At some point in the early morning hours, I woke up from my light sleep again and groaned, covering my eyes with my hand as the feeling of ice again met my comprehension.

"Sakura, come here."

I turned onto my side, expecting to see the prince reading a book like usual, but he was on his side, facing me with barely masked concern. How long has he been lying there watching my struggle? Regardless, I scooted closer and snuggled into his chest with a frown. Not even this comfort could quell my fears tonight.

"You need to rest. I won't let you die, so stop thinking about it and sleep."

My body tensed at the unexpected statement. He'd said something almost identical the day after I discovered the family secret when I was concerned I'd be murdered, maybe even by his hand. Something felt odd, different, about how he spoke, and it made me pull back to look at his face. Sasuke didn't seem surprised and kissed me gently, brushing my long hair out of my face.

"You can't promise that," I mumbled, feeling even more shameful that I couldn't seem to raise my own spirits.

He frowned stubbornly, "You'll survive this."

Tears welled in my eyes, "Why are you saying all of this?"

Earlier in the day, it was me trying to convince him I was alright. Now, our roles were reversed.

For a long pause, the man stared at me as though words were scrawled on my skin for him to read, but then he said something completely unexpected, "Do you want a big wedding like your sister's?"

What did he just say? And out of nowhere, too!

It was like my heart stopped beating. Once I could breathe again, my voice properly communicated how flustered I was, "Excuse me?"

"I want to know what kind of wedding you want," he repeated himself as though he didn't understand my confusion, an air of mild annoyance about him.

This isn't what I think it is, is it? He's not…?

"Why?"

Surely he wouldn't do things this way. He's not heartless.

"It's obvious what I'm asking, Sakura." Before I could fumble up a response, he lifted my left hand into my vision, so I could see a gorgeous ruby ring on my fourth finger.

Tearing my hand from his, I sat up, feeling completely shocked by his underwhelming way of approaching what was supposed to be a beautiful moment, "Sasuke Uchiha, you can't be serious!"

The vampire in question's irritation flared as he, too, sat up, "Why are you angry?"

Tears overflowed to slip down my cheeks. When I spoke, my voice cracked, "Do you honestly think this is an acceptable way of asking someone to spend the rest of their life with you? And why would you do this now, of all times?"

His brow furrowed, the annoyed glint beginning to fade as he seemed to realize his mistake, "Sak-" I shook my head, "I cannot believe you thought this-" Sniffling as I tried not to fully lose my composure, I got out of bed and left him there without even trying to get out the rest of my sentence. Sasuke didn't say a word or try to stop me.

I'm not a demanding partner.

I never ask him to buy me things. If he wants something, and I know about it, I try my hardest to give it to him. My sister could be considered high-strung or needy, whereas I'm more calm and casual about things, but this was one thing I thought Sasuke would understand was an exception.

The prince knows I don't like flashy clothes or jewelry. I don't want a lot of attention or endless compliments. He also knows me better than my own sister, so the fact that he can't understand why I'm upset just hurts more.

It's not like I want an extravagant wedding. In fact, we don't even have to have one! But the proposal, that's something I can't bring myself to lower my standards. How hard is it to get on one knee and ask a question? It's not hard at all!

The moment the door shut behind me, a sob choked out of my throat, and I covered my mouth to muffle the sound as I tried to hurry away so Sasuke wouldn't hear.

There was only one person I wanted to see right now, and I could hear her chatting calmly with the queen in the family room. They must've heard me coming because the blonde met me in the doorway with concern etched onto her beautiful face, "Sakura, what's wrong? What happened?" Feeling betrayed by the prince, I uncharacteristically buried my head in her shoulder and hugged her.

"Oh, Dear, are you alright? Come sit down so I can properly look at you," Mikoto's comforting tone sounded from inside the room.

Ino guided me over to sit on the plush rug. No one else was around. I accepted a tissue from the queen and dabbed at my slow tears with a blush, embarrassed at having been so emotional in front of them.

Once my breathing calmed, Ino brushed my hair behind my ear, "Now tell us what happened. Was it Sasuke? He hasn't come down here looking for you yet."

"Oh, my!"

Both of us looked at Mikoto, whose eyes were wide. Her hands were both at her mouth in surprise. The tone of her voice was uncharacteristically soft, "That ring! Has Sasuke finally asked for your hand?"

Ino squealed, tugging my left hand closer so she could see, "Finally! I told you he would, didn't I, Saku?"

I sobbed, feeling like a complete child as I told them about what'd just happened upstairs. When I was finished, the women shared a knowing look, only for the three of us to be shocked by Madara suddenly speaking from the doorway, "That fool. Shall I punish him for you?"

Still sniffling, I reached a hand out so the man would join us, leaning into his side when he sat, "No, don't do that. It'll only make things worse."

"What was he thinking? Mom, you raised him better than this, right?"

My eyes darted between my sister and the queen in shock. Since when does she call her "Mom"? Mikoto is technically her mother-in-law, so it's not unheard of. It just came out of nowhere.

"The subject of courting and engagement etiquette didn't often arise," she offered me a soothing grin, reaching over to lift my left hand into both of hers with warm eyes, "Do not fret, Sakura. My son will undoubtedly realize his mistake and remedy the situation. He adores you more than he values his pride. Seeing you so upset is likely to snap him out of it."

The four of us spoke casually for a while until I was suddenly waking up while being placed on a bed. Madara offered a small smile, "Please, rest. I'll sleep on the sofa."

When he moved to do just that, I grabbed his hand, "Sleeping in the same bed isn't something the three of us should worry about anymore, don't you think?"

Sighing, the elder Uchiha climbed under the covers and lay on his back beside me.

My eyes felt dry from all the crying I'd done downstairs. Being alone with Madara made me feel more vulnerable than I'd been in front of the queen and Ino. I whispered, hoping Sasuke couldn't hear us from the room next door, "I've waited so long for this, and yet…. Am I overreacting?"

The man didn't speak for a very long time. So long, in fact, that I was beginning to worry if he'd somehow fallen asleep, even though it was likely impossible since he was in good health. When he did finally respond, it was with carefully thought-out words.

He intertwined our fingers and lifted our hands so the moonlight would catch the beautiful ring, "Have you taken a moment to really admire the stone?"

"It's a ruby, right?" I sleepily mused while bringing our hands closer to my face so I could inspect it more closely. "It's not…. What is it?" The color was more profound than the rubies on Ino's ring, as though something black was in the center of it.

Madara chuckled, "Everyone was wondering why it was taking him so long. It's been obvious you two would marry since your first trip to Sunagakure."

I tore my eyes from the unique yet strange jewel on my finger, giving the long-haired vampire a confused look, "What does that have to do with anything?"

He sighed, barely holding back a grin, "Have you ever heard of a Tamashi stone?"

I shook my head, gazing back at the ring as I listened to his explanation.

"Tamashi stones were popular when Fugaku and I were young, but they've since become incredibly rare. In fact, other than the one on your finger, Mikoto's wedding ring is the only one I've seen in the last eight hundred years."

So it's something unique, then. A tiny bit of my hurt subsided. I'm glad Sasuke didn't choose a flashy or overbearing ring like Ino's. It was small and pretty, something I'd have picked out for myself, even.

"They've become scarce for two reasons. The first is how they're produced. Only pure-blooded vampires can create them. I won't go into detail, but you should know that an unbelievable amount of blood is needed."

I frowned, "This is made of Sasuke's blood!?"

"That and other things."

"Okay…. What's the second reason?"

Madara turned onto his side to face me, and I mirrored the act, searching his eyes curiously. His smile fell into a smirk, "It's more of a superstition, really. Back then, if the creator or recipient of the stone died, the other would soon follow, whether by accident, murder, or suicide. A rumor arose that offering someone such a stone would be the same as intertwining your fate. One wouldn't be able to live without the other."

Tears welled in my eyes as I studied the topic of our conversation with furrowed brows, "But it's just a rumor, right?"

Madara's amused smirk fell. In its place arose an apologetic grimace, "Forgive me for not being more forthcoming, but there are still many things you don't know about this world. Creatures you've never dreamed of, languages you'll never find in a book, and even things that'd be considered magic by someone who doesn't understand it."

Slowly, I nodded, "Does that mean it's real, then? That our fates are sealed."

"...Truly, I don't know. All I can assure you is that it'd take many months to create a stone of that size, and he'd have to have connections even I'm unaware of to complete the process."

My teeth gritted, but I quietly thanked him for explaining things and rolled over to try and fall asleep again.

I have a lot to think about.

Finally, after a year of wondering if my dream of marrying Sasuke was hopeless, the prince has made it known that he does want a future together consisting of more than a verbal agreement. It's just that the way the man did it was so…. It was so…. So underwhelming that it felt disrespectful, as though he didn't feel the effort was needed.

Now, though, I know that he put his blood, heart, and possibly even his soul into this ring if the rumors were somehow true; I'm conflicted.

One thing I know for a fact is that the band felt so right that it's never leaving my finger if I have any say about it.