A/N: I'm sorry for the delay! I was on vacation and then I got writer's block and then I had a one shot stuck in my head. But here is the next chapter! Enjoy!

Chapter Four
"Though she be but little, she is fierce!"
- William Shakespeare

October 1518

If there was one thing Sakura had learned during her first year at court, it was this — the higher your ranking, the more reason you had to run off.

Ino had wasted no time scouting out a potential suitor, though none lived up to her standards. Sakura often had to listen, in silent displeasure, as Ino would brag about her future husband, the Duke of Ryuchi.

But for all of her bedmate's boasting, Ino had not even been presented to Sasuke.

Sakura didn't have much to show for her efforts yet either. While she had seen the Duke from afar on several occasions, they also hadn't been formally introduced.

Tenten, ever observant, had noticed the way Sakura's gaze lingered on him.

"He's handsome."

Sakura felt a blush creep up her face. She nodded.

"Would you like to meet him?"

She dragged her eyes away from Sasuke to meet Tenten's smile.

"You could do that?"

"He spends most of his time with the Prince. Have you been introduced to Prince Naruto yet?"

"No."

"Then, it's time you two are introduced."

Sakura twisted a sleeve lace around her finger, tugging at the metal bead at the end.

"How will we do that?"

"He's easy to approach, especially if you have a pretty face."

Sakura frowned.

"Of course."

Tenten shrugged her shoulders.

"I know. It would be nice to be valued for something else once in a while."

"Your friend seems to be interested in more than just your face."

Sakura didn't miss the blush that crept across Tenten's face.

"Neji is different. There are some men at court like him. The Prince is not one of them."

"Is the Duke?"

"I'm not sure," said Tenten, "but I've never seen him paying much attention to the women that cling to him. It's very likely his priorities lie elsewhere."

"I hope so."

Sakura looked back across the garden, to where Sasuke stood by Naruto looking bored. He glanced up, and butterflies surged through Sakura's stomach. They were too far away for true eye contact, but at that moment, Sakura would have sworn he met her gaze.

"When?" she asked nervously.

"At the Prince's birthday celebration on Thursday. We'll be expected to give him our well-wishes. Perhaps, we could even see if we can arrange a little music for a dance."

Sakura felt a spike of nervous adrenaline shoot through her spine. She was excited.

"That sounds amazing! How will we arrange it?"

Tenten turned to Sakura and smiled.

"I think it's time you were properly introduced to Lee."

Lee was… eccentric, to say the least.

Tenten and Sakura found him on his way to the Prince's apartments.

Dressed head to toe in his finest green clothes with a lute strapped to his back, Lee's appearance was outmatched only by his enthusiasm.

"Lady Tenten! What a surprise to see you! How—" he stopped mid-sentence when Sakura met his eyes and quickly abandoned Tenten. "And who might you be, my lady?" he knelt down in front of her and cupped her hand in his own, pressing a kiss that lingered just a little too long for her comfort.

"Lee, please," said Tenten.

He dropped Sakura's hand and stood back up, his cheeks pink.

"My apologies, I have never before seen someone quite so beautiful."

"Thanks, Lee," said Tenten, arms crossed.

"You know I find you beautiful, Tenten, but this," he gestured towards Sakura, who frowned slightly, "this is different."

"This has a name," Sakura interjected, feeling brave.

"My apologies, my lady. I have forgotten my manors." He took a step back and bowed low for her, holding his arm out with a flourish. "Mr. Rock Lee, at your service."

Sakura offered a curtsy in return and met his gaze.

"Sakura Haruno."

"Sakura is the daughter of the Baron of Tea, Lee."

"A beautiful land," said Lee, "and a beautiful name, Lady Sakura."

"Thank you. It appears you two are already well acquainted?"

"Yes! Tenten is a very dear friend of mine."

"Sometimes Lee and his mentor, Gai, come to the Queen's apartments to play for her," explained Tenten, "we got to talking one time, and our friendship bloomed from there."

"It unfurled like the most beautiful of roses!"

Sakura glanced at Tenten, an eyebrow raised. She shrugged, this was Lee.

"Lee, you and Gai will be overseeing the music for the prince's birthday, won't you?" Tenten asked.

"Of course! Sir Gai is the brightest composter in all the world! There could be no one else!"

"Wonderful, we need your help."

Sakura watched a look of determination flash across Lee's face.

"Anything for you two!"

Tenten caught his wrist and pulled him off to the side, setting a serious tone.

"Sakura has not been introduced to Prince Naruto or the Duke of Ryuchi yet."

"Ah, you intend to present her to them?"

"Yes, and then—"

"—and then you would like me to arrange a moment for dancing?"

"Would you mind?"

Lee frowned, clearly dejected that shortly after having proclaimed Sakura to be the "the most beautiful person he'd ever seen," he learned his talent would be used to put her in front of another man.

"Please, Lee?" Sakura placed her hand on his shoulder, mustering up the feminine charm she had seen so many other ladies use to get what they wanted. "It would mean so very much to me, and I would owe you a favor."

Lee removed her hand from his shoulder and held it between his.

"My lady, your presence is all the favor I need. I will attend to your every need, so long as it is within my power to do so."

"Thank you, Lee," said Sakura. She gently pulled her hand away and curtsied again.

"And I thank you too, Lee," added Tenten, "we won't keep you from Naruto any longer."

Lee bowed.

"Until we meet again, ladies."

He flashed a smile and turned on his heel towards the Prince's presence-chamber.

"Well," said Sakura, watching the musician disappear into the crowd, "he certainly is—"

"—A lot? Yes, but he has the kindest heart I know."

They turned to head back to the Queen's apartments.

"Wait until you meet Gai," Tenten teased.

"So long as he's not in love with me, I think I'll manage."

Neji frowned.

"Are you certain you want to be presented to him?"

"Y-yes."

"You fainted last time, cousin,"

Hinata looked up at him, eyes wide like a startled deer.

"I won't! N-not again!"

Neji tapped his finger against the table. Hinata had been working up the nerve to ask him to present her to Naruto again. He could sense it days before she'd approached him, becoming even more quiet than usual.

"Why not ask your father?"

"I-I could never…"

"Why not?" Neji could hear the irritation slipping through his voice. Why did the role of babysitting always fall to him?

Hinata looked down at the ground, her voice just a whisper.

"You know he doesn't care for me."

It was true. While Hinata had lost her mother after Hanabi's birth, it was Hinata who had initially weakened her. It had been one of Hinata's many mistakes, at least in her father's eyes, the first being that she was born a woman. And while Hiashi's logical preference for his younger daughter failed to make any sense to Neji, Hanabi's bright and commanding personality next to Hinata's shy, subdued nature hindered her efforts.

"We should have a plan," Neji said with a sigh, "for if you feel uncomfortable."

Hinata looked up at him, with barley contained tears of relief, years of practicing to keep her emotions in check failing her.

"Thank you! Thank you so much, cousin." She threw her arms around his neck. He stiffened, uncomfortable with her touch. Much like her mother's death, Neji had to remind himself that Hinata was not responsible for the death of his father.

It was difficult to let that go. Tenten had seen his resentment instantly and made it her business to encourage him to mend his relationships, even doubling her efforts when Hinata arrived at court.

Neji looked across the room, meeting the gaze of a servant and nodded. The boy disappeared to fetch a plate of fruit and some wine. When he returned with more treats than either Hyuuga could eat, Hinata offered the boy his fill while the pair tried to figure out how to present her to the Prince.

Sakura chewed at her lip. The Queen had permitted her ladies to wear their own gowns for the Prince's celebration, and Sakura squeezed into the green and ivory dress she had worn when she was first presented to the Queen.

She stood in a receiving line next to Tenten, watching as Ino was presented to the Prince. She paid Naruto only as much attention as was required before turning towards Sasuke, who stood at Naruto's side. Sakura studied the flirtatious body language that Ino used towards him, but the Duke remained unmoved. Sakura swallowed, unsure if that was a good or bad sign.

Neji and Hinata stood before them. Hinata radiated her usual nervous energy but stood tall, anchored to the ground by Neji's arm, which she clung to as if was as essential to her survival as the air they breathed.

The pair stepped forward, and Hinata only relinquished her grip on Neji to curtsey. Sakura felt Tenten tense up and joined her in a silent prayer for strength.

Much to their relief, Hinata stood back up and returned her hand to Neji, tugging gently at his sleeve. With a quick bow, the two turned and left. Hinata looked pale but smiled as if Naruto had proclaimed his love for her. Sakura met her gaze and smiled back, proud.

And then, it was their turn.

If Hinata's nervous energy was contagious, then Sakura was its first victim. She resisted the urge to grab Tenten by the arm, turn, and run. But, if Hinata had faced her fear, then Sakura could too.

Tenten curtsied first.

"Your Highness, Your Grace," she said to each in turn.

"Lady Tenten," nodded Naruto.

"I hope you have enjoyed your birthday celebrations, and I wish you well, Highness."

"I thank you, Lady."

Then it was time. Tenten turned back to look at Sakura, and she stepped forward.

"May I present my friend Lady Sakura, daughter to Baron Haruno. She has been eager to meet you and give you well wishes for your birthday."

On cue, Sakura fell into a low curtsey, glancing up to catch Naruto's bright blue eyes.

"Your Highness," she started, "it is an honor to meet you," her gaze flicked to Sasuke, her heart fluttering, "and to you as well, Your Grace."

Naruto stood up and took her hand in his, placing a kiss as he bowed.

"The honor is ours, my lady. I only regret having not met you sooner." Naruto stood up and turned to Sasuke, "Don't you agree?"

She barely saw his irritated sigh before he bowed. Sasuke's black hair framed his face perfectly, and his eyes swam with secrets and mystery. All in all, the Duke of Ryuchi left Sakura breathless. And then he spoke.

"Yes, it is a pleasure to meet you, my lady."

And that was it. She had met him. And he'd spoken to her! Sakura was confident Ino hadn't been able to muster a word out of him. And then, the music started.

Naruto's eyes lit up. "Oh! I love this song!"

Tenten smiled innocently.

"Would your highness care for a dance?"

Naruto stood up.

"Yes! Lady Sakura, would you do me the honor?" Naruto held his hand out to her, and she did her best to keep the smile on her face. Tenten gave her an affirmative glance. Sakura took the Prince's hand.

"I would love to your highness."

"Excellent!" Naruto started to lead her forward but stopped. "Sasuke, don't be rude."

Sasuke sighed and held his hand out to Tenten. Sakura burned with envy, but as the familiar tune of the song came to life, she realized the full extent of Tenten's plan. The dance she and Lee had chosen was one where they switched partners.

When she took Naruto's hand, she did so with a genuine smile. His steps were practiced but uncertain. "How long have you been at court?"

"Around a year, your Highness."

"A crime," he sighed, "that I did not meet you sooner."

"Truly," she offered.

"What has brought you here for so long, and how have you eluded my presence?"

Sakura tried not to trip when he spun her awkwardly.

"I am lady in waiting to Her Majesty. I am afraid she keeps me occupied most days."

"Well, we shall have to find you some more free time." Naruto pulled her just a little closer. "My, uh, lady mother, can sometimes forget that people like to have fun."

"Perhaps, but she is very kind. I don't mind."

"Either way, my lady," they spun towards Tenten and Sasuke, "it has been a pleasure."

The four reached their hands in the center, and when Sakura spun away, she was with Sasuke.

Her stomach swam. Sasuke's hand was on her waist, and hers was on his shoulder. Sakura's knees felt weak, and she was worried that she would trip or that he would realize her palms were slick. Sakura tried to focus all of her energy on the long-practiced steps, trying to appear as attractive as possible. This effort left little room for conversation, but these were things that came to a Duchess with ease, so Sakura tried.

"I have been looking forward to meeting you, your Grace,"

Sasuke held her gaze, his dark eyes analyzing her, seeking out her intentions.

"Is that so?"

"Yes. I-I've heard such kind things."

"Hn."

Sakura tried to subdue her panic. Even if she wasn't exactly charming the Duke, she had made more progress than she'd anticipated. She settled on focusing on their dance, letting the music guide her. She took deeper breaths and was pleased when Sasuke's eyes flicked down to her chest.

The music slowed; their time was almost up. The last few notes echoed around the hall, and Sakura curtsied.

"I hope we meet again soon," she said.

Sasuke nodded, turned, and left without a word. A crowd had gathered around them to see the prince dance applauded, and Tenten was at her side.

"How was it?" she asked, as they made their way back to their seats.

"Amazing!" Sakura sighed.

"You looked great. Dance must come naturally to you."

"I was so nervous," Sakura confided.

They sat down, and from the other end of the table, she could feel Ino's glare. She ignored it. If Ino was as resourceful as she claimed, getting a chance to dance with the Duke should be no issue. Her confidence, however, faltered when after only one drink, Neji and Hinata appeared. Her time with Tenten had expired. Neji said nothing, but Tenten seemed to know what he wanted.

"We'll talk more later," she promised.

Luckily, Hinata took Tenten's place, and as Neji and Tenten slipped away, Hinata and Sakura took turns describing their evening.

Neji didn't give Tenten a break, leading her right back out onto the dance floor. She circled him before taking his hand and slipping comfortably into time with the music.

"What have you been up to?"

Tenten laughed.

"Jealous?"

"Curious," he corrected.

But Tenten knew he wouldn't have dragged her out on the dance floor unless he'd felt some level of irritation seeing her dance with both the Prince and the Duke.

"Sakura wanted to meet Sasuke. I just ensured she got to do more than curtsy."

"Your selflessness knows no bounds."

Tenten let her steps bring her in a little closer.

"You're one to talk," she teased, "helping present Hinata to the prince."

"It was nothing."

"Perhaps not to you, but for her, it was everything."

Neji looked away, and Tenten thought she could see a blush creep up his face. They finished their dance in silence and sought out more wine.

"We should go outside," Tenten suggested.

"It could be cold."

"Just for a moment. The moon is nearly full. I miss being able to look at it properly like I could at home."

They refilled their cups and snuck out of the hall. It was easy to disappear in the palace, especially with Neji as a guide. It was even easier when the wine flowed freely. Outside of the hall were other courters, some stumbling back to their rooms alone or with companions. Some couples didn't care to find their rooms or any at all. The further that Neji and Tenten moved form the heart of the palace, the sparser the crowds. It would be impossible to leave the castle for the grounds and the maze that they both loved, so Tenten set a course for the Queen's gardens.

The atrium was large, and it was near impossible to tell one was still confined in the palace. Neji had been right about the chill, but Tenten didn't mind.

The garden had started to go barren with the change form summer to fall, but some flowers still bloomed around them.

Tenten looked up at the moon and sighed. Her mother had taught her the importance of moon bathing from a young age. Most months, she had to settle for standing in front of her window in her shift. It was rare that she was out late enough to walk through the gardens. And even this wasn't the same as their practice at home.

Tenten offered a silent prayer to the Mother, feeling Neji's gaze on her.

"What's the Isle of Moon like?"

Neji shrugged. She'd asked him this many times before.

"It's named for the crescent shape of the land, Tenten."

"I know, but still."

"It's much warmer than Konoha."

"Do you ever miss it? Especially now that you have a new home?"

"Not really," he admitted, "My parents aren't there, there's not much to go back to."

"Isn't that sad?"

"No. I enjoy my new lands. They're close to your family's land."

Tenten blushed. She looked away from the moon and into Neji's eyes.

"I'm not sure I understand."

"I like being here with you," he clarified, "I would choose this over being stuck on an island any day."

He kissed her lightly, but when she didn't pull back, he pressed closer. Tenten sighed, feeling the heart charm against her chest. Perhaps her mother had been right.

Sakura gasped when Ino shook her awake.

"What do you think you're doing?" Ino hissed. She had crawled onto their bed, having just barely changed out of her gown, hair messy. She had the collar of Sakura's shift knotted tightly in her fist, tugging roughly at her.

"I-I don't understand." Sakura was groggy with sleep and wine.

"I saw you dancing with the Duke."

"I-I—"

"—Don't get your hopes up," Ino snapped. Sakura was fully awake now. "Your forehead is so wide and swollen he would never consider taking you as his wife."

Tears pricked at Sakura's eyes, and she bit her tongue to keep from crying. Mustering up the last of her courage, she shot back a bitter retort.

"Perhaps you could have danced with his Grace as well, had you not been occupied by the company of others."

Ino slapped her across the face, and Sakura could no longer hold back her tears. She collapsed into the pillows, cradling her face. She felt the bed shift and heard the door close behind her. Sakura breathed a sigh of relief. It was Ino's night to stay with the Queen.

She cried freely now, letting her anger and frustration drain out of her. She bit her fist to silence a sob.

In her anger, Sakura decided that Ino had no more claim on Sasuke than she did. She always spoke of betrothal, but the Earl had yet to follow through.

And that meant that the Duke was fair game.

A/N: If you enjoyed this chapter, please leave a review! There is more to come!