Those of you who follow me on tumblr will have seen this already, but for anybody who hasn't, this is an alternate first meeting between Sasuke and Sakura in Quietus. My original idea was to have them meet at a masquerade ball, but I then scrapped it in favour of The Carousel scene. A lot of people expressed interest in reading this out-take, though, so I've typed it up for you all to enjoy.

Please make sure you listen to the track I've posted on my profile page while reading this. It will give you chills if you time it correctly. I've also included a link to the dress that inspired Sakura's gown design in this.

Please also kindly consider leaving feedback. As this is an alternate version, I'm really interested to know what you think. I realise some of you might like this more than The Carousel since Sakura and Sasuke have physical contact; feel free to tell me.

Happy belated birthday to ariandia, who I would like to dedicate this to, and also kayurka, whose birthday is today!

Also, I'd never normally ask for artwork, as I've been spoiled so much with more than enough already - but for the love of Hades!Sasuke someone PLEASE kindly sketch masquerade Sasuke. I made him super-hot, just for you all to drool over. Someone needs to bring him to life visually!

~Quietus~

The Appendices

By AngeLhearteD

"Watching her suffer and wither, over and over again… being powerless to stop the cruel cycle. You can't even begin to imagine the depth of pain I've felt." - Tsunade

Her gold heels clicked loudly against the immaculately polished wooden floor. The sound echoed across the large expanse of the dimly-lit, vacant room but all Sakura could hear were the troubled thoughts rushing through her head and the ceaseless echo of her drumming heart pounding in her chest.

In her mind's eye, she saw the main ballroom again. It seemed to taunt her; a spectacular vision of glitz and glamour, swathed decoratively in rich hues of gold and silver. The impeccably polished wooden floor had gleamed invitingly, reflecting the lights twinkling in the glimmering crystal chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings. Long tables, covered by heavy, bronze satin fabric, had been stationed around the perimeter of the space, bearing finger food and a wide variety of refreshments. They'd been supervised by waiting staff dressed smartly in black and white uniforms. Arched windows and glass doors had flanked the left and right sides, leading out to a spacious stone balcony. A live orchestral band had played beautiful waltz melodies on the raised, golden stage in the northern end of the room.

The air had left Sakura's lungs when she'd first drifted through the tall entrance doors and down the wide steps leading to the sprawling dance floor. She had felt as though she had stepped straight into a real-life fairy-tale. Her heart had fluttered in excitement as she'd absorbed the magical scene before her.

True to the dress-code, all the seniors in attendance had been clothed in fabulous, period costumes, in all colours of the rainbow. Face-masks, ranging from plain and simple, to extravagant and utterly outrageous, had hidden the identities of her fellow college students. Some concealed half-faces while others provided full coverage, making identification impossible. The floor had been packed with people – a near complete turn out.

But her very first, dream masquerade ball had turned into something of a major let-down. A complete and utter nightmare. Stifling a sob, Sakura tore off her elaborate, jewel-encrusted, crimson and gold face-mask, casting it hatefully to the ground as she continued to run, her hands fisting the full skirt of her flowing crimson gown to allow more fluid movement. In her blind, tear-stricken-rage, she had slipped into one of the several, smaller ballrooms that made up the majestic, private-hire venue her college had selected for the Senior Graduation Masquerade Ball. She knew all other rooms were strictly off limits, that she was breaking the rules by bypassing security and sneaking inside. But suddenly, she didn't care.

Because taking an off-bounds route out of the building would prevent her from being found easily. She had been humiliated by Ino and the others. Gasping, she was at once overwhelmed by the urgent need for air. She couldn't breathe. She needed to get outside, far away from everyone.

Everything had gone catastrophically wrong when she'd eagerly searched the crowd, trying to find the individual whose mask matched her own. It was a long-running tradition, to give up the first dance to the person clad in an identically themed and coloured disguise. Ino and Ten Ten had supervised the handing out of masks along with three other people in their year group. They had promised Sakura that the distribution had been completely random.

Yet somehow, Sakura had ended up with Rock Lee anyway. She had arrived at the event, with the foolish, romantic fantasy of meeting the guy of her dreams at last – a handsome, mysterious, seductive, masked Romeo - only to be lumbered with an embarrassment and the last man she would have ever wanted to indulge with a dance.

And she had known, from Ino and Ten Ten's stifled sniggers that they had lied to her. She had been set up – deliberately – despite their insistence that they had played no hand in the outcome.

Gorgeous Ino, clad in a sleeveless amethyst and silver ruched gown, had drawn Shikamaru, of course. Ten Ten, in sequined, slinky gold, had been matched with Neji. Even Hinata, close to fainting and dressed in soft, feminine lavender, had landed a very dashingly dressed Naruto. It made it even more obvious to Sakura that Ino had intentionally played mischievous match-maker with the mask selections – something strictly against the event rules.

Sakura had fled the ballroom in floods of tears, paying no heed to her so-called friends' apologies – and Lee's loud pleas - for her to return. She would never speak to Ino again, she told herself furiously. She had ruined what had meant to be a special night, one she would never forget as she prepared to embark on university and adulthood. Instead, it would remain cruelly engrained in Sakura's mind for all the wrong reasons.

She ran unseeingly toward the northern balcony doors, and as she drew close to them, it suddenly occurred to Sakura that there was a high probability they would be locked. To her relief, however, she found that they were open. Yanking them apart, she stepped out into the cool night, onto the long, stone balcony that encircled the entire length of the building.

I'm nothing but a joke to everyone! She sobbed, heading left, not slowing down in her rush to find the exit. But soon her heel-clad feet began to ache, and her lungs burned from continuous exertion. She eventually drew to a reluctant stop, sniffling and wiping at her eyes, not caring that her eyeliner and carefully applied make-up had likely been completely ruined. Make-up Ino had helped her put on.

Leaning her elbows against the balcony's high banister, Sakura inhaled shakily, taking the time to catch her breath again as she turned moist eyes up to the night sky. It was perfectly clear, displaying a fabulous array of starry constellations that sparkled like far-off diamonds against a midnight canvas.

Why? She questioned herself torturously. Why would Ino pull such a mean practical joke on me tonight, of all nights? She knows how hard it was to convince my mother to even allow me to attend the ball. She knows how much it meant to me, how much I'd been looking forward to it for months.

But she doesn't care. She only cares about herself. Sakura's teeth bit into her lower lip as fresh tears threatened to spill. Her eyes lowered sorrowfully from the sky – only to rest upon what they had completely missed before. A beautiful garden stretched out below her, impeccably kept with flowered hedges and a pretty, marble water-fountain. She could see higher hedges in the distance, forming walls to a vast, mysterious maze.

Her eyebrows drew together. As if things weren't bad enough, she was clearly nowhere near the exit. Instead, she'd ventured unwittingly deeper into the venue grounds. The faint sound of waltz music drifted to her ears, informing her that the party was still very much in full swing.

Everyone was clearly having a marvellous time. Everybody except her.

She wouldn't have the romantic dance she had been dreaming about forever. She wouldn't know what it was like, to waltz in the arms of a fetching partner, to feel the thrilling sparks of chemistry and attraction.

Saddened, Sakura looked down at the stunning, high-neck, deep red gown she had purchased especially for the event. The flattering, sleeved top was nude coloured, giving the illusion of bare skin underneath. Rose and delicate crimson leaf stitching covered the entire length of the bodice and arms, making it appear like she was clad in decorative flowers. The rich satin skirt was full length, puffing outwards like a princess gown. Her soft pink hair had been spun into loose ringlets, partly pinned atop her head by rose-bud clips – with the rest tumbling free silkily about her shoulders.

She had thought, for the first time in her life when she'd inspected her reflection before leaving home, that she looked beautiful. She had spent so much time and effort getting dressed and ready – only for it to go to waste.

Swallowing down the bitterness of her misery, Sakura continued to stroll slowly along the balcony, until she neared a set of wide grey stairs leading down to the gardens.

What she saw at the bottom both surprised her, and caused her heart to leap unexpectedly into her throat.

Standing by the last step, leaning nonchalantly back against the banister with his arms folded, was a tall young man, clad entirely in black. Sakura had to blink several times, just to make sure that he really was tangible, and not a shadowy figment of her wistful imagination. He wore a fitted, full-sleeved tunic, with matching trousers tucked into knee-length, soft-leather boots. The collar of his top was high-necked and adorned with raven feathers. It made him seem aristocratic, somehow. A long, flowing, black cloak was draped around his broad shoulders, secured by a deep blue, circular brooch. The top half of his face was concealed to the tip of his nose by a strikingly intricate black and gold mask. His hair, in the full moonlight, appeared to be blue-black in hue. Silky strands spiked wildly in different directions at the back and framed his face smoothly at the sides, falling to a strong, angled jaw. Something glinted in his left ear – a sapphire circlet earring, Sakura registered distractedly.

Who was he? His casual, languid posture suggested boredom – had he had enough of the party and slipped out for fresh air, as well? The very notion seemed ludicrous to Sakura. How was it even possible that someone so handsome and so physically arresting would be out here, alone? Her attention was immediately snagged – and so was her curiosity.

Unlike many of the young men she had spied in the ballroom, this youth didn't look stuffy, pompously overdressed or ridiculously fancy. He wore his clothes as if they had been specifically tailor-made and moulded for his frame – and he pulled off the period look perfectly. There seemed to be an almost royal, princely, aloof air about him. Something about his stance, about the way his head and lean, smoothly muscled body were poised, screamed effortless elegance and grace.

The stranger seemed to notice her staring at him, then, for he suddenly straightened and turned his face to regard her standing at the top of the stairs.

He was silent as his gaze trailed unhurriedly over her, from head to toe, and back up again. Sakura released a quiet breath under the unexpected weight of his heavy scrutiny. Suddenly feeling oddly self-conscious of her state – her cheeks were flushed and her make-up had to surely look a mess – she raised her right hand to push a lock of hair habitually behind her ear. There was a long pause, in which the stranger's eyes lingered and he seemed to be considering something.

Then, to Sakura's utter astonishment, he wordlessly lifted his left hand to her. It was an unspoken invitation to dance. Sakura gaped ungraciously at him. Then she released a nervous, short laugh.

"You want to dance?" she questioned dubiously. "Out here? With me?" She knew for a fact that if he stepped into the ballroom, every single young woman would flock to him in seconds. He was simply that eye-catching – and a part of her was almost foolishly flattered.

Politely, however, she began to decline, "I don't really think- I mean, we shouldn't even be out here, so…"

Her voice trailed as he tilted his head slightly in response to her refusal. The moonlight seemed to catch his eyes through the elegantly framed, narrow slits in the mask. Sakura could have sworn she saw a flash of crimson – but she told herself it was impossible, for a moment later, nothing was amiss.

Something in her mind suddenly shifted, then. Ino's muffled laughter and Lee's besotted eyes drifted through her thoughts. A surge of fresh anger filled her, and the uncharacteristic urge to defy rules, to throw caution to the wind and act on impulse flared within her. She knew it was odd; after all, what were the chances that she would stumble across a complete stranger who would then offer a dance so arbitrarily to her? Her better sense of judgement whispered that it was probably not a wise idea, to accept such a proposition in a thoroughly a secluded place with nobody else around. But she reasoned, wasn't that precisely what made it all the more exciting? Wasn't Ino always accusing her of not being daring enough? It didn't matter that she didn't know him; it was a masquerade, and she would have most likely not known the identity of anyone she would have danced with inside the building, either.

What was she so apprehensive and uncertain about, anyway? Her mother wasn't around to scold her for being careless or living on the wild side for once. Security at the entrance had been extremely tight. The young man had to be someone from the academy; how else would he have been permitted to enter the venue grounds?

Besides, there was something so irresistibly tempting about this enigmatic young man. Sakura couldn't quite place her finger on it, on why she found him so appealing. Maybe it was the sexy, bad-boy look he pulled without even trying. He had an almost electrifying aura about him, an overpowering magnetism that was drawing her body forward even before her mind had been fully made up. She descended the stairs slowly, and as she drew closer to him, she saw that his eyes were dark. Piercing. Even without seeing his full face, she could guess that he was uncommonly handsome.

She reached out, placing her hand almost shyly into his cool palm. His fingers closed firmly around hers, and immediately he reeled her forward to him, placing his right hand just above her waist. Then she was being swept into a fluid waltz, and the world fell away around Sakura as she found herself gazing up at him. Somehow her feet were keeping up with his movements. And somewhere in the distance, she heard a haunting melody play. It seemed to grow mystifyingly louder around them as they danced into the night. Her head shifted slightly, as if trying to locate its source. But she was far too distracted by the handsome stranger before her to really care or wonder where it was coming from.

He danced gracefully, proficiently, and held her so lightly. Sakura felt as though she were floating in his arms. The haunting music that was permeating through the darkness around them moved her emotions, and she suddenly realised that this was the dance she had always been yearning for – the dance she had thought she had lost. Sakura knew that she would never forget this moment. She had waited for it forever.

Suddenly, she was awfully curious to know what her partner looked like. To know who he was. She knew it was rude to stare, but she couldn't seem to stop her eyes from darting up to his concealed features every so often. And every time they did, she found him looking down the barrel of his nose at her, too. As if he – just like her- was incapable of tearing his gaze away.

When this dance is over, I'll ask him to take his mask off, she told herself, as the stranger rolled her out gently for a slow twirl. Perhaps she ought to ask him for his name, though, first?

But she was reluctant to break the magical atmosphere that had settled around them. She didn't want to miss a single second of the melody that was playing. Talking would ruin it, would dispel the illusion that they somehow knew each other. For it did strangely seem to Sakura like she had known him for a long time; how else were they dancing in such faultless synchronisation, to a tune she wasn't even familiar with? Her steps matched each one of his. It was as though their bodies were perfectly attuned to each other.

He didn't seem to want to engage in conversation either, as he had not spoken a word to her. He hadn't even asked her to dance; had merely offered her his hand. It was all very peculiar, Sakura thought, as he reeled her back in. But somehow, it felt right. She snuck a glance up at him again, but could only see the chiselled line of a strong jaw and proud, wilful lips, set in a firm, unyielding line. They were nice lips she thought, then caught herself staring once more and dragged her eyes away.

Ashamed to be caught staring so openly, she ordered herself to talk anyway. They had been dancing in silence for what seemed to her to be an eternity. Soon the music would fade and he would leave as suddenly as she'd come across him; she wanted to at least know his name and look upon his face, so that if they ever passed each other again at the academy, she could at least courteously greet him.

As they swayed by a red rose bush, she asked, "What's your name?"

Instead of responding, he slipped behind her, hands leaving hers briefly before reclaiming them once again. Sakura laughed in embarrassment as she clumsily tried to predict which direction he would move in next.

"I'm sorry; I don't really know these steps-"

"Follow mine," he murmured into her ear, in a silky voice that was as delectably smooth and rich as black velvet, and just the right depth. It was a wonderful voice. A voice that somehow caused a shudder to jolt down her spine and set her pulse hurtling.

She wanted to hear him speak again. Compliantly, she mirrored his movements.

"Like this?" she questioned, as he spun her abruptly back around to face him, a steely arm winding around her waist one more as he drew her against him. Her heart jumped as their gazes locked again.

She could practically feel the sparks sizzling between them.

He offered a curt nod, and they danced for a few minutes more in silence. Sakura bit her lower lip anxiously as it dragged on. Why hadn't he answered her original question yet? Didn't he want to give her his name? Was he the hard to get type, or the shy type? He didn't really seem to be either, but then she didn't know him at all. As they drew apart to step around each other, she glanced back at him. His eyes were on her, she was certain, except the shadows formed from the mask made it impossible to make out their exact colour clearly.

"Your name?" she pressed politely.

One corner of his lips drew back in what wasn't quite a smirk as they slipped around each other again before he pulled her back in, facing her once more.

"Not yet." he replied cryptically.

Sakura raised her eyebrows at that.

"Why not?"

He gave no response.

Maybe he's in the year below. Maybe that's why I can't place his voice.

"Well, do I know you?" she tried next, as they continued to glide weightlessly over the grass.

There was a lengthy pause. Finally, he repeated, "Not yet."

Sakura was struck by how well-spoken he was. He didn't have a particular accent that gave away his origins, but his tone was very cultured.

Definitely wealthy, Sakura thought to herself, trying to build a clearer profile of the tantalising enigma holding her in his arms. A History student, perhaps. Or Fine Arts. She pursed her lips. So he wanted to be secretive and elusive? Fine. She wouldn't give him her name, either. Giving up on attempts at small talk, she closed her eyes and relaxed, allowing her senses to enjoy the remainder of the dance as he led. She lost herself in the fluid grace of their movements - in the way her limbs and heart seemed to soar in the pleasure dancing gave - as the stranger guided her.

She did not know that he was watching her intently the entire time.

Eventually, he slipped behind her, and his hands released her, informing her that their sensual waltz was over. Sakura opened her eyes and swivelled to face him. They had drawn to a stop by the entrance to the maze she had spied from the balcony earlier, she suddenly realised in surprise.

Just how much time had passed? It had seemed to last for only a heartbeat.

His back was turned to her. When he began to take several steps away, Sakura held up a hand. He was leaving? Just like that? She was fearful that he would disappear before she got the chance to find out who he was. She thought that Prince Charming had to have felt the same, when Cinderella had unexpectedly abandoned him.

"Wait!" she called. "Please, if you won't tell me your name, then won't you at least take off your mask?"

He halted at that, his back still turned to her. He seemed to consider her request, for his left hand lifted to face. Sakura held her breath in hopeful anticipation. Then, without warning he turned, angling a haughty glance back over his left shoulder at her.

And the air stilled in Sakura's lungs, as she found herself gazing upon the most striking youth she had ever seen. Oh, God, she thought senselessly, staring at him with wide, startled eyes. He was gorgeous. No. He was beyond gorgeous. He was simply breath-taking. Beautiful, even.

His eyes, no longer obscured by the mask, seared through her. They were burning. Intense. Breath-taking. Irises the colour of smouldering, steel-flecked charcoal regarded her beneath long lashes so dark and sooty, they almost seemed to weigh his eyelids down. The moonlight caught in them, mesmerising, bringing out near-silver, luminous specks. His nose was straight, aristocratic, a sharp blade that perfectly complimented his high cheekbones. His face was all defined, angular planes, a complete and utter masterpiece. Sakura couldn't stop her stupid, mindless staring. She couldn't help herself. He was without doubt the best-looking guy she had ever seen, anywhere.

And definitely not from the academy. She would have remembered a face like his.

His slightly tilted head then dipped, as his eyes continued to blaze through her. She was prisoner to them, to their silent call. The gesture enticed her to follow him as he ventured into the private, secluded maze. Sakura, completely captivated and entranced, found her legs moving forward automatically without thought. Her pulse was thundering. He was like a magnet to her iron core. He drew her in like nobody else ever had before. And she was powerless to resist. It was as though an invisible string had been tied from his hand to her, a string that compelled her to follow. She kept her gaze glued onto his back as he stalked ahead of her, delving deeper into the hedgy labyrinth, leading her through twists and turns, occasionally indulging Sakura with a brief, alluring glance back at her.

"Wait!" she called after him, as he took a sudden left, removing him from her sight entirely. "Please-!"

But as she rounded the corner, she found that the fetching stranger was nowhere to be found. She spun around, looking in all directions, frustrated and devastated in equal measure, when she realised with sinking disappointment that he had vanished. Following the passage he had led her into, she navigated another corner, peeking around the neatly trimmed, leafy wall hopefully with baited breath.

Maybe… maybe he was just engaging in an impromptu game of Hide and Seek?

But no such luck. He had definitely disappeared.

Great, she fumed to herself, picking up speed as she made her way through the dizzying passages with no clear sense of direction. Now I'm lost in this stupid maze-

"Sakura-san! My Flower!"

"Sakura-chan! Where are you?!"

"Sakura! I'm sorry!"

She stiffened at the call of her name in familiar, anxious voices. Lee. Naruto. And Ino. No, she thought despairingly to herself, as she ran faster. Not them! I want to find him-

A steely hand suddenly shot out from an arched opening she had just passed, clamping around her right arm like an iron shackle and yanking her through it at frightening speed. A dazed Sakura blinked at the feel of a warm palm against her lips, muffling her alarmed cry. Startled, she looked up – straight into the molten, crimson eyes of the enigmatic stranger.

"Sakura," he murmured. Her heart hammered against her rib-cage at the sound of him addressing her for the first time. Her name slipped seductively from his lips, his tongue elongating the first vowel, massacring the innocence of it.

He was so close. Too close. He had her pressed back against the hedge wall, enclosed within the cage of his arms, resting on either side of her. Their faces were merely inches apart. But she found that she could not move, was pinned in place by those beautiful, arresting eyes. She frantically found herself wondering just how they could have possibly changed colour. They seemed to suck her in, sent her mind reeling and spiralling.

Feeling oddly breathless as he removed his hand, she began senselessly, "You-? Your eyes! They-!? How do you know my name?" When he simply continued to stare at her, she went on, unnerved, "Who are you?"

"Close your eyes," he instructed, in a tone of such undeniable authority, that a horrified Sakura actually felt her eyelids immediately grow heavy. The command seemed to burn right through her brain, enforcing its iron will.

"What?" Overcome with confusion, and a sudden sense of panic, Sakura fought against the strange sleepiness that crept over her. He had spoken her name as if he was familiar with it – as if he knew her - but she hadn't given it to him. How could he know, when she had not told him? When she was certain for a fact, that she had never seen him anywhere before?

"No," she whispered, reaching up to try to push him away. It had been a mistake, she realised too late, to dance with him, to enter the maze after a stranger. After all, she knew nothing about this person. And she couldn't shift the sudden, inexplicable sense of peril that filled her, as his fingers lifted to ghost over her right cheek. A feather-light, barely-there touch that left dangerous tingles in its wake.

"No, I don't want-" she began. But her words never finished, for the world rapidly faded to darkness as unconsciousness claimed her.

"Sakura-chan!"

"S-Sakura…"

"Sakura!"

"Why isn't she waking up? What's the matter with her?"

"Maybe it's another-"

"Shut up, Naruto!"

"Oh, the Flower of My Youth!"

Sakura finally summoned the strength to open her heavy eyelids. Her head ached and the night sky briefly revolved dizzyingly above her. What had happened?

Big blue eyes blinked down at her. "Sakura-chan!" Naruto exclaimed worriedly. "Are you alright?!"

Slowly, he helped her to sit up. Sakura looked around, to find that the rest of her friends were there, too. Hinata, Shikamaru, Ino, Chouji, Shino, Ten Ten, Kiba, Neji and Lee were all staring down at her.

"What happened?" she croaked, rubbing at her throbbing forehead.

"We found you here, knocked out in the maze," Ten Ten informed her.

"Sakura, the Flower of my Youth!" Lee reached out to her. "Are you-?!"

Naruto smacked his hand away angrily. "Hey, don't touch her, Fuzzy Brows!"

Ino sighed. "Geez! You had us worried sick, Forehead! Don't ever run off like that again, okay?"

Sakura glared at her, ready to give her a piece of her mind at last. Then recollection slammed into her, making the air whoosh from her lungs.

The seductive, masked stranger. The dance. Him leading her into the maze. Pressing her against the hedge wall… speaking her name… and then…

And then she had woken up. Had she… had she somehow dreamt it all? The stranger was nowhere to be found. Where had he gone?

"Sakura, do you remember what happened?" Shikamaru questioned, noting her unhappy frown.

"No." Sakura blurted automatically. Internally, she swallowed, shocked at how swiftly the deceitful answer had flown from her lips. What was the matter with her? Why was she lying? She never lied. Why would she want to keep the identity of the young man a secret?

His charcoal gaze drifted through her mind's eye. It made her heart flutter almost painfully. She told herself that there was no conceivable way she could have imagined someone so vivid, so alive.

Troubled, but determined not to have them fuss over her any longer, she added, "I must have fallen asleep."

"In a maze?" Naruto said incredulously. "Are you really okay?"

"I'm fine," Sakura brushed off his concern, and rose to her feet. Then, avoiding Ino's narrowed eyes, she went on, "Don't you guys have a party to finish?"

"Sakura-chan," Naruto said gently. "Let's go back inside and dance."

Ino cleared her throat. "She's mad at me, so she won't."

Naruto looked between the girls in confusion.

Sakura was mad. But she would confront Ino later, in private. She didn't want to embarrass poor Lee, who was staring at her so worriedly. And suddenly, she didn't want to dance any more. Her thoughts were too preoccupied by the enigmatic stranger who had vanished into the night. She knew she wouldn't meet anyone else who even came close to him.

"Thanks, Naruto," she replied softly. "But I don't feel like dancing."

"But you were looking forward to this for months-" Ten Ten began to protest. A guilty Ino elbowed her in the side, cutting her off abruptly when she saw the anger and hurt flash in Sakura's eyes.

"There's only half an hour left, anyway," Shikamaru mumbled. "Lots of people have already left."

Sakura was quietly disturbed. Had she really been outside for so long?

"Ah, it got boring anyway," Kiba waved. "I say we go eat somewhere else."

"In these clothes?" Ino shrieked at him, gesturing pointedly to her finery.

"Sure, why not?"

"I-I am a little hungry," Hinata confessed, as they made their way back out of the maze.

"I could eat a horse!" Chouji announced.

"When can you not?" Neji muttered.

"My energy will be restored with a youthful meal!" Lee declared.

"Bet I could eat more than you," Kiba challenged Naruto.

"Like hell you could!" Naruto yelled back, shaking a threatening fist.

"How much d'ya wanna bet, knucklehead?"

"I'll bet you three months of free ramen that I'll eat more than you!"

"Done deal!"

"Geez, guys are so stupid," Ten Ten said under her breath.

"All guys?" Ino grinned, winking towards where Neji walked ahead, causing her friend to blush and elbow her side.

"Nobody has asked me for my opinion," Shino lamented expressionlessly.

"Nobody cares, Shino!" Kiba roared at him.

As they walked on, lost in the boisterous banter of bickering, nobody noticed the way an uncharacteristically quiet Sakura's eyes widened as she momentarily faltered when they passed by a gold and black masquerade mask, lying discarded on the grass.

Nobody noticed, as she bent down, as if to smooth the skirt of her gown – only to pick up the mask and conceal it within the satin sash of her belt.

And nobody noticed, as the group walked away, the tall figure that lingered back in the shadows, crimson eyes narrowed into furious slits as they watched Sakura escape in safety.

Did you know…? Hypnos and Thanatos shared a bond so strong, they were inseparable. There was no place Thanatos ventured, that Hypnos did not follow. Hades often envied their unique connection, the way they melted into the shadows, to places beyond what his eyes could perceive. Always watching. Always knowing.

Closing comment

So there you have the alternative first meeting. Sasuke was about to abduct her here, and used his Sharingan twice to influence her. The first time, was to sway her to get her to agree to dance when she initially hesitated. The second time, he imposed sleep on her. However, her friends arrived just before he could take her. I'll post the dress that inspired Sakura's in this shortly.

Also, to make things clear: To anyone who might think this is somehow incomplete, or is annoyed that Sakura didn't confront Ino; I said on tumblr that I would write Sakura's FIRST MEETING with Sasuke. Nothing more. I'm not wasting my time writing a follow up to a scene that never even happens in the story. The entire focus and point of this is her meeting with and first impression of SASUKE and the dance HE gives her. How he affects and distracts her so much, she feels disorientated when she wakes up to find him gone, fearful she had imagined it until she finds the mask he discarded. Not her apparent 'weakness' in choosing not to confront Ino right away, which is irrelevant to the focus here and would have followed this scene afterwards, anyway.

Obviously this scene leaves unanswered questions. It's an out-take and an alternate situation. Please keep this in mind and remember this would have taken place at the START of the story, before Sakura's character development.

Thanks for reading.