She will remember their first meeting like her first kiss, first love, first scare.

He is twelve, he is beautiful. He is growing; puberty is blossoming in his height and stature, muscles are forming along his skinny arms and slowly, but surely aging torso. He is still young, eyes wide with innocence, ebony with wisdom, skin below pulled and tinted lavender from lack of sleep and extensive hours of work. He is so pale, she feels if his skin were to be kissed by the sun, he would simply melt away, forgot with the many moons. His hair is messy, littered lightly with dirt, fringe covering an equally dirty forehead. He is aristocratic, with a thin nose, taut, white lips and high cheek-bones she only wished she could have. He is a worker.

"Sakura-chan," her mother prompted her forward with a push, "This is Sasuke. He will take care of you. He will watch you."

She cocked her head to the side, cotton-candy-colored hair falling over her shoulder and into her swollen eyes. "Sasuke-kun will be my friend?"

"Not quite," her mother explained. "Sasuke is like Shizune."

She nodded, only slightly understanding. Her eyes flickered to the holder woman beside her mother, Shizune, with the big, cream-colored eyes and the warm smile. "Sasuke-kun is... a maid?"

Her mother shook her head again, chuckling at the expression that surfaced on the young boy's face. "Not quite, either... Sasuke is a boy."

"Sasuke-kun..." she tested the name on her lips, clicking her tongue against her—still baby—bottom teeth. "Sasuke-kun is my helper. Is that right?" she asked her mother, hope gleaming in her big, emerald eyes.

"Yes," her mother decided, "Sasuke is your helper. Sasuke will watch you and in return, our maids will watch him. Do you understand?"

She nodded furiously. "Of course, mother." She took another wary step forward toward the slightly dirty boy, offering him a grin and curtsey, just like her mother had taught her. "My name is Sakura Haruno, Sasuke-kun."

He raised an eyebrow in question—why on earth is royalty bowing to me?—and bowed deeply, properly, perfectly. "It is the deepest honor to meet you, your highness. Thank you for allowing me to serve you."

She giggled lovingly, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. Her mother's servant gasped, ready to remove the girl, but her mother thrust a hand in her way, allowing the scene to unfurl between her daughter and the help. "Please, Sasuke-kun, call me Sakura."

heartstrings
theeflowerchild

part one

"This is impossible," she finally decided, falling gently to the ground off the groomed, white stallion. Her pale-pink skirt fluttered to her knees, revealing white pantyhose, black boots worn with time and the lace bottoms of pantaloons that she had no shame in hiding. "I will never learn to ride a horse. I cannot. I refuse."

Ignoring the blood that had settled on his cheeks at the sight of his young mistress' undergarments, he focused on the task at hand. "Your highness—"

"Sakura."

"—Uh, Sakura," he corrected for the nth time, "Your thirteenth birthday is coming up much sooner than you'd like to think. It is your duty as future ruler of the Fire Country to ride your stallion."

"Tonton, she's so tall..." she mused, rubbing the ponytail of purebred, white stallion that had been forced upon her. "Sasuke-kun, it cannot be done."

He sighed, running a hand through his already mussed hair. "I think you forget, Sakura."

"What is it that I forget, Sasuke-kun?" she questioned, attempting to get onto the horse all on her own by sticking her booties into the hooks and pushing her weight as forcefully as she could, flashing the older boy in the process, once again.

"You've got to stop doing that, your highness," he explained, ignoring her question for the time being. "It's very inappropriate and if your father saw you flashing me, he'd probably throw me in the dungeon for the rest of my life."

"Oh, hush." She fixed herself onto the horse. Sasuke waltzed over to the reigns, holding the horse still as to not send the pinkette flying. "You did not have to do this when you turned thirteen!"

"One, I am not a girl," he began, slowly moving the horse along the flat plain, careful to make sure the princess did not hit the hard ground. "Two, I am not royalty. My thirteenth birthday came and went, yours is very important."

She sighed dejectedly. "Why is that again?"

He rolled his eyes at the obvious question. "If you pretend to forget, that does not mean it will go away, Princess."

She cocked her head slightly, pursing her naked lips. "I believe in miracles, Sasuke-kun."

"I'm not surprised," he mused, dropping the reigns and allowing the girl to gallop on her own, only to fall to the ground. Rather than rushing to her side, he just rolled his eyes once again, strolling to the ground where she lay rubbing her bum.

"I told you I couldn't do it!" she screamed, tears forming in the corner of her eyes and a blush spreading across her chubby cheeks. "I told you!" Her arms fell to her side, a pout forming on her lips, only eventuating the fact that she was still just a child.

Sasuke sighed exasperatedly, getting down on his knees next to the young girl. He pushed her fringe out of her wet eyes, rolling his own in the process. "Big girls don't cry," he reprimanded her, brushing away the tears gently from her rosy cheeks. "And, as I was attempting to say, your highness, you have forgotten," he smiled softly, the corners of his lips only turning up slightly, "you can do anything."

Her pout deepened, but the blush on her cheeks did not falter in the slightest. "Not this, apparently!" She flailed her arms toward the sky in an act of surrender. "Sasuke-kun, what happens if I cannot do it?"

"Then all of the people who are coming to visit you will have come for nothing," he began to explain, helping the pinkette to her feet. "You must understand that many men are coming to see you turn thirteen from far away lands in hopes of catching your attention." Ignoring her physical protests, he lifted her from the ground, gently depositing her onto the horse and grabbing the reigns once again. "If you do not ride the horse properly and with all the grace you can muster, no man will look at you like the beautiful flower you are slowly becoming." She blushed feverishly at his compliment. "His and her highness have explained to you countless times that they expect you to marry off by the age of sixteen." They had started moving slowly, but surely, Sasuke calming the horse every few steps or so by tugging its mane. "You must not disappoint the other kingdoms, Sakura."

"But, if I don't do it, then I don't have to get married!" she reasoned, fidgeting uncomfortably on the horse's saddle. "Then I can stay here forever!"

He sighed exasperatedly, running a hand through his unruly head of hair. "M'lady, that reasoning is not sound. You will be married off whether you like it or not, it's just a point of making a good first impression. You want to make a positive one, don't you?"

She thought for a second, trusting Sasuke enough to allow her eyes to wander to the sky rather than in front of her. "I guess I do," she decided.

"So, then, it's settled," he let go of the reigns, ushering the horse to move slowly. "You will ride the horse then."

She did not fall. "If that's what makes you happy, Sasuke-kun."

She was a complete and utter hit at her entrance, gracefully galloping in on the white stallion that her mother purchased from a far away land as a tradition in their kingdom. Her cream dress fluttered gently—she did not dare flash anybody this time around—, rose hair pulled back into ribbon curls that bounced accordingly to the steps of her steed, mouth painted pink and eyes lined black with charcoal. If she were turning thirteen, one could not guess, because a young woman was who rode into the field of green, impressing man upon man into relentless applause. All she could do was blush a pink that matched her taut lips and flutter to the ground daintily.

She attempted to avoid the crowd of people congratulating her, nearly running into the ballroom where her party was held. It was decorated with sophistication, a color scheme of maroons and ivories; surely a party a high-class kingdom would throw. The buffet was lined with many meats and rich vegetables, ready to be served when the tables were filled with those wishing to attack the princess with gracious compliments and marriage proposals so early in the game, ones she would ultimately refuse at the young age of thirteen.

The only person she could think to find when entering the ballroom was her the boy that went through hell and back for her in an attempt to not make her heart fly out of her chest due to cumbersome nerves. She found him leaning against a wall, nursing a goblet of wine and fidgeting with his ruffled jacket, obviously uncomfortable with his outfit choice.

"Sasuke-kun!" she stage whispered, rushing to his side gracelessly. "Did you see me!? How did I do!?" she questioned nervously, fidgeting with a ruffled hem on her dress.

He rolled his eyes, taking a long sip of the red wine stationed in his hand. "Of course I watched you; I told you many a time, I wouldn't miss it for the world," he began. "You were lovely, your highness. You look very beautiful as well. Those paints suit you quite nicely; I am very proud." He offered her the largest smile he could muster, which may not have been much, but was surely enough for her. "You were breathtaking."

She blushed a crimson that rivaled the wine in his goblet, a grin surfacing on her face in return. "Thank you, Sasuke-kun, I could not have done it without you."

He shook his head. "Of course you could, your highness. Perhaps you just needed me for a slight push... And to help you up every once and a while when you fall."

She giggled, eyes lighting with mirth. "What will I ever do without you, Sasuke-kun?"

He pursed his lips. "Don't say such things. One day, you will make a man very happy. I promise you."

"Sasuke is right, you know," a female voice interjected. Sakura turned around to view her mother; a large-breasted, honey-haired woman dressed in a deep red, velor dress that fit her very nicely. "Which is why you must quit mingling with those that are constantly around and meet the boy you will one day wed, dear." She tugged her daughter's hand, thrusting her gently toward the dance floor before turning back to her help. "Thank you for everything, Sasuke. We'd be very much lost without your help. You may have tonight and tomorrow off, of course."

He offered a pleasant, polite smile. "Thank you, your highness, Tsunade, but that is not necessary—"

"It is of no problems to the kingdom that you should enjoy yourself every now and again, child," she chastised. "You are but eighteen-years-old! Please, enjoy yourself, eat the food and perhaps dance with a beautiful girl." She winked playfully, leaving him gaping slightly, and followed her daughter who had already caught attention.

"My name is Prince Kankuro of the Sand Kingdom," she overheard a voice say. Coming into view, she saw a boy with unruly brown hair and purple paints on his face, those of a warrior. "It is a pleasure to meet you." He took Sakura's hand, kissing it gently, politely, regally. "And this is my eldest brother, Prince Gaara of the Sand. He will be our King in the future."

A boy with a mess of red hair, large green eyes painted black with fatigue and alabaster skin worn with years of training stole the hand of the pinkette, softly kissing it in an attempt of impression. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Princess Haruno. You are as beautiful as they say."

She felt the blood rushing to her cheeks, but ignored it, curtseying like her mother had taught her. "Please, the pleasure is all mine, really. And do call me Sakura, if you do not mind."

"Not at all, Sakura." His lulling voice caught her attention more than most, dead eyes entrancing her, lips quirked slightly that made her heart flutter. "I must bid thee farewell for the time being, but I will find you later. We will dance, of course?"

"Of course," she confirmed, smiling ladylike, another thing her mother had taught her. "I will await the moment."

"Sasuke-kun!" she squealed, tackling the boy to the green ground and falling into a fit of giggles in the process. "I've been looking all over for you!"

"Your highness!" he yelled, sitting up. "You know better than that! At sixteen, you should not be tackling men to the ground!" he reprimanded, glaring—though she knew it was barely serious.

She waved him off with a hand. "Where have you been, Sasuke-kun?"

"I have been working, of course," he explained, gesturing to the garden. "Lady Hinata is sick, so she asked me to tend to the garden for the day. It seems the tomatoes are ripe and must be picked as soon as possible." He stood, dusting himself off, only to settle onto his knees again next to the fruit, face fixing into a position of thoughtfulness. "What do you need, your highness?"

"I was just hoping to spend some time with you!" She flopped down next to him in a comfortable position, careful not to flash her pantaloons. Each time she did, he just fought with her endlessly and claimed that her father would have off with his head. "Can I help, Sasuke-kun?" she pleaded, ivy-colored eyes widening with hope.

He sighed loudly. "Now, you know your mother hates it when you act like a maid, Princess—"

"Sakura," she corrected.

"Sakura," he repeated; even after years of being by her side, he still felt it fairly inappropriate calling her by her first name, but on the other hand, he'd do anything to please his princess. "Why don't you go study? Queen Tsunade only wants what is best for you."

She pursed her lips. "I've been studying all week and this morning before breakfast, too, though! Would you please just let me help? What Mother does not know will not hurt her." She got into the same position as the man next to her, gently brushing away the dirt that had settled onto her skirt from her past position. She offered him a cheeky grin. "Please, oh please?"

He sighed again, fingers flying to his temples in an attempt to relax himself. "Fine, but if your mother comes out and sees you doing this, you are to take full responsibility of your actions. Your mother may be a great Queen and lovely woman, but her fast temper always manages to bite me back," he explained. "Just like yours..." he mumbled as an afterthought.

"I heard that!" she exclaimed, looking at a particularly ripe tomato and plucking it from its vine. "But I will take full responsibility of my actions, like I always do, Sasuke-kun!"

"You do, don't you?" he questioned in an airy, detached tone. He plucked a few tomatoes from the vine and placed them in the basket in between them. "Why don't you get that one?" He pointed at a large tomato, rivaling the size of a small cantaloup.

Her eyes lit up. "Of course!" She grabbed it with greedy hands and set it in her lap, thinking for a second. "You love tomatoes, don't you, Sasuke-kun? They are your favorite food, are they not?" she inquired a little too curiously.

"You know they are, Sakura." He removed a few more from the vines.

She grinned wildly. "As your Princess, I command you to take this tomato!" she masked her voice with something akin to the powerful tone her mother used when asserting herself to other kingdoms or people within the castle. She thrust the tomato at him with a grin on her face. "Please put it beside you!"

He raised an eyebrow, trying to hold back a small smile. "Thank you, your highness. I will eat it graciously."

She giggled furiously. "It is of no problem! … As long as you pluck a strawberry for me," she added, pointing to the small patch slowly growing.

He nodded his head, searching for a plump, large one among the babies. When he finally found one deep within the patch, he plucked it and handed it to her. "Hopefully it's just as sweet as you, Princess."

She blushed fiercely at his comment, taking a bite of the overwhelmingly large strawberry before smiling softly. "It's even sweeter, Sasuke-kun, just like you."

A knock sounded at the door.

"Come in!" she yelled rather than getting the door herself, snuggled into a textbook focused on herbal remedies.

Sasuke opened her door with a small smirk on his face. "Your parents request you in the thrown room, m'lady." He walked over to her, sitting down next to her on the bed, something that would normally be deemed incredibly inappropriate. After years of being with the girl, there were nearly no boundaries between them—other than her pantaloons, of course, which the viewing of ran him ragged. "Somebody is here to see you."

"Who?" she asked, distracted and obviously not all that interested.

"A young Prince from the kingdom of the Sand," he began explaining. "A warrior no older than I, I believe. He seems anxious and has been speaking with your parents for a good sum of the morning. He only arrived when the sun rose."

"I see..." She flipped another page of the text, consumed. "Would you wait and walk with me, Sasuke-kun?"

"Of course." He stood from her bed, walking over to the floor to gather the books that lay strewn. Despite being more of a friend than anything else, he still had a job as her caretaker of sorts. He put the books back in their place. "You should learn to clean after yourself, Sakura."

She shrugged, slamming her book shut. "Why clean when it will just get messy again?"

"Your point proves valid, I guess," he decided, gathering a few pencils that also lay on the floor and placing them into their designated cup. "Your mother likes a tidy lady, you know."

"My mother likes a lot of things." She stood from her bed, fixing her gown and ridding it of wrinkles. She let down her hair from its ponytail, something her mother hated and found brash, and slipped into her boots by her closet door. "Do you know what she wants?"

"I can't say I do." Such a lie; he could only presume that the Prince wanted what the Kingdom was hoping for and what he was dreading.

She smiled. "Well then, shall we find out?"

He nodded and ushered her out of her bed chambers. "Remember not to fidget, your mother hates that," he reprimanded as they began setting off toward the throne room. Her boots clicked lightly against the stone floor, eyes wandering to windows that they passed. She'd much rather be outside gallivanting or riding her steed that she'd grown to love than stuck, cooped up in her room studying. "Use your speech lessons to the best of their abilities, be polite, do not twirl your hair and most importantly, pay attention to your mother's wishes, would you?"

She rolled her eyes and nodded her head, waving him off slightly. "Yes, of course, Sasuke-kun. I am not a mule, I know how to act civilized."

"You could have fooled me," he teased. She pushed him gently away from her, giggling lightly. When they finally approached the designated room, he held the door open for her as always. "After you, Princess."

She entered the room to the view of her parents, sitting in their emerald thrones, dressed properly with crowns on their heads, two boys that she remembered from her birthday party many moons ago, dressed in their best garments, faces painted and swords at their sides and an older woman with sandy, blonde hair and a gown, all sitting at her parents feet.

Her mother was the first to speak, a warm smile on her face. "Sakura, we beckon you closer, of course. Do greet our guests."

She nodded warily, taking cautious steps toward her parents thrones, Sasuke in tow. She curtseyed when she approached them, offering a polite, warm grin that her mother had taught her was proper. "Welcome to our Kingdom, Prince Gaara, Prince Kankuro and Lady of the Sand."

"Temari," the woman offered.

"Lady Temari," she took graciously. "What brings you here?" she questioned, eying her mother to make sure she was fulfilling her wishes correctly. She received a nod and a wink.

"Princess Sakura," Gaara began, stepping forward. "It is more than lovely to see you again; you are as beautiful as ever." He gathered her hand in his large, calloused one, bending in a low boy and kissing it gently. She blushed furiously. "How are you on this beautiful morning that rivals your own?"

Sasuke nearly snorted.

"I am lovely," she replied, struck by his charm. "And yourself?"

"Much better now that you are here." The corners of his lips quirked up slightly in what could be taken as a smile. "I've come here on a mission of sorts, Princess."

"I safely assumed," she commented jokingly, charmingly. Her mother was so proud behind her. "What mission would that be, Prince?"

He took her tone as a cue for forwardness. "You see, Princess Sakura, you are of sixteen-years of age. I'm sure many a man has attempted to court you in all of your beauty."

She caught herself before she shrugged. "This is true."

"Of course it is. Any many would be lucky to be blessed with a woman such as yourself." He was on a roll. "I've traveled many moons to your castle in to ask for your hand in marriage, m'lady," he finally admitted. "It would be an honor to take you as my wife and Queen of the Sand kingdom and of the Fire. Together, we could bring our palaces as one and create a large reign and a beautiful world." He stepped forward and took her hand in his. "Would you do me the honor in thinking about my offer?"

She was nearly taken aback by the fact that he offered for her to think about it, rather than forcing the request upon her. She could almost feel her parents shaking behind her in anticipation. "Of course I will think about it, Prince Gaara."

He grinned a victorious grin. "Please, just Gaara."

"Of course, Gaara-kun." She smiled softly in reply. "Please, just Sakura, then."

"I am sixteen," she told him.

"I know that, Sakura." He raised an eyebrow at her in confusion. "What does that have to do with anything, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Why must I get married at such a young age?" she asked him, settling her hands into her lip and fidgeting. "I know many a lady who has yet to be wed."

"Quit fidgeting," he reprimanded her. He settled down onto the bed next to her with a sigh, putting an arm around her in a motion he knew comforted her beyond what he could understand. "You are a Princess, Sakura. A beautiful, strong, intelligent, lovely Princess who will one day rule the Fire Kingdom," he began explaining. "I strongly believe you can do this on your own, but that is not tradition... Your parents wish you to be wed and, as a Princess, it must be early in your life.

"You must understand, Sakura; it is nearly your job to get married and create peace within the many lands of this world. You will do great things, I know it, but you cannot do them by yourself. You need a support system, which includes your parents, your future husband, your future children and, remember," his voice settled into a whisper, "me. You will always have me."

"But what if I don't love him?" she whimpered, tears always settling into the corners of her eyes.

"You will learn to."

This ended up being a loooot longer than planned, so I made it into a two-shot, haha. I always wanted to write a Prince/Princess story, so here it is. :)

Please review! I'll probably put out the next part in a week or two. Enjoy enjoy enjoy!

Peace.