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C h a p t e r  O n e
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He was the greatest thief the world had ever known.
He could steal anything, no matter how guarded or valuable. He had never been caught or even seen.
Well…Almost never…

He pressed his hands against the cool castle walls, looking up at the great building before him. Grabbing onto the stone, he started his assent, moving up quickly and silently. The guards hadn’t seen him coming, of course, but the thief had knocked them out anyway.

He moved flawlessly, having done this a thousand times. He blended into the darkness; he had dark raven hair, a black mesh shirt under a dark protective chest shield covering a six pack and a dark pants concealing smoke bombs, shirikun, rope, and anything and everything else he would need if he was caught.
Like he ever would, though.

The man knew the castle layout even though he had never been inside. He wasn’t one to study and map out a heist for nights on end, but he liked to have some plans.

He grabbed onto the window ledge of the highest entrance he could reach; the most valuable things were always the highest up. Back flipping over the sill, he landed without a sound and peered around.

The room was light pink, the finest furniture and jewelry perfectly placed about. His eyes scanned the room and stopped at the bed.
A girl lay sleeping in it, no older than eight-teen.
The Princess.
The man could not help but stare at the beautiful girl, no older than 18 himself.
But he got a hold of himself and continued what he had come to do.

His name was Sasuke.
Not Romeo.

He was as gentle as a night wind, his footsteps seemingly soundless as he glided across the floor, nearing the jewelry box next to the girl’s bed. He opened it, immediately putting his hand over the trigger that would have the melody play.
Not a sound.

Taking his sweet time, Sasuke sifted through the pieces; the diamonds and emeralds, the rings and necklaces. He was not the kind of thief who would take everything. No, he only took what he liked; what appealed to him. Eyeing a few pricy rings and necklaces, he placed them in the pockets on his chest.
He glanced at the princess again. Her arm was sleepily hanging off the bed. But there was a ring on her finger that seemed very out of place. The diamond looked small, invaluable, and the ring was too big for her finger.
Is that to be her wedding ring? the thief thought as he stared down at her. There is no way. It must an heirloom; there was no love in that ring
But as his onyx eyes were fixed on her fixed sleeping ones, the ring began sliding off her finger. By the time Sasuke noticed, it was too late. The ring landed on the wood floor with a metallic thunk . The great thief held his breath. He could just see her waking, catching a glimpse of him and screaming. He would put a hand over her mouth and tell her to stay silent, but she would violently shake her head, clawing at his hand and beginning to cry.
If he had to harm the princess, he would.

The girl’s eyes slowly fluttered open, revealing a pair of sleepy green orbs. Lightly scanning the room, she spied Sasuke’s silhouette, the moon shining behind him through the open window. She let out a soundness gasp and the thief stepped forward, placing a firm hand over her mouth.
“Shh, princess. Do not allow a scream to escape your lips.”
She stared up at him, then lightly nodded her head. Not in the way Sasuke had imagined and expected, her being scared out of her mind, but a nod as if to say ‘alright, I trust you’.
Staring into her eyes, he gently removed his hand from her, allowing his fingers to linger on her lips for a moment.
The princess slowly sat up, her short pink hair slightly messy, and stared up and the man before her. He handed her the ring from the floor.
“Is this your wedding ring, princess?” he asked, “Although it is nice looking, it is no way near fit for someone as royal as yourself.”
“Mm, it is the ring from my betrothed, though the feeling is not mutual.”
“What do you mean?” In any other situation, Sasuke would have killed and left. Yet something about this girl put him at ease. Something about her showed she was unafraid of the armed thief in her bedroom.
“I have been promised to another.” The princess looked up at him tears forming in the corners of her eyes. “To a man I have never even met!”
The thief took a step back. Princesses are supposed to live happily ever after, not treated like a porcelain doll; something treated better than others but as nothing all the same.
“Please…” The princess stared up at him from her bed. “Take me with you.”
“What?!” he cried, “Are you mad? Why in heaven would you want to accompany me?”
“Because I am in hell, don’t you see? Please! Take me with you before my life is set!” She removed the pink blanket from her body, revealing a white spaghetti-strap dress down to her mid-thigh.
He stared at her for a moment. “What is your name, princess?”
“Sakura,” she said softly. “May I ask yours?”
“You may but I will not reply. And you deserve a wedding ring as beautiful as your name.”
“Thank you…” she said softly. “But I have no way unless you take me from this place!”
“Now why, my dear princess, would I do that?”
She paused for a moment. “Is not a princess the ultimate treasure?”

“What are you saying?” he asked.
Sakura stood and slowly walked toward him with her arms slightly out to her sides. “All my money…my pretty necklace…of what value are they? Is it not the princess who owns them more valuable?”
“Princess Sakura, I-”
“A princess’s heart then.”
She leaned against him, staring up at his face. And from what she could tell in the darkness, he was absolutely handsome.
“A Princess’s love…”  There was desperation in her eyes. “Dear thief, this is all I have left to give. It is the only thing I value and it is about to be torn away from me."
She began to cry.
“Please, dear sir, if you cannot take me from this place, then take me from this world!”
Sasuke stared down at her. He didn’t know what to do. He was a thief; he worked alone. But this girl did not fear him.
And what a pretty treasure she was.
Sasuke slowly turned her chin up to his face, wiping her tears with his thumb. “Your eyes are like emeralds. But they would be so much prettier if they we’re always so wet…”
She smiled a little at his comment, but said nothing.
“What do you want me to do, Princess? Hn?”
“I want to you take me from here…”
“And then what of you?”
“What do you-?”
“Do you expect me to keep you? To…take care of you and treat you like the royalty you are?”
“I do not care how you would treat me,” she said. “Do with me whatever you please. I do not care.”
“Are you implying that I may harm you with hearing no objection?” he asked with an eyebrow raised. “That I may do what I please with you? Anything? “
The princess took a deep breath, staring at his chest. “Yes…” she breathed.
Sasuke cupped her face in his hand and turned her face up to him again, staring deep into her eyes.
“My God, what has the world done to this sweet cherry blossom?”
Sakura began to cry again, but never broke his gaze.
“Princess. I am unsure of what to do.”
“You should ta-”
“That choice is up to me, is it not?”
After a moment, Sakura sat down on her bed, staring at her lap.
The girl was a Princess . Though she acted as if she was a slave.

Sasuke stared down at her. He took her hand and gently pulled her to her feet and brought her closer to him. Not in an embrace, no, but holding her arms.
“Princess,” his breath was warm on her ear. “This choice is difficult for me. But I believe I already know the answer…”

There was a sudden pounding at the door what made both the thief and the princess nearly jump out of their skin.
“Princess? Are you alright?” It was a guard. “I heard some voices…”
Sakura’s eyes grew wide. “E-Everything’s fine..!”
The sound of the door unlocking - several locks - filled the air.
“No…” she breathed.
Sasuke put an arm around her neck, putting her in a head lock. He turned her so her back was to his front. He took a dagger from his pocket and pointed it at the door.
Sakura struggled a little, putting her hands up to the arm that bound her. She had no idea how armed or how strong or how skilled he was.
In a flash, he vanished without a trace just as the door opened.
“Princess?”
Her gaze shot to the guard now in the doorway. “I-I told you, everything is fine…” she mumbled.
He stared at her a moment. “Go to sleep, your Grace. It is late.” He closed the door behind him, its locks being fastened again.
The pink haired girl slowly looked around her bedroom.
Had Sasuke left her?
She breathed into the warm night, “Hello…?”
“All these locks…all these guards… all these rules…” The thief stepped out from the shadows in the corner of the room. “It is not right for such a beautiful girl; let along a princess.”
She smiled a little. He hadn’t left when he had the chance. Meaning…
The great thief walked toward her, putting his hands on the top of her arms. She placed her fingertips on his chest.
“I suppose…” he said softly, “I could steal the precious treasure…from this horrid jewelry box…”
Sakura’s lip trembled as she smiled.
“I-I mean to say,” he glanced away. “You could identify me. You were the first person to catch me, let alone see me.”
“Well, you, dear thief, were the first person to treat me with such respect in the longest time.”
He smiled gently. He pulled her a little closer, staring at her.
“Would you really like my life more than this one? Your life of royalty and wealth? Of being pampered and cherished? The life so many girls hope and dream of? Would you really give all that up?”
“Yes, I am sure. Please. Take me to another life. Take me where the wind blows. Take me to the danger. Take me to the life of crime. Take me to the stars and the moon and all the places I’ve never been. Just take me away from here.”

Sasuke smiled gently. He put his hand under her knees and picked her up bridal style, his arm under hers. He walked toward the window and put his leg on the sill, resting the girl on his knee. The thief still had his arms around and for the first time in a while, Sakura felt safe and comforted in someone’s hold.
The thief and the princess stared down at the kingdom below them. From her window you could see half of the town and the rest was forest. Before those, however, was a river that circled the castle and disappeared under the cover of the trees. A few clouds sprinkled the star covered sky and a nearly-full moon was the center of it all.
“Such a beautiful view this is…” he said softly.
“Mm…but it becomes dull after a while. ‘Tis the only sight of the night sky I have seen.” Sasuke glanced down at her.
This room, this castle, was almost all she knew. She left very rarely, to keep up appearances and for special occasions. But to never sleep under the stars…
“Are you scared, Princess? Are you ready for this great leap?”
She glanced at him, then back at the sky. “I am a little nervous, but I am ready. This great leap in my life, leaving everything I know, it will be worth it, I think.”
Sasuke chuckled softly and received a confused look from Sakura.
“Princess…I did not mean this leap in your life…” He gestured toward the window with his head. “I meant the leap from this ledge.”

“Wha-?! A-Are you mad?!” she cried. Sakura out her arms around his neck and clung to him as if she would fall out of her room that instant. “Jump?! F-From here?!”
He laughed again. “Dear Sakura, how else do you expect to leave this place?”
“W-Well we could just-”
“Go through the castle and we will most certainly be caught.”
She was silent, but looked down at her kingdom from her window, still hugging Sasuke’s neck. “So…we just…jump?”
“Not straight down!” he laughed. Why does this girl keep making me laugh so much? What is it about her…?! With his free hand, he pointed to the river. “We will jump into the water! Straight down - to the ground - would be suicide!”
She paused for a moment. “But…would not the shock from hitting the water from this high also…” She gulped. “Kill us?”
“Hn. It would hurt, but not if you land right. I have jumped from buildings taller than this one, and here I am, standing before you.”
Sakura smiled again. She trusted this man, now with her life.
“May I at least bring some effects with me?” When Sasuke nodded, she went to her bed and pulled out a medium size tote bag. She ran about her room, grabbing things. First, she grabbed her diary and a few novels, then she went to her ridiculously large closet and grabbed a few pairs of pants and shirts, avoiding dresses. That was all. She slung the purse over her shoulder as she walked to her nightstand. She opened the jewelry box and took out a gold heart locket necklace and fastened it around her neck. She pointed to it and smiled. “This necklace is almost worthless, but to me it is my world.”
She walked back over to the thief and caught him staring at the charm. She couldn’t tell if he was thinking, ‘What a worthless piece of jewelry’ or ‘What a pretty piece of gold that is… .’
Sasuke gently picked her up again and stood on the window ledge. She put her arms around his neck and bit her lip, staring down at the river below them. Sasuke positioned himself, putting his foot over the sill. Sakura held him close and nodded.
The thief leaped off the ledge and soared through the air. The night breeze was chilly and the water would probably be colder.
The princess wanted to cry out, but knew it would be better to stay silent, so she hugged the man closer and buried her face in his shoulder.
“Hold your breath…!” she heard him say. Less than moments after she did so, she felt nothing but bitter cold.

The princess was brought to the surface, coughing and sputtering. She was still clinging to Sasuke, but couldn’t see him in the darkness. Then a few moments later she heard a splash next to her and a few coughs. Sasuke brought her up first…
His raven locks clung to his face. “See?” he said panting a little. “What did I tell you? Are we not perfectly alright?”
Sakura smiled at him as he treaded through the waters with her in his arms. “That was…” She panted also. “Completely amazing and absolutely terrifying at the same time…”
Sasuke let out a laugh as he placed the girl on the shore, then pushed himself up to sit next to her. He laid back on the grass with his fingers laced behind his head and looked up at the great castle they had just escaped from. Sakura leaned back on her arms and joined him at the sight, but her eyes slowly drifted upward.
She gasped out loud at the sight.
“S-So…this is what the sky looks like…”
Sasuke looked at her strangely and looked up at the star covered blackness above them. It was the same sky he always saw at night. Nothing too spectacular like Sakura made it out to be.
But then he remembered what she had said.
“It becomes dull after a while. ‘Tis the only sight of the night sky I have seen.”
“It is the same sky…” he said softly.
“Yes…but when seen from a different angle it can look like something new and so much more beautiful.”
Sasuke couldn’t help but stare at the girl, her face up to the sky with a small irremovable smile upon her lips.
“Princess Sakura, I-”
“Sakura.”
“..Pardon?”
“You may just call me Sakura. No ‘princess’, no ‘ma’am’, no ‘your majesty’.” She smiled brightly at him. “Just Sakura.”
The thief stared at her.  So, she really does want a normal life. Not to be treated like the royalty that she is, but like a normal girl…
“…alright.” he said with a small smile as he stood slowly. He came behind her and she was suddenly engulfed in darkness.
“Ah-!” Sakura tried to turn around, but Sasuke’s hands were on her shoulders, stopping her from moving.
“Whu-What are you doing..?!” she cried.
“Pri-…Sakura. As much as I want to trust you, I can not. You are still a princess and therefore an authority figure.
Sakura felt herself picked up by Sasuke’s arms. The wet fabric of her dress being pushed against her skin made her realize just how cold the night was.
“I just want to make sure you do not know where we are when we arrive at my home - where you will be staying.”
“A-Alright…” she stuttered. Sakura paused for a moment. “Where did my bag go?”
And as if on cue, it was placed in her lap, not a drop of water on it. She didn’t want to ask what happened to it.
The girl felt Sasuke jump up into a tree. “Sakura.” he said softly. “You were woken from your sleep and it is very late. Try and fall back into your slumber…”
Sakura gently held his shirt as the thief began to make his way through the forest. She could feel herself drifting father and farther away from the place she had called home for so long and closer and closer to sleep.


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Sakura’s eyes slowly fluttered open and saw darkness.
Pitch darkness.
She sat up, but felt part of her stay on the bed. As her scences came back to her, she felt something around her right wrist.
A…belt?
She pulled her arm away, but the strap held firm to the post of, what she figured, a bed.
“What in the-?” she said to herself.
Then the memories of the previous night flooded back to her.

She had been kidnapped.

Willingly kidnapped.

Sakura brought her knees to her chest and rested her chin on them.
“Good God, what have I gotten myself into?”