Adamant:

Adjective) refusing to be persuaded or to change one's mind.

-

Fairy Tale AU

WARNING(S): Kissing an unconscious person, power imbalance (prince and commoner/victim and rescuer), coarse language, references to death

-

Sakura paused at the top of the stairs, taking a deep breath. It had been hell trying to get here, and the giant snake (not dragon, as she expected, but snake) had been an utter bitch to slay, but at last she had reached the highest room of the tallest tower of this ancient, decrepit castle.

Finally she was going to rescue Princess Hinata and bring her home to her worried father. After a month of searching, she'd finally be able to go home and enjoy the spring hanami with her parents.

With that thought in mind, she fished out the ornate silver key she'd gotten from a treasure chest in the snake's room and unlocked the door. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest as she slowly opened the door, creaking loudly from years of disuse. She cringed at the harsh sound, but straightened up and marched into the bedroom anyway.

The room was only illuminated by the barred glass window (slightly cracked open to let in some fresh air) beside the large four-poster bed, the soft-looking white silken curtains gently swaying with the light breeze. The nightstand had an older-looking oil lamp on it, along with a book and pencil.

She could see the faint silhouette of a person lying in the bed, apparently deeper in slumber than she'd first thought. Then again, the curse set upon her was supposed to break with a kiss.

"Do it for a friend, Sakura," she told herself as she strode across the lightly-furnished room and took hold of the edge of the curtain. "Do it for a friend... and for that fat stack of cash waiting for you back home."

With that, she pulled the curtain open - and stepped back in surprise.

"You're not Hinata," she accused the sleeping man there. He didn't look to be any older than she, likely only sixteen if her eyes weren't betraying her.

Even though this wasn't Hinata, he was still gorgeous - his face was pale and aristocratic-looking, with thin black brows and long, dark lashes kissing his cheeks. A regal nose and beautiful lips - not too thin, not too full - all framed with black, soft-looking bangs that fell towards his shoulders. He was wearing a navy high-collared tee-shirt and white shorts that stopped at his knees, his feet bare. His arms were folded across his chest.

Well... at least he looked like royalty of some sort. But if this wasn't the princess... then who was he?

Sakura blinked, turning and pulling the map from her pouch. She studied it for a moment before groaning. "Aw crap, did that old man give me the wrong location? This is the last time I fall for the old 'help a sweet little old grandpa pick up his herbs' trick."

Heaving a sigh, she refolded the map and stuck it back in. "So what do I do now?" She thought, reaching out to trace her fingertips along the man's cheek. "He's so beautiful... well, hopefully I can get some kind of reward for saving a prince instead."

Leaning in, her breath lingered along his mouth for a moment before she shyly pecked his lips.

She stood up straight immediately afterwards, blushing from the contact. His lips felt just as soft as she imagined... but was he going to wake up?

She stood there for a minute, and after not seeing any change she frowned.

"Does that not work for everyone?" She whispered to herself, leaning in to try again.

This time, she maintained contact for longer, clenching her eyes shut.

She didn't notice the arms slowly raising until they were clamped down across her back, and her eyes snapped open to meet the man's black irises as she screamed into his mouth.

Pulling away immediately, she squealed, "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

"You woke me up," he said blandly, raising an eyebrow as he sat up. "And if you're here, you must be rescuing me."

"The hell? Since when?!"

"Since you first kissed me, dumbass. How else am I going to wake up from a nap?"

"Okay wise guy," she snarled, poking his chest. "I only woke you up because I stormed the castle, slayed that freaky demon snake, and went through the trouble of finding the key to this room all because I thought I was going to be saving a princess, not- not whoever you are!"

His eyes flickered with annoyance for a second. "Prince Sasuke," he corrected, "and now that you've rescued me, you'll have to take me home to my parents."

He paused then, looking her up and down. "The Byakugou, the mark of an apprentice of the Slug Princess. Mother would approve," he added quietly as an afterthought. "You're pretty enough. A bit flat. Eh, still an improvement from the other one."

Sakura let out a wordless screech of rage, tugging at her ponytail. "I came here looking for someone else! Hinata! Princess Hinata! If she's not here and you are, then where the hell is she?!"

"Don't ask me, I was probably put away long before she was." He snapped back, his eyes flashing red. "Now you said you slayed the snake guarding the castle?"

"Of course I did!" She shivered. "Freaky bastard jumped me-- er, struck me. It was so creepy..."

"You singlehandedly defeated Manda," he breathed in wonder. "No other knight has ever managed that. Father will be pleased."

"I don't know who you are or why I'm here, but I really need to get going." Sakura patted his shoulder awkwardly. "Sorry for, uh, not being the one you were waiting for, but I have my friend to save."

"Like I said, my name is Prince Sasuke of the Uchiha clan," he said, gesturing to the crest on the hanging scroll above the fireplace along the opposite wall. "And I was sealed away in this tower by my parents because of a curse the evil snake sannin Orochimaru placed upon me when I turned thirteen. I've long awaited the day that a strong warrior would rescue me and break my curse with my soulmate's kiss." He paused and gave her a flat look. "Seriously, didn't you read the handout?"

"In my defense, I had no idea you were here." She sighed, pulling out the proposition from the Hyuuga clan head. "This is what I was given."

Sasuke scanned it over with his eyes before nodding in recognition. "Ah, the Moon-Eye Princess. I think I heard from Manda that her holding place is roughly a mile from here."

"Bullshit, really?" She gasped, her arms dropping to her sides. "All this time I was a mile off?!"

He shrugged, handing the paper back. "Well, there's still time to go rescue her, but you must return me home once my curse is lifted."

Sakura blinked. "And...?"

"Well, let's see if it worked." He rolled his eyes before tugging the high collar of his shirt away from his neck, peering down. Sakura, bewildered, leaned in to look too. All she saw was the bare skin of his shoulder and back.

"It worked," he mused in surprise before looking back up at her. "So you are the one."

"... So now what?" She asked, blushing when he cupped her cheek.

"Mm, I don't feel like hurrying away," he murmured, eyes flickering to her lips. "And I'd rather spend some time getting to know my rescuer. What's your name...?"

"Sakura," she swallowed, noticing him leaning in. "Haruno Sakura."

"A good name," he praised, eyelashes fluttering as his words ghosted across her face. "Hm. Sakura. I think it'll sound better paired with mine."

--

A/N: Let me know what you thought!