Here's a special treat for everyone. A new chapter less than a year after the previous one!
This particular one has been sitting gathering dust for about a million years. To be honest, it's a love triangle rather than a pure Itasaku. I highly doubt anyone will be complaining. I'm certainly not.
2. Choice
"And so, I will present the lovely Lady Sakura. Be sure to look alluring. You're good at that, right?"
Sakura turned around to shoot a withering stare at her cousin as he spoke. But even her irritation couldn't mask the fear that shook its way down to her knees. Sasori arched his eyebrows at her, urging her to walk forward. Biting her lower lip, she raised her head up high as she stepped out from behind the guards in their shining armor. She stood, trying not to tremble as she stared down the long paved path that led out past the front gates.
At last, Sakura heard the thundering of hooves. The ground shook as three dark smudges appeared over the top of the hill and then raced forward. The beasts snorted and grunted noisily as they barreled through. She began to fear that they would shatter the cobblestone to pieces in their wake. As they neared, she began to discern the features of these fearsome men. The sharp lines of their faces made her shudder. Two of them had hair that was as dark as ink and their expressions even blacker. She had to fight back the urge to take a step back from them as they drew to a sudden halt.
One of the men stared directly at her. Large streaks of bright red and purple were painted across his face, sending waves of terror rippling through her. It almost looked like he was covered in streaks of burning lava. But she refused to look away, keeping her chin high as she stared right back at him. She thought she saw a smirk curl his lips before he turned his attention back to her cousin.
"Honored guests, friends, it's so good to see you've arrived safely," said Sasori in his usual voice dripping with syrup.
"Save your flattery. We come for the bride promised. Speak quickly. We ride back before dusk falls," one of the men snapped. Sasori kept the smile on his face.
"My apologies. And who do I have the pleasure of addressing?" he continued on as if he hadn't been interrupted so rudely. The man who had spoken glowered at him. And then, in a foreign, viscous tongue, addressed the two men on his right. They didn't seem to speak so much except for a few muted words. Rather, it was the quick movements of their eyes that seemed to convey the most meaning. After a few moments, the man on the far right murmured something that made the first man shrug.
"I am Kabuto, interpreter of tongues. And this is The Crow, along with his brother, The Hawk. We have traveled far for our prize," Kabuto finally said. As he spoke, his gaze very deliberately slithered over Sakura. His words were heavily accented and clipped but still understandable.
"It is an honor to be able to meet The Crow and The Hawk in person. I am Lord Sasori of the Red Sand Oasis. And this is my cousin, the lovely Lady Sakura," answered Sasori. At the sound of her name, Saura lowered herself in a curtsey.
"I'm sorry to say that I'm unfamiliar with your marriage practices. But I was hoping that if there's a ceremony that it could be held here-"
"Enough of your words. They waste our time. We take the woman. And you get your access your alliance against the western king," Kabuto interrupted once again. Sasori's lips twitched. His thin veneer of patience was cracking. Seeing this, Sakura lightly put her hand on his arm.
"I thank you for your offers of hospitality, cousin. But I must go. You've given your word," Sakura reminded him in a gentle but firm tone. The pressure of her hand was a reminder of the gravity of the situation. They had both seen the swords that the brothers were carrying. Grim-faced, Sasori nodded with visible reluctance.
"Is there a horse for my cousin or does she walk?" inquired Sasori. This time, his tone was significantly cooler.
"She rides with whom she chooses," replied Kauto in such a vague manner that Sakura had to stop herself from whipping her head around to stare at him. Holding her tongue, she looked up at the three men on their large horses. Kabuto was definitely out of the question. He oozed sliminess and the way he smiled showed off too much tooth to make her comfortable.
The man known as The Hawk, sitting in the middle, was the one who had locked gazes with her. Through the bright war paint on his face, she could see that his eyes were also crimson. It was a color she had never seen in eyes before. As she appraised him, he seemed to take this as an invitation to look her over too. They shared no language, but the look on his face said enough about his interest. She rewarded him with an icy stare. But that only made his lips curl into a challenging smirk.
And then, on the far left, sat The Crow on his snorting stallion. His dark hair was pulled back in a low ponytail but she guessed that it would be almost as long as hers let down. Instead of the abrasive paint his brother wore, he had two scars running down his face, tracing the path that tears would take if he was a man even capable of shedding any. His eyes, too, were the color of blood, and Sakura wondered at the anomaly. The Crow did not stare her over as his brother did. He gazed upon her with an unreadable expression that seemed neither unwelcoming nor inviting.
After some thought, Sakura took a step in the direction of The Crow. Kabuto chuckled.
"An interesting choice. You know how to ride?" the silver-haired man queried. Sakura took a few more steps until she was standing next to the horse. It was somewhat taller than she was used to and she noticed that the riders did not use saddles. Instead, there was a thick sort of cloth draped over the horse's back that was secured with a leather belt. The Crow didn't say anything but offered her his hand. She placed her hand in his gloved one and he immediately pulled her up as if she weighed nothing. He maneuvered her in front of him. When he reached around her to grasp the reins, she found that she was nestled snugly against his chest. She tried her best not to blush at the close contact.
"I've ridden. But my horses seem like cats in comparison," she answered, turning her head to look over at Kabuto. This answer seemed to delight him because he was smiling again.
"Be well, cousin. I wish it hadn't come to this," Sasori said, reclaiming her attention. Her older cousin suddenly seemed so small- so vulnerable. But Sakura struggled to find pity for him in her situation. It was her being sold- not him.
"Go back on your word and I'll have your throat slit, dearest cousin. Be in good health," Sakura told him with a gentle smile. It seemed to take a moment for Sasori to process the threat with her placid expression. Chuckling, he straightened. She could hear Kabuto muttering something in the background and she felt the vibration of The Crow's chuckle against her back. So Kabuto was fluent enough to translate sarcasm. Sakura stored the knowledge away for later.
"A terrible horror as always, cousin. Be in good health as well. I suspect that you'll make yourself some new friends and have your rats crawling all over my castle in a fortnight," responded Sasori.
When Sakura looked up at Kabuto, he signaled the other two riders. Without greeting Sasori, the men took off, horses shivering and whinnying loudly as they turned and galloped off. The rushing of wind in her face pinched her cheeks until they hurt. The jolting of the horse underneath her bordered on painful without a proper saddle. But Sakura could feel her braid whipping along in the air and smell the grass and the dirt. It was a sort of clean smell she hadn't experienced in a long time.
There was no true way to tell time, but Sakura tracked the movement of the sun across the sky. It peaked before slowly arcing downwards. Shadows lengthened. The smell of salt began to reach her as strong winds pulled across from the west.
The hands gripping the reins were so big and she could see the strength in those fingers as he steered the beast. Stealing a quick glance back, she could see that the man's piercing stare wasn't focused on her but on the roads that lay ahead.
Sakura's hands felt awkward clenching into the front of her dress. After one last sneak peek at The Crow's stoic expression, she reached out and tentatively grabbed hold of the horse's mane.
Sakura started when she suddenly felt, rather than heard, The Crow growl something. The horses suddenly slowed and it was then that she noticed that they were passing by a village. There was a pause, and then The Crow said something else that made Kabuto laugh in a harsh, grating sound.
"We stop for a moment to let the horses drink," explained Kabuto as the horses cantered in through the village entrance. There were stares as the villagers paused in their everyday lives to stare at the strange visitors. But then there was a chorus of cheers from children as they spotted bright pink hair.
"It's Lady Flowers!" one of them exclaimed. With a hoot, the little ones swarmed forward, carrying their toys and younger siblings as they went. But then they stopped short at the sight of the three men with fearsome expressions glowering down at them. For some reason, instead of looking at Kabuto, Sakura turned her head to look back at The Crow. He raised his eyebrows, as if surprised that she dared to look him in the face.
"Might I greet the children for a bit?" she requested while looking up at him. Kabuto called out his translation in the background.
The Crow stared hard at her before he turned to his brother. They seemed to communicate silently before The Hawk, sighing, nodded. He turned to say something to Kabuto.
"We will leave in five minutes," Kabuto told her. Sakura looked down at the horse, trying to figure out how to dismount without looking like an idiot. She recognized a few faces in the crowd all gathered to stare at her.
"Would someone mind helping me? This horse is either too tall or I'm too short," she called. There was a scattering of nervous laughter before two men stepped out to aid her. Putting her hands on their shoulders, she let them lift her up before lowering her slowly to the ground until her feet were planted firmly. One of them was the baker's son, she realized. He had often stopped to say hello whenever she rode into the village to buy herbs.
"You're keeping some new company there, My Lady," he greeted her with a little bow.
"Thank you very much for your help. And I'm sorry for the disruption. We'll be leaving shortly," she answered. But before she could say anything else, the children surged forward. Clinging to her legs and reaching up hands to touch her, they pushed the men out of the way.
"Lady Flowers! Lady Flowers! Where are your flowers?" they asked.
Ever since she had been sent to live with her cousin at the southern oasis many years ago, Sakura had taken to visiting nearby villages. Though there wasn't much she could do with the money and power of a minor noble. She couldn't buy them homes or supply jobs. So she cut massive armloads of the brightly colored flowers that grew along the sides of the road and packed as many loaves of bread along with hunks of cheese and dried figs as fit into her baskets. She handed out the flowers and food in little bundles to the orphans and widows of the village.
To the children, she had become "Lady Flowers".
"No flowers, I'm afraid. I'm sorry," she answered with a smile. She patted the dirty heads and touched the grubby little hands. She caught sight of the old woman who ran the orphanage. Waving her over, Sakura spoke to her in low tones.
"I'm going away but I want to make sure that the children are cared for. Take this." As she spoke, Sakura took off the gold bangle hanging from her right wrist. It was a heavy piece of jewelry encrusted with rubies and sapphires. The round gems glittered brightly from the crisscrossed vines across the sides of the bangle. Pressing it into the woman's wrinkled palm, Sakura smiled.
"This is too much, My Lady," the old woman gasped.
"Take it. Feed and clothe the children. Care for yourself. Be well," insisted Sakura. At this, tears glimmered in the old woman's dark eyes. She kissed Sakura's forehead and then kissed the backs of both her hands.
"You will be blessed. You will be blessed in all you do for your kindness," the woman uttered in a shaking voice. She kissed Sakura's knuckles before she slowly backed away. There were more tugs on the bottoms of Sakura's skirts. She knelt down to scoop up one of the smaller children in her arms.
"Lady Flowers, did you say you were going away?" the little girl asked, putting her arms around Sakura's neck.
"Yes, little princess, I'm going away on an adventure so I won't be back for a while," said Sakura, tapping her on the nose. The little girl giggled. When she set the child down, Sakura was met with a barrage of reaching hands and teary eyes. But she didn't have time to spare for every single one. She could feel three sets of stares on her back that served as clear reminders that she was out of time. Blowing kisses to the children, Sakura forced herself to turn her back to them.
She was met with The Crow's appraising look again. With that same, unreadable expression, he offered her his hand and pulled her up onto his horse.
They rode on to the north. The sun plummeted to their left, sinking lower and lower until the sky began to turn loud shades of orange and burning red. The horses were urged on faster and faster. Sakura could feel the nervousness in the air as night fell.
It took Sakura a while to realize that they were not heading for a "where" but rather for a "who". By the time it was dark, Sakura could see the distant glow of open flames dotting the horizon. As they drew near, Sakura saw that it was a large group of people settling in for the night. She didn't know much about the strange warriors from the north, but she recognized a small army when she saw one. When they were close enough, someone abruptly pulled her down from the horse and dropped her onto her feet. Sakura stumbled a little and immediately heard The Hawk growl out something. Sakura couldn't be certain, but it sounded like a rebuke because the soldier who had released her so roughly muttered something and slunk away. She didn't have time to ponder, however, because the men also dismounted and marched on ahead of her. The glance that The Hawk shot her over his shoulder seemed to be an indication to follow.
There were crowded clusters of smaller tents scattered around. Towards the middle of camp were four bigger tents. Sakura admired the quality of the leather and cords before she hurried on. She couldn't imagine being left behind would be pleasant. Men in armor stomped past, always pausing briefly to nod their heads respectfully to the two men stomping ahead of her. Kabuto hung back, his leer unpleasant as he explained things to her.
"This will be your living quarters. The Crow's tent is to your left and The Hawk's is to your right. The other tent across from you is the meeting tent. Do not wander in there. You will be killed," Kabuto quickly told her. Sakura didn't bat an eyelash at the threat of death. They suddenly stopped and Sakura nearly walked into The Hawk's back. He looked at her over his shoulder and she was sure he smirked again.
The Crow rattled out something in his rough, commanding tone. It was the most words she had heard him speak in succession yet.
Sakura didn't even look at him. She turned her inquisitive gaze to Kabuto.
"The reason we're so crowded is that we have peasants. Their village was destroyed in a landslide so we're herding them to the capital. The Crow invites you to take a few slaves for your amusement," Kabuto translated. Sakura's eyes narrowed. She moved past him, past the two brothers, to where there were women huddled around, clutching food and scraps of fabric to their chests. It was evident that they had been plucked in the middle of their nightly chores. Sakura saw some soldiers dragging others along into the circle and shoving them in place.
Sakura looked at their dirty faces and eyes wide with fear.
"Do any of you speak my tongue?" she asked.
She was met with puzzled looks. Some of the women looked at one another and whispered. There was no glimmer of comprehension in their eyes. But there was some jostling until one little girl was pushed forward.
"This one speak," one of the older women declared with a kick at the girl. The child cowered against the blow. Then she stood staring at her feet. Sakura stared in wonder at the mass of red hair bristling around her head. Even covered in dirt, it was a vibrant shade of crimson.
Sakura crouched down in front of the girl.
"Is this true?" she queried in a softer voice. The little girl trembled but didn't speak.
"TALK, GIRL," Kabuto barked from behind them. The girl let out a little jolt of terror before she nodded furiously.
"Y-yes... I speak your language w-well..." she stuttered out with her hands fisted at her sides.
"Then I will take you... as my traveling companion," Sakura declared. She could feel the stares drilling into her back but her gaze fixed firmly on the stoic visage of The Crow.
"She will sleep in my quarters. Any food and water she requires will be taken from my portion. She will serve as my translator and she will be kept safe," said Sakura in a steely voice. She met The Hawk's dark eyes as well, barely noticing Kabuto translating beside him. There was a long pause before she thought she saw the corner of his mouth twitch upward. And then The Crow uttered one syllable that she somehow knew meant, "Do as you please". The Hawk also gave a sort of jerk of his head that looked like a nod.
But Kabuto seemed dissatisfied.
"I am the translator," Kabuto argued in a pompous voice.
"But I don't like you very much. I've known her for 30 seconds and I already like her better," Sakura replied sweetly. She then rose to her full height and offered her hand to the girl.
"Come. Show me around the rest of the camp and then we'll eat," she said. The girl hesitantly curled her fingers around Sakura's and earned a smile. Sakura let herself be pulled away, only hesitating to throw a quick simper at Kabuto as she left. And she was certain that she saw The Crow and The Hawk say something to each other before they both smiled.
"What's your name?" asked Sakura once they were away from the men.
"M-moegi, Your Highness," the girl promptly answered. When Sakura laughed, she looked up at her with wide eyes.
"I'm not a queen, little one. My name is Sakura. And don't listen to those pig-headed men. You're no one's slave," Sakura promptly told her. Moegi's eyes grew even bigger as she stared but she didn't say anything else about the subject. Instead she escorted Sakura around the rest of the area as she explained the usual schedules and rules.
The peasants did not speak to The Crow or The Hawk. The soldiers prepared their own meals so mostly they fed and took care of themselves. Occasionally some of the men would visit them demanding clothes to be fixed or a wound to be bandaged.
"We mostly wake at dawn and we leave soon after. We stop at noon for a meal and keep walking. We set up camp before nightfall. Sometimes we stop for many days at a time. I don't know why," Moegi said. Sakura nodded as she soaked in the information. She noticed that they had circled around, returning to the tent that Kabuto had indicated as hers. After a moment of hesitation, Sakura pushed past the flap and into her quarters. Moegi only followed when she beckoned for her.
The inside was surprisingly well-furnished.
There was a large bed to the left covered in blankets and furs to keep her warm. The floor was covered in an assortment of richly woven rugs in different patterns and colors. There was a vanity in the back, along with a heavy wooden trunk decorated with brass carvings. The metal stove in the middle of the room had a chimney that rose up, poking out through a hole in the roof. There were already red embers glowing inside, warming the place. Sakura appraised everything without comment.
"Um... if you would like... I could go fetch dinner?" Moegi softly asked.
Sakura put her hands on her hips.
"How about, I ask if you would please go get dinner for the both of us?" Sakura corrected her. Moegi thought hard before she nodded eagerly.
"Of course... My Lady?"
"Very good."
Moegi's father had been a merchant. Her mother had died giving birth so the man had raised Moegi. He took her with him everywhere in his travels. In her youth, she soaked up foreign tongues hungrily. She spoke the language of the western tribes as well as the fluid, watery words of the people to the Far East known for their rich textiles.
She was skinny, and perhaps a bit short for her age. Sakura suspected that she wasn't being well cared for among the village women. Though she had a living aunt who had taken her in after her father's death a couple years ago, Moegi's gaze grew shifty whenever the woman was brought up. That, and the healing bruises on her arms and back gave Sakura a good picture of whatever was going on.
"Was I wrong to take you from your village?" inquired Sakura one day as she watched Moegi dig into her dinner with gusto. The girl froze mid-bite, letting her spoon hover in the air as she stared up at Sakura with a look of bewilderment.
"I am much happier with you, My Lady," Moegi admitted with a shy smile, "You don't yell at me and I'm never hungry."
"Is that so?" answered Sakura. She looked down at her half-eaten dinner for a moment. And then she tilted her plate to scrape the rest of her meat and vegetables on Moegi's dish.
"Eat up. A girl needs many things to become a fine woman. Food is only one of those things."
Though Moegi looked puzzled, she nodded and returned to enthusiastically devouring her supper.
It was difficult to glean information from her situation. Sakura understood this well and fought to suppress her frustration. She wasn't used to being kept in the dark.
She was free to move about the camp and when they moved, she was given what was apparently a place of honor on one of the leader's horses. After the first day, Sakura naturally chose to ride with The Crow. Though he had an equally terrifying aura, he didn't stare at her body whenever he thought she wasn't looking so she preferred him. Sakura sometimes tried to use Kabuto to get clues as to what was happening but he remained cryptic and unhelpful for the most part. Moegi was always too frightened to offer much help. Her tongue seemed to lock up in the presence of such men. Sakura didn't blame her.
They journeyed for several days without any hints of marriage or of even who her betrothed actually was. Sakura was positive that Kabuto had called her a bride but what bride was hauled across the plains without a groom? Moegi seemed equally perplexed about the situation so Sakura didn't press it. But the irritation still boiled and built under the surface until the sheer boredom of waiting around grew too strong to ignore.
One day, as they settled camp for the night, Sakura exited her tent with Moegi on her heels. It didn't take long to find Kabuto skulking around with the same sneer on his face.
"I need to talk to them," she said in as polite yet firm of a tone as she could muster. Kabuto looked vaguely amused but he was surprisingly cordial. He nodded and motioned for her to follow him. Sakura felt Moegi's hand close around the side of her skirt, clutching it frantically as she scurried along.
They were led through crowded clusters of people. A train of women passed through, returning from the nearby river. When a woman carrying a basket of fresh laundry on her head turned around to say something to her friend, she didn't notice the people she was walking backward toward. Clicking his tongue, Kabuto smacked her aside with the back of his hand. The ring of the slap made Sakura flinch. The woman toppled, sending her clean clothes flopping to the muddy ground. While Kabuto laughed to himself, Sakura whirled on him with fury. Moegi squeaked and hurried to move to behind Sakura again. She still didn't seem comfortable walking out in the open around the silver-haired man.
"Why did you do that?" she demanded. Kabuto stopped mid-laugh. He seemed surprised to see her so infuriated.
"She was in our way. A wench should learn her place," he answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Incredulous, she gaped at him.
"How dare you? Now she has to wash those all over again," Sakura pointed out. Kabuto was puzzled. He glanced at the woman.
"It's not like she has anything better to do. She'll wash them again. And again, if she has to," he answered with a shrug.
"It's freezing cold in the river. I've watched these women wash their clothes until their hands crack and bleed," protested Sakura.
"There's no need to be upset over a few pieces of trash. She'll be fine," he scoffed in response. Lip curling, she raised an eyebrow at him. She felt Moegi tap her elbow and she glanced over her shoulder once. Through the crowd came The Hawk, closely followed by The Crow. The Hawk said something with a frown, clearly intending to step in. But The Crow murmured something back and the younger brother seemed to calm down a little. They seemed prepared to watch but not to step in. Well aware of the eyes on her, Sakura looked back to Kabuto with a decidedly neutral expression.
"The only trash here is your attitude. I was born into nobility and I have never once been taught to treat people this way. Of all the men I've known, only the lowest scum act like you," she stated in a flat voice. Kabuto's smile immediately dropped. Taking a step towards her, he leered in an unpleasant way.
"What was that?" he demanded.
"You heard me, Translator," she answered with the same cool expression. Kabuto grit his teeth.
"No matter what rank your ancestors held, those titles have no meaning here. Speak to me that way again and I won't be so kind," hissed Kabuto. Without flinching from the spit flying from his mouth, Sakura raised her eyebrows. She looked down at the young woman cowering on the ground between them. The angry welt on her cheek made Sakura's eyes narrow.
"It would be wise to consider your surroundings when speaking. Come to my tent later and I can treat your wound," Sakura told her while Moegi translated. When Sakura offered her hand, the woman swatted it away and instead stood on her own. Amused, Sakura shushed Moegi when the girl began to complain about the disrespect. They waited for the woman to gather her fallen things before she ran off, leaving Kabuto and Sakura staring at one another.
"And you might want to hold your tongue as well. I may be a woman but I'm quite certain that if I begged and sobbed and wept about how you threatened me, that things would not end well for you," said Sakura with a placid smile on her face. But for some reason, The Hawk nudged his brother with his elbow and the both of them chuckled quietly together. Their smiles froze when Sakura turned her head to look at them. And then Sakura looked down at Moegi still hiding behind her elbow. The bewildered black eyes that peered up at her betrayed nothing.
"I will be retiring for the night. Come, Moegi," Sakura announced. The girl paused to translate the words to The Hawk and The Crow before she scuttled after Sakura. She kept her head bowed and her hands folded meekly in front of her.
"The Hawk and The Crow," began Sakura as they reached the tent. She pushed the flap aside and let Moegi follow her in before letting the heavy cloth fall back into place.
"Yes, My Lady?" said Moegi in return.
Sakura stood with her hand on her hip. After some thinking, she decided against speaking. Shaking her head, she pulled her fingers through her hair to pull out the ties and pins holding it in place. Her curls spilled down her shoulders, releasing the aroma of the oils rubbed into them in the morning. She began unclasping her jewelry and when Moegi moved to assist her, Sakura wagged a finger at her. The accessories clattered loudly as they fell onto the metal tray on top of the vanity.
"You're not a servant girl. You're my translator. This is a job for a servant," Sakura reminded her. Nodding, Moegi took a step back. She stood awkwardly, hands clasped, until she looked at the stove in the middle of the tent. Sakura unfastened her cloak. Underneath was a long-sleeved blue dress that fell to her calves. She shed that too, breathing a sigh of relief as she stood in just a slip.
"Should I rebuild the fire, My Lady? I mean… as a favor to the both of us. It's a little chilly," ventured Moegi. Sakura sat in front of her vanity to take off her boots. She then nodded. Moegi bolted out to get wood. She was always so eager to help. But too soon as the tent flap fell shut, it opened up again and cool air rushed in.
"Did you forget something? There's no need to rush," laughed Sakura as she looked up. Eyes widening, Sakura quickly stood. The Crow stood in the entrance to her tent, his face as pale and calm as usual. Sighing, Sakura moved to pull on her dressing gown. It was insubstantial and made of silk so it didn't offer much warmth but it did cover up the equally thin slip she was wearing. Plopping down on the edge of her bed, Sakura motioned for her visitor to sit on the area at the foot of her bed covered with rugs and soft pillows. He paused for a moment before he strode over and sank gracefully onto the cushioned area.
"If you're here to chastise me, I'm not interested. I have no patience for men who pick on weaker women. It's disgusting," Sakura began in a brisk voice. She carefully adjusted one of the folds of her robe to settle better over her knee. When she looked into The Crow's face, he simply blinked at her. His acting was very good, she realized. Almost anyone else would have been fooled. But Sakura sighed.
"Don't pretend not to understand me now. There's no point," she added.
And then, very slowly, The Crow folded his arms over his chest.
"You caught that?" he finally replied in a rich and slightly accented voice. It was fascinating how different he sounded without the growls and low tones of his mother tongue.
"It wasn't too subtle tonight. You shouldn't laugh right after I say something. It gives you away. I've had my suspicions for a while, though," she answered.
"You're not angry," he observed with some measure of surprise in his tone. Sakura shrugged.
"I would have done the same. Testing to see if I was trustworthy. Interpreting my character. It's a smart move," she sighed. Sakura gestured with her toe toward the canter of wine sitting on top of her heavy trunk filled with clothing. He seemed to consider and then he nodded. Sakura stood to go pour them drinks.
"At any rate, I'd prefer if we spoke to one another directly from now on. I'll be happier the farther that snake Kabuto is from me... and from Moegi," Sakura continued as she handed him the silver goblet. She took a sip of her own beverage, savoring the rich sweetness on her tongue. When she sat back down on the edge of her bed, she noticed that The Crow did not drink. He sat observing her. He seemed amused by her blatant disdain for the translator.
"Well, Crow, what do you say?" she asked his silence.
"Itachi," he uttered.
Sakura blinked.
"Pardon?"
"My name is Itachi. Remember it well. Not many have the privilege of using it," he told her. He swallowed down all the wine before he set the goblet down on the ground and left the tent.
The next morning, as she sat brushing her hair, the tent flap moved and The Hawk stood there, his eerie red eyes taking in everything at once. Moegi looked ready to bolt upright but Sakura slowly shook her head at her until the girl sat again.
"Good morning. I assume your brother's let you know that your cover's blown," she said as she glanced his way. She watched him bristle.
"You have good eyes," replied The Crow. His voice sounded different too. His accent was slightly thicker but the words of her familiar mother tongue rolled out smoothly. Sakura smiled, already warming up to him.
"I do," she agreed as she turned back to resume brushing her hair. Moegi sat at her feet, watching the process with wonder. With some brushing and oiling of its own, Moegi's hair had been somewhat tamed. It was pulled up in two pigtails tied with thin strips of leather. The look was much cleaner than before and the girl adored it. But she was still fascinated with Sakura's hair- both by the unusual color and the soft, silky texture of it.
"My name is Sasuke," The Hawk finally told her.
"A pleasure," replied Sakura as she tilted her head to meet his gaze.
As the journey progressed, the weather grew colder and colder and the sky began to lose its color until it was grey at all times. Initially, Sakura shivered in the silk clothes she had worn from home. Luckily, after some careful observation, Sakura decided to give her heavy jewels away to the peasant women of the village. She had always had distaste for the garish rubies and sapphires of her cousin's house. It was her duty to wear her family's colors no matter how cumbersome and ugly they were. But now that they were left behind, she wasted no time in erasing all traces of them.
The village women, of course, remembered this kindness, and were quick to offer her new clothes to better suit the climate. It took some observation to understand which furs and fabrics were suited for which sort of clothes. She spent some nights chatting with these women with Moegi between them to bridge the language gap between them. Sakura knew from one look that appointing Moegi as translator had greatly elevated her status among her people. No one pushed her anymore or shot her dirty looks. Tensions died down and Sakura's collection of functional clothing increased.
So far, she had relied on the warm cloak she had received from Sasuke to keep her alive. The outside was a dark brown, almost chocolate color while the inside was covered entirely in soft, warm fur. It fastened at her throat in a simple silver clasp. He had dropped it on her bed one night after a long day's travel. She stared uncomprehendingly at it.
"Wear it. You'll fall ill," he grunted before leaving just as abruptly.
The village women complimented it without end.
"It looks lovely on you," Moegi translated for them. Sakura, glad for the warmth on her shoulders, smiled in response.
As they travelled, they stopped at markets to buy food and supplies for the trip. During these times, Sakura slipped off to talk to merchants where she stocked up on thicker dresses and sturdy boots that could take the cold. Nearly all of them spoke the language of the South and so transactions were simple. She haggled with them fiercely but this usually earned her more affection than ire. She always returned back from her trips with little trinkets of jewelry or a few extra fruits, which she happily shared with Moegi.
About a month after her arrival, Sakura woke early in the morning to barking just outside her tent. She rose groggily. Moegi was still sleeping, curled up into a little ball at the foot of the bed with furs thrown over her for warmth. Careful not to disturb the girl, Sakura slipped off the mattress to pull on something over her nightgown. She left the tent, surprised at just how cold it was this early in the morning. She quickly forgot this when she saw what had been making all the noise.
"Dogs?" said Sakura.
She strode up directly to Itachi, still in her dressing robe and soft leather slippers. The soldiers quickly parted for her, not even daring to look at her in the presence of one of their leaders. Her arms were crossed over her chest as she looked up at him.
There was a large pack of dogs milling around his feet. When she approached, they gathered around her, snuffling and grumbling. But none of them growled at her. She had always had a way with animals.
"Trackers," Itachi said in a curt grunt.
"Who are they tracking?" she queried.
"No one as of yet. They were a gift to us from our father," answered Itachi. Before she could probe further about his parents, Sakura felt a little tongue swipe at her ankle.
"Hey!" she exclaimed. One of the dogs wagged its tail as it gave an excited yap. Laughing, she lifted it up in her arms. She caught the look that Itachi gave her but didn't understand it fully.
"You enjoy dogs," he noted. Sakura cradled the dog in her arms and it soon settled down, seeming content to be held there.
"I do. We always had cats. I can't stand cats," said Sakura. When she looked at Itachi again, she saw his eyes narrow. His stare moved from the canines to her in a circle before he spoke again.
"Perhaps they can keep you company when I don't require them," he slowly suggested. Sakura gaped at him. She had never expected a man like him to even think to say something like this. Her bewildered stare was interrupted when the little dog in her arms licked her chin.
"Um... well... I would like that," she responded. And then she smiled.
"Thank you," added Sakura.
Itachi didn't say anything. He nodded before he strode off to bark orders at his men.
Life with the dogs made things much more exciting. Moegi squealed with joy when she saw them and tired herself out chasing them and rubbing their furry bellies. They spent equal parts of the day lazing around inside Sakura's tent begging for treats and pats on the head and then running around in the camp to work off the excess energy. At night, they piled around the bed with the smaller ones curling up against Sakura's side to keep her warm. The two largest dogs set themselves up by the tent flap, vigilant guards against the night. An added plus was that they all detested Kabuto and their aggravated snarls were more than enough to keep the silver-haired man far away.
When Sasuke first entered her tent to find the dogs lolling around like pampered pooches, he scowled his disapproval.
"You make them lazy. They will be weak," he grunted. When the largest hound ambled over for a pet, Sasuke pushed him away with a stern look. Tail between his legs, the dog moved to Sakura who lovingly rubbed his head and scratched between his ears.
"People and dogs are alike. They serve the ones they love the best," Sakura argued. There was a slight edge to her words and Sasuke seemed to catch on.
"You're not as delicate as you pretend to be," he guessed.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," she answered cheerfully. Shaking his head, Sasuke left.
A couple more days passed peacefully. They were making good time to the northern border. Sakura was gradually beginning to feel comfortable among these people. Just as she began to think that life might be significantly better here, things had to go wrong.
Just after supper one night, Sakura sent Moegi to get some wine to help her digest.
A scream rose from the camp somewhere. Sakura bolted upright, startling the dogs that had been napping peacefully around her. The smallest one, a little brown pug with a dark snout, rose to his feet and stared at her with intelligent black eyes.
"Lead me," she whispered as she quickly found her dressing gown and pulled it on. She hastily yanked her hands through the flowing sleeves and tied the belt. The dog snuffled before he ran past the tent flap. Sakura followed after him, still carrying her boots since it was too dark to try to lace them. She felt a wet nose touch her ankle as she hurried. One of the big dogs had followed after her as a guard.
The dog's yaps led her past other tents and around horses until she saw a small cluster of people. They were villagers, unarmed and clutching their children close. One woman stood isolated in the group. Her child was hugged tightly to her chest though she was rooted in place. Sakura quickly elbowed past people until she could see a coiled shape on the ground. It let out a hiss along with the telltale clatter of a rattle on the tail. Sakura frantically looked around for a soldier but none were in sight.
"Oh well," she sighed under her breath. She dropped the boots and she saw the snake turn its attention to her. It let out another hiss and the shape of its flickering tongue was visible in the wavering torchlight. Some hands grasped at her arms, trying to pull her back, but she easily slipped free.
"Ah. I hate snakes. Why did you have to be a snake?" complained Sakura. There was a collective gasp as she took another step toward the reptile. It shook its rattle menacingly again before opening its mouth to bare long fangs.
"Pucker up, darling," she said.
As the snake lunged, Sakura extended her right hand. Spinning her wrist in a circular motion, she grabbed its scaly body. Her thumb pressed against its lower jaw, squeezing its mouth shut. When it squirmed, Sakura let it flail with the expression that would be more fitting for someone watching a child throw a temper tantrum.
"A rattlesnake? He is seriously lacking in subtlety," scoffed Sakura. The rattle smacked furiously against her forearm as the reptile continued to twitch around. There was some new noise as more people pushed into the crowd. But from the glint of their armor and the pointy shapes of their spears, Sakura knew who had finally arrived.
"Good timing. Do you like my new pet? It's a little bitey," said Sakura as she turned to face Sasuke along with Kabuto. Eyes widening, Kabuto quickly said something in a hissing whisper. Sasuke pushed Kabuto aside, taking brisk strides forward. His hands were on her face, turning her head this way and that. His fingers trailed down her throat and then to her arms to pull up her sleeves. When he found her unharmed, he looked confused.
Lips curling, Sasuke said one word.
"Assassin?"
Sakura regarded the snake before she shook her left arm a little, jostling the creature until it began rattling again. There were more frightened cries from the onlookers.
"A present from my cousin. He can't wait to have me killed. I suspect he'll have more up his sleeve," she answered with boredom. This was an old game. She had been dodging poisonings and accidents from the very moment her uncle had fallen ill before passing away a month later. That had been nine years ago. Since then, her cousin had kept busy trying to find ways for her to quietly die so that his possession of his lands and title wouldn't be threatened. It was foolish, really. Sakura wasn't interested in his dinky little manor in the desert.
"I at least expected him to wait for me to settle in first. Such impatience," scoffed Sakura. Sasuke's eyes narrowed dangerously. He drew his sword, preparing to slay the snake.
"I have a better idea," Sakura said. A smile curling her lips, she motioned for one of the soldiers holding a torch. The man was too shocked to do anything but obey and hand it over. Sakura then shook the snake extra hard to momentarily daze it before she threw it on the ground. She quickly tossed the torch on top of the creature and she watched the beast burst into flames. It let out a hideous shriek as the fire enveloped its thin body. The smell of cooking meat curled into the air as the snake slowly ceased its thrashing. When the flames died down, all that was left was a twisted black lump. Sakura nudged the ashes with the tip of the spent torch until she recovered the fangs and the rattle.
Sakura looked around until she noticed Moegi hovering a little ways away. The girl seemed to have a knack for being there just when she was needed. When Sakura's eyes found her, Moegi approached in quick steps.
"Would you go to my tent and get me that gold box next to my bed?" requested Sakura. Moegi dashed off, returning a minute later with the glittering box. It had been a purchase from a friendly trader. When she had complimented the craftsmanship, he had offered it at a discount. When Moegi opened the lid, Sakura carefully placed the charred snake's fangs and rattle onto the cushioned surface.
Then, turning to Sasuke, Sakura let her expression harden.
"This may be inconvenient, but I need to get to the nearest market," she told him.
"Why?"
"I need to return the favor to my dear cousin," she answered while holding up the box. The venom in her voice seemed to please him.
The following morning, Sakura, along with Sasuke and a small group of guards, rode off to the nearest open market. It was a few miles away but the roads were well traveled and easy to navigate. Even in the cold of early winter, the stalls were busy. Live chickens, late harvest crops, and various relics were pushed toward them but Sakura quickly evaded them all. Instead, she glanced around in the corners of shadows, at the people who did not speak. When she finally met the eyes of a boy with dark hair and even darker eyes, she motioned him over.
"Do you know where I could get my hands on some puppets?" she asked, slipping a bronze coin into his grubby palm.
"Yeah. Some men from the south know about that," he immediately told her. Pushing another coin into his fingers, Sakura smiled.
"Then, would you be able to lead me to some people who might not like puppets so much?" Sakura pushed. The boy scrutinized her for a moment before he suddenly ducked into the nearest alley. Sasuke ordered the soldiers to look after their horses before he followed Sakura down the narrow squeeze.
"What are we doing?" he hissed behind her.
"My cousin is often called The Puppet in these circles. I need to make sure I contact the right people," she answered. They followed the patter of little footsteps until they emerged in a shadowed backstreet of the market. They were in the slums somewhere, easily distinguished by the strings of clothes left to hang overhead along with the yowls of stray cats. Sakura barely had time to take in her surroundings before the boy led them into a nondescript building.
"You brought customers? Good job, boy," a gruff voice said. Sakura waited for her eyes to adjust to the smoky room for a moment before she turned toward the voice. A smirk curled her lips.
"Danzo. It's been a while," she greeted the old man. Danzo swept an elegant bow, surprisingly dexterous for the bandages covering half his face and both his arms. He sat back down on the wooden crate set up by the door. In his right hand was a sharp dagger that he wiped on his shirt before laying it flat on his thigh. The little boy from before stood a little ways from him, his glance shifty.
"You brought me to a good person, boy. Nicely done," Sakura told him. She reached into her bag to toss him a little pouch filled with gold and tied shut. She could see him weighing the money in his right hand. It was probably more money than he had ever held in his life. When Sakura raised her eyebrows, clutching the money in his hands, the boy ran out of the building.
"I'd heard rumors that you'd been married off but to think that you would let yourself be tied down is a little disappointing, My Lady," said Danzo, gesturing to the chair across from him. Sakura didn't reply as she sat. Sasuke remained standing, despite the fact that there were other seats open. He stood beside her, hand tightly gripping his sword. It was a fearsome, curved thing that promised a nasty wound.
"I'd like for you to stop talking now," Sakura simply stated in return. She heard Sasuke choke on his breath a little in surprise. There was never any need to mince words with Danzo. In fact, Danzo seemed unsurprised by her spiky retort. Folding his hands together, he gestured for her to speak.
"My dearest cousin seems to have decided to do away with me completely. And you do know how I hate losing my life. I'd like for you to be my eyes and ears for a while. You would be paid handsomely for your services," she said. When she drew her hand into her cloak, she pulled out another bag of gold. She threw it to Danzo who promptly opened it to check the contents.
"You are smarter than your cousin, My Lady. Gold speaks better than empty promises," Danzo began in a silky voice.
Smiling, Sakura rose to her feet.
She walked over to hand him the golden box that she had concealed in the folds of her robe. Danzo opened the lid and then raised his eyebrow at her.
"A gift for him. It seems one of his pets escaped and found its way to me," she commented. Danzo smirked knowingly.
"As you command."
"Then I leave this in your hands, Danzo. Do not fail me," uttered Sakura and then she was out the door. She felt Sasuke's hand on her elbow as soon as they were in the dirty alleyway.
"What is the point of buying a spy? How will he protect you from your cousin?" Sasuke demanded in a low voice. Sakura raised her eyebrows. She was surprised at how much he understood from their exchange. Subtlety was the language that Danzo spoke. It would be hard enough for a native speaker to understand him.
"I did not buy one spy. Danzo has the largest network of spies in the kingdoms. He knows how to intercept messages and thwart assassins. I've paid him enough to keep me safe for quite some time," explained Sakura. Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
"You cousin is not an extravagantly rich man. Where do you get this money?" he asked.
A smile stretched her mouth. Sakura reached out to press one finger to his lips.
"Secret."
The mystery groom that Sakura was searching for turned up in the most unexpected way. Early one evening, when frost was covering the dead grasslands, Sakura heard a surprising fact. She sat up. One of her favorite dogs, Pakkun, tumbled off her shoulder and down into her lap where he gave a disgruntled yap. She petted his head to soothe him while she stared into Itachi's eyes.
"My brother and I are sons of the king. That means that there are two candidates for the throne instead of one heir," Itachi patiently repeated.
"Are you telling me that whomever I choose to marry becomes king?" she slowly inquired. He nodded.
"But why? Why not just choose the older brother? Or the more popular one?" she went on to question. At this, Itachi leaned back on his palms with a sigh. He stared at her from under his dark eyelashes.
"It's not that simple. We may be a peoples led by a king, but we all come from women. Everyone knows that no strong king can be without a strong queen. So if a man can win the favor of a powerful bride, he is fit to rule," he explained. And then he plucked a grape from the bowl and threw it at Pakkun. The little pug snorted its discontent and then gobbled up the fruit anyway. Then, with what looked distinctly like a smirk, the dog waggled his tail and snuggled up in Sakura's lap. He curled up there, humming low in his throat as Sakura began stroking him between the ears.
"Interesting. I was unaware of such a custom," remarked Sakura. Then she looked over at Itachi again.
"So what does it mean to 'win my favor', exactly?" she asked. Itachi shrugged.
"Traditionally, you would accept a token from your spouse in a ritual. And then we'd ceremonially slaughter a boar, bathe in its blood, and have a feast before we head to the capital for a real wedding," he answered.
"Oh," she said in a faint voice, imagining all the blood.
"Now we just do the token exchange. More practical," Itachi continued. Sakura let out a sigh of relief and he chuckled. She laughed too, glad to finally see something other than an intimidating scowl hardening his face. He looked surprisingly young when he didn't have such a stony expression on. Tilting her head to the side, Sakura looked him over again.
"How old are you?" Sakura inquired.
There was a bell ringing outside as one of the soldiers called the dogs to their meal. Pakkun bolted out of the tent, barking all the way to his food. Sakura stifled a snort and even Itachi looked a little amused.
"I have 24 years," answered Itachi, drawing her attention again.
"24? And you and your brother are both generals?" gasped Sakura. And from the relatively little scarring on his face and body, Sakura could guess that The Crow was rarely ever injured in a fight. Itachi nodded again.
"You know, my cousin is 30 years old and he hasn't done much but visit brothels and try to have me killed," she scoffed. Itachi pursed his lips.
"I was under the impression that this is what most men of his ranking do," responded Itachi.
A startled laugh burst out of Sakura. She tried to cover her mouth with her hands as the unladylike noise spilled out of her. But her shoulders shook and tears sprang into her eyes as mirth took over. Her outburst seemed to have surprised Itachi just as much. He sat watching her carefully. When she pressed her fingers to cover her mouth, he reached out to pull them away.
"You don't laugh much. It's nice to hear," he told her. But Sakura only arched her eyebrows at him as the last of her laughter died down.
"You do realize that sweet-talk won't work on me now that I know what's going on?" she said. It was Itachi's turn to chuckle.
"That won't stop me."
When Pakkun returned later with a full stomach, he was surprised to find his favorite spot stolen. Sakura was sitting on the floor in the same place, humming quietly as she leafed through the pages of one of the new books she had picked up at the market that day. But in her lap was Itachi's head. He lay on his back, sprawled arrogantly across the rugs. When he opened his eyes, he spotted the disgruntled pug standing in the entrance. A triumphant smirk curled Itachi's lips.
"Mine now, mutt," he said before closed his eyes to relax in what was inarguably the most comfortable spot he had ever occupied.
It was not only The Crow who took time to visit Sakura. The Hawk was also a frequent visitor- though he preferred to come after dinner- usually when she was eating fruit after her meal.
"What did you do? Before this," asked Sasuke as he sat cross-legged to peel an orange. His sword was set down on the floor on the mat beside him. The usual war paint on his face was gone and it made him somehow seem much younger.
"What do you mean? I'm a noblewoman. I'm not supposed to do anything," Sakura replied. She ran a comb through her long hair, patiently working through the occasional tangles. She thought she heard Sasuke snort. Her fingers moved to begin braiding her long hair.
"There's no way a woman like you sat around under palm trees and laughing over- what do you call it? The fermented drink with grapes," Sasuke trailed off as he searched for the word. The fluid grace with which he spoke her language always impressed her. The only thing was that fewer years of study meant that he had fewer years of vocabulary to use. Every once in a while, he seemed to forget little words. Sakura looked at him in the mirror and caught the furrow in his brow. She glanced at her hair in the mirror for a moment to check if it looked strange.
"Wine?" she suggested. His expression evened out in the reflection.
"Wine," he agreed. Sakura tried not to giggle at the pride in his face.
"And you're correct. I'm not much of a palm person," she sighed. Sasuke's reflection looked up at her. Their eyes met in the mirror. Sakura tied her braid securely with a thick length of thread before tying a ribbon on top to conceal it. When she turned around to look at him, Sasuke had his chin propped up in his right hand.
"Intelligence," she said.
"Huh?"
"Intelligence. That was my job. I deal in secrets," Sakura told him.
"You're a spy," Sasuke flatly stated.
"I never said that," she replied in a serene tone.
"Then you control spies," Sasuke amended.
"I… know people who will tell me things about other people. And I use this to my advantage," was all Sakura said.
"You're powerful because you're smart," he summarized quite succinctly.
"Clever. You catch on quick," she finally agreed. Turning to face him, she flicked her braid over her shoulder.
"We chose poorly. She's not even a little frightened of us," Sasuke grunted in his native language as he entered his brother's tent without announcing himself. Itachi glanced up from his map for a brief instant to acknowledge Sasuke. But then he did a double take. Though Sasuke's face remained stony, the tips of his ears were pink. Quelling the urge to smile, Itachi rolled up the map and then straightened to lean against the edge of the table.
"Visiting The Lady?" Itachi needlessly asked. Sasuke glowered.
"We're almost home and she still hasn't chosen one of us," the younger of the two complained.
"What heinous act did she commit to make you this incensed, little brother?" asked Itachi.
That stopped Sasuke's rant dead in its tracks. Coughing loudly, Sasuke suddenly seemed to find the ground very interesting. But Itachi looked Sasuke over carefully before he raised an eyebrow.
"She kissed you," he surmised.
"An unmarried woman should not go around kissing any man. It's improper," grumbled Sasuke in confirmation. From the way the streaks of crimson and purple on his face smudged near his mouth, she hadn't given him a chaste peck.
"We're supposed to be seducing her but she's done a good job of winding us around her little finger, little brother," Itachi admitted. Both men let out a tired sigh. Sasuke's forehead wrinkled as he thought hard.
"What happens if she doesn't choose?" he suddenly demanded.
Itachi blinked slowly as he considered this.
"Well… I suppose… we would have to rule together until she picks one of us," he concluded. The brothers stared at one another.
"You don't think she's doing this on purpose knowing that, do you?" Itachi finally wondered out loud.
The tent flap suddenly moved and Sakura popped her head inside. The men froze.
"I don't know what you two are talking about, but I'm cold so whichever one of you brings me some warmed ale first will get a shoulder rub," she announced before she disappeared past the flap again.
Sasuke and Itachi sagged.
"On purpose," Itachi concluded while Sasuke gave a defeated nod as he got to his feet to go fetch her drink.
