A Legacy: Voice of the Rain
Summary: If my story would be told in a thousand years, let them say I walked with Giants. Let them say I lived in the time of the Young Sages; that I battled thousands of men and never lost. And let them say, I had fallen in love with my enemy.
. : Review Replies : .
Reiame: Thank you for the review, Aniki-kun.
FairiesDescent: Thanks for your thoughts. As for your confusion, you'll see the reasoning behind Hinata's place in all of this!
Saka Tikoto: You don't need to worry about anything, Imouto-chan; I care for you either way! Your pride in me makes me all the more pleased with my work, and I hope to see more from you in the future. I also hope to read more of your stories. Also, happy birthday!
Pikas: Yes, Danzo is very much gross. Though, I did not write much on the friendship of Team 7 as of the previous chapter, so I am confused what you find so amazing? But I do appreciate your enthusiasm!
Guest #1: Ah yes, I wanted to be more unique than what one would expect. I suppose I've adapted Amaya-oneechan's thoughts in this aspect.
Sakura-and-Nami: I hope to feel similar closeness! It is refreshing to rekindle friendships from a time ago, and I also wish to catch up on time lost! As you can see, I am no longer in the hospital or in the coma! And I am as strong as ever. In fact, I recently dyed my hair blue. Last I remember, my hair was pink when I was in the coma.
. : Aiko's Note : .
I just really want to thank my younger sister, Amaya, for translating and editing this for me, and for giving me such amazing ideas. The idea of the Sannin's Markings
and the large words that make this story beautiful were her idea, so
don't give me all the credit haha.
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Rating: Mature (see warnings below)
Characters/Pairing: Pein X Sakura; Akatsuki
Themes: Adventure, Romance, Angst (possibly), Drama, Hurt/Comfort
Warnings: Mature language, blood/gore, sexual content, mature situations and violence
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I, Aiko, would also like to dedicate this chapter of
A Legacy: Voice of the Rain
to Saka Tikoto.
Today is her 16th birthday (right?) and Amaya and I have
decided to dedicate this week's chapters to her.
Check out her stories!
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Chapter Two
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Konoha—Town Plaza
There was magnificence in everything that the eye could see. No matter how damaged or corroded, no matter how simple—it was still beautiful.
The village in which Sakura deemed her motherland was one of few endowments embodied by the imagination of man. The streets always pealed with the merchant's prattle and the low bleating of the grazing sheep; and the marbled firmament stretched from horizon to horizon. So breathtaking was this land that many scores spoke rumors of Gods in its creation.
It had long been foretold that the eldest daughter of a wealthy Lord had been gifted a scrap of dominion for her pound in sacrifices. The child found love in the arms of a wild boy, a warrior in most renditions, and had often times strayed away from her path of regality for his affection. Her love for him blazed like the eternal flames of Amaterasu, never dithering no matter the adversity set within her path, even when word of their affair had become familiar to all households.
Many of the other nobles had frowned upon her existence, ostracizing her for her dishonorable decisions and the time of her judgment had been harsh. They ostracized her for her blatant disgrace, slaked the heart of her handsome lover before he could depart for war, and they left her to sob within the locked doors of her chambers until she took the hand of an allocated heart.
On some night in a year unknown, the noble daughter, now with children and devout husband, offered a prayer to the Gods hiding behind the stars. She wished for her previous lover's happiness despite her misery, wished for the Gods to protect his spirit from the nightmares of his past life, and she wished to one day caress his cheeks in the other realm. She also wished for strength, to love a man who adored her so as to let her father's spirit rest, and wished to atone for her time astray. So selfless was she that Amaterasu visited her in her untimely judgment, and in exchange for the comfort of the Heavens' Clan, she would serve in Amaterasu's Summer Court where the spirit of her lover stood sentinel.
This Court was named Konoha, located in what was now known as the Land of Fire.
A ridiculous story, Sakura told herself as she shook the tale away, and she continued her path throughout the ambling multitude of bodies. She had no time for fairytales, not in this hour of day, and she forced all thoughts of self-indulgent imagination away.
"Sakura,"
At the sound of her name, Sakura halted her steps and faced the woman who had called for her. Very few dared to address her so casually, as rank was so prestigious that anything short of her given prestige could have been an insult, but Sakura eased her temper for her acquaintances. She was a beautiful specimen—a young lady with hair the color of gold and eyes like the depths of the aqua reefs, who wore glamorous robes of purple silk and flashy jewels tightly around her neck. Though exasperated, Sakura offered the woman an affable smile.
"Hello Ino."
The blonde woman hummed in response to her friend's greeting, and looped her arm with Sakura's. "Can't you ever forgo your armor? If not for the pink hair, I would have mistaken you to be a man," she commented with a teasing huff.
"I must be the fairest man to walk this earth then," Sakura retorted as she rolled her eyes, but her fingers absentmindedly played with the cords of her armor. "But what is it you want, Ino? I have errands to run and don't have much time for your weekly gossip."
There was no doubt that it was the young lass before her who knew of every secret to ever be withheld, and everyone who lived within the barriers of the village gates knew of Ino's fixation of scandal. No matter the secret or the topic of whom, Ino knew of its existence.
The flaxen haired woman tossed her hair over her shoulder with an indignant huff of breath, her cheeks pink with embarrassment and her nose high. "It's not gossip I'm here for! I was wondering if you'll be present at the celebration this coming weekend."
"Of course; I have an obligation to appear."
At this, Ino halted her steps and brought her free hand to press against her lips, her shock evident in the way her eyes glimmered. "How exciting! Whatever the reasoning of this engagement must be a big one. And I'm sure Sasuke will adore my appearance most."
Sakura gave a low snicker at the faraway expression arranging across Ino's face, and she carefully pulled her arm out of the blonde's embrace. "Think that as many times as you want, swine, but so long as the sun rises, Sasuke will never spare you more than a minute glance."
"So says you, dyke. At least he spares me a glance at all," Ino replied. She picked up her skirts and turned swiftly on her heel, smiling at the way Sakura's brow puckered. "I'll see you later then, Sakura."
When Ino's person disappeared behind the crest of a crimson bridge, Sakura smiled and shook her head. That woman had a flair for trouble, and jinxes seemed to rise from the steps of her elongated shadow.
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. : Voice of the Rain : .
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Konoha—Town Square
She had been walking early into the afternoon when she came across the Blacksmith's building. It was a rather large building with a large plume of inauspicious smoke curling past its stone chimney, and mares languidly guarding the entrance.
The blacksmith's apprentice was outside tending to one of the mares' shoes, with her cheeks blemished with charcoal and her hair windswept, and she looked up at the sound of Sakura's entrance. She quickly settled the mount's hoof back into its natural position and stood to give a sweeping bow in return for the pinkette's greeting.
The name given to this metal-bound orphan had been Tenten, a name of Heaven and angels, and the child so desperately wished to act upon her namesake. She had once offered herself, her flesh and blood to appease the Gods' desire, to take the place of Her Princess, but had been discarded early on. But there was no misgiving to be held or resentment to burn within her breast, for either way, she served the holy Deities.
"Lady Sakura, we weren't expecting you today," she admitted.
Sakura waved her hand and offered the young woman a smile. "Neither was I, you," she replied, and glanced around the shop. There were tools scattered almost haphazardly around the surrounding area, all blackened with constant use; and the defiant flames of the fire pit licked mockingly at Sakura's flesh with her imminence. With the girl's clearance of a once-occupied chair, Sakura took a seat and leant into the stool's backing. "This visitation is one of amity. How is business, Tenten?"
Tenten folded a wayward lock of hair behind her ear and blew at her falling bangs almost tiredly. "We are faring, milady. The only good thing coming of this war with Ame is the demand for weapons."
"There is no war as of yet."
"Ah, but we both know that so long as men roam the earth it's as likely to happen as the rising of tomorrow's sun."
Before they could dare to share a chuckle, the door to the Blacksmith's terminal opened and Tenten was quick to stand before his presence. Whatever it was the Blacksmith had been ranting about had died at the edge of his lips as he spotted the young warrior within his company and he fell into a humble bow of apology at his belligerent negligence.
"Forgive me; I didn't realize that a royal would be here," he repeated, his brown eyes glittering with repentance. Sakura rose from her seat, watching as the older man flinched away in nervousness, then gently set her hand atop his shoulder in an attempt to forge consolation.
"As you were," Sakura easily dismissed. "Forgive me for stealing the time of your apprentice; I'll pay for her company. We have business to discuss, Blacksmith."
The Blacksmith stood to full height with her approval, careful to keep his gaze away from the warrior's direct person, and tossed his apprentice an expectant glance of departure before leading Sakura further into his studio. "Of course, milady."
Sakura watched him close the shutters of his ward to offer seclusion from prying eyes, and slowly eased into the stool across from his cluttered workbench. It was musty in this room, and too dark to see in her opinion, but she supposed it would have to do.
It was only when he spoke to her—"For what do I owe the honor, Young Sage?"—that Sakura raised her gaze towards his person, and she straightened out the wrinkles in her red and white skirts out of uneasy habit.
"In three days time, a celebration is to be held around the King's Table, and the Sages wish to have their armor polished for this event. Your admirable service and the assistance of your staff are formally requested."
His cheeks burned with his flattery, and the Blacksmith dipped his head lowly in absolute gratitude for her acknowledgment. "I am honored, milady, and accept your proposal with enthusiasm."
Sakura clapped her hands approvingly, her smile stretching far across the expanse of her fair expression and her emerald eyes glittering in delight, and she slowly made her way towards the entry of his office without so much as a farewell.
Eight silver coins glittered with their descent, and came to an abrupt stop against the Smithy's heavy terminal with a heavy clatter.
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. : Voice of the Rain : .
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Konoha—Hiruzen's Castle—the Princess's Wing
All the colors of the castle fell into the scheme of reds and gold and ember—to match Amaterasu's luxurious skirts—yet only one place bore the simplicity of nature's color. The gardens held such beauty in untamed splashes of color; silver roses and yellow petunias, with sprays of emerald foliage littered voids between the cobblestone mazes of the several-acre garden, and the crystal blue water of the pond reflected the majesty of the shifting sky.
It was a place that offered comfort in the harshest of days; where tattered hearts could be mended and bloodied wounds stitched, and on many occasions worked as the hiding spot of the royal children.
She had been sitting there, hopelessly gazing at the gardens beneath her high windows with her amber eyes so full of incensed longing. The desire to rest amongst the impish foxtails and the dew-dropped cherry blossoms had almost been too much to bear, but she bore its burden just as she had for well beyond forty years.
"The Crowned Princess's loyal servant bows before Her Majesty."
The soft purr of the tightly-corseted attendant had pulled the Princess from her intoxicated thoughts of naïve adolescence, and honey-glazed eyes abruptly flickered over the child who dared speak. "What is it you wish to say, Shizune?"
The dark-haired attendant rose from her bow with the formal grace of a swan, and she dared to fix her gaze upon the eyes of her Princess.
"Lady Sakura has arrived."
At the sound of Shizune's announcement, Sakura ducked her head beneath the low-hanging fringe gates of her mistress's quarters, and gave a sweeping bow in return to the blonde's nod of greeting. "You called for me, milady?"
Tsunade gave Sakura a tired glance from above the slope of her nose, a sake glass dangling precariously between her bejeweled fingers and her brow slightly puckered with frustration. She hummed, "You were summoned to my presence well over an hour ago, Sakura. Can you account for your disappearance?"
As if injured by the Princess' line of questioning, Sakura bowed her head and averted her gaze in a show of guilt. "I was with the Blacksmith and his apprentice, milady, getting my armor polished for the celebration at the King's Table."
"You have no need," Tsunade replied, "You are attending this engagement as next in line to my throne, not as a warrior."
Stunned by the proclamation of her Princess, all forms of intellectual speech had faltered at the edge of her lips, leaving the pinkette to unpleasantly sputter over incomprehensible strings of words. Had she been any other woman, Tsunade would have snickered at her heiress's astonishment, but she disguised her amusement with annoyance by raising her hand to bring an end to the girl's appalling sort of speech.
"Too many times have you danced around your true responsibilities, Sakura. You are not only a warrior, but heir to my throne and shall act as such!" Sakura flinched at the hostile undercurrent of the Princess's discipline, but she forced her body to bend uncomfortably low in remorse.
"I apologize, milady."
"Naruto and Sasuke have also failed to abide by their duties, and as your mentors we are concerned. They are being reprimanded just as you are, if not more harshly. You were chosen as my successor for a reason, and I expect you to do better than myself when the time comes." Tsunade stood from her plush chair resting behind the ivy-veined vanity and slowly stripped the sheer cloak of her gown to reveal the markings of her Judgment. The most prominent of her marks had been the rhombus printed at the center of her brow—a deep purple akin to a slug's toxin—accented by tattoos and faint scars adoring the milky flesh of her neck and back.
The Sannin's Mark was gifted only those who passed the Judgment of the Gods, as it symbolized their true devotion to the Heavens' Clan, and worked as a gesture of renunciation of mortal dilapidation.
On many occasions, Sakura had stolen a glance at her mistress's Marks, wondering if the smears of healed flesh would look just as breathtaking on her as it did for Tsunade, and she would often times think about the day in which her skin would be pierced by the Blessed Ink of the Priestesses.
"You will be marked to show that pompous King your power," Tsunade informed, with only the slightest of smiles marring her unbiased complexion. "Naruto and Sasuke will be given their marks as well, but it will be made in temporary ink for the time being. Only on the day that you have been crowned will you be gifted such a jewel."
She strode towards her heiress, and set her palm against Sakura's cheek with the tenderness of a mother. Warmth spread throughout Tsunade's body as the pinkette eased into her touch, and memories of days long passed surrounded her thoughts. A wicked smile fell across Tsunade's lips, and she said:
"Come now; we have much to do if we wish to charm the Ame men."
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. : Voice of the Rain : .
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Konoha—Hyuuga Estate—Heiress' Chambers
For the longest time, Hinata sobbed. She hid herself away within her chambers, turned away the handmaidens who once followed within her shadow, and she rubbed the makeup from her face until all she saw was the natural blush of her cheeks.
All words of comfort had been lost to her ears, even those escaping the lips of her dearest cousin. All she wanted was isolation, but the Gods refused to give her even that.
Her emotions were terribly muddled now. There was a great deal of disappoint somewhere in this ongoing whirlwind—regret, too. The love she once felt would now be lost to the wind and her words of endearment would die before her lips could purse. Misery adored her company, it seemed.
She could never again come to see the warrior's kind smile. She could never hold him against her breast and ghost her lips against his own. He would never know that she loved him, and she supposed it was better that way.
I will lock my heart away for you, Naruto. If I can save you from death, I will gladly march to my own.