I am sorry it took so long to update, but since I am trying to finish my last year of college and find a job my time to write has been limited. I could also thank midterms for sucking out my soul. Anyway.. another update for Golden Harvest, my other story Crimson Drops will hopefully have an update soon, and it will be quite long.
Golden Harvest
Chapter Two: Thick as Thieves
"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What? You too? I thought I was the only one." –C.S. Lewis
The mall was packed, and bursting with life and sound. It was almost difficult to carry out a conversation upon entering the large white building. Sakura gently gripped Hinata's arm to keep them together as they traveled through the crowd. The two grimaced when they felt people bump into their shoulders. It was a miracle that they were even able to move amongst the throng of bodies.
"Maybe going to the mall wasn't such a good idea," Sakura muttered. "I knew it was going to be crowded but not this packed!" Hinata nodded in agreement. It was unusual for the mall, even at the end of the school year, to be overrun. Her pale eyes scanned her surroundings for a brief moment. A bright red sign caught her interest almost instantly. There appeared to be a large sale going on, which was odd. She didn't remember hearing anything about it on the Television.
"What about the fourth floor?" Hinata suggested, knowing full well that popular shops were closer to the ground floor, therefor more visited. "The little Café by the quirky shop."
"Oh! That one?" Sakura exclaimed, already pulling them in that direction. She muttered apologies as she moved throughout the loud masses. "Great idea."
Nothing more was said as they traveled up the stairs, avoiding the elevator entirely, knowing full well it would be crammed. Hinata never liked to be in tight confined spaces, a sentiment that Sakura shared. As they ascended they were met with less people, and relieved smiles broke out across their faces. Despite their distance from the masses, however, the two girls could still hear them clearly down below.
Once they reached the fourth floor, the girls paused in their journey. Taking a moment to enjoy the space it provided. Hinata could feel the sun touch them through the glass ceiling, sweeping its fingers through their hair. The air was so much lighter and free of tension. Hinata could feel her muscles relax and uncoil. She had not been aware that she was so tense.
"Well, that was crazy," Sakura said with a laugh, her green eyes twinkling with mirth, as she began to walk in the direction of the Café. "I thought we wouldn't get out of there alive!"
Hinata hid her chuckle behind her hand. "With that fight won, you deserve a nice sweet cake for your efforts."
"I couldn't agree more!" Sakura then placed a finger to her chin in mock thought, as he eyes shot skyward. "But which one will I get?"
"The summer specials are out," Hinata suggested, as they walked down the golden hallway of the upper level of the mall.
"Oh! I almost forgot," Sakura said with a playful tap to her forehead. "What would I do without you Hinata!" Sakura finished with a bright grin toward Hinata's direction. Hinata returned it, her sour mood slowly lifting from her shoulders. The two fell into a comfortable silence as they approached the Leaf Café.
The smell of coffee beans, and fresh baked pastries beckoned them to enter the small quaint café. The sound of clinking plates and cups filled their ears along with the hum of steam from espresso machines. Once the two were closer to the café's entrance, Hinata could catch a whiff of incense coming from the small quirky shop next door. Briefly she glanced toward the shop's direction and caught sight of the storeowner out in front.
The old woman's messy and wild appearance often gained scathing looks from shoppers, but Hinata couldn't help but like the lady. The woman had wavy, and almost tangled grey hair twisted into a loose braid. Her choice of clothes almost seemed to be bohemian in style. She was slightly bent over, a testament to her age, as she cleaned the window of her store.
As if she sensed someone staring at her, the old woman turned to look at Hinata, her wrinkled face twisting in confusion. Hinata shot her a warm disarming smile, and a small wave. The old woman returned it with a wave and a smile of her own. The wrinkles around her eyes crinkling as the smile reached her eyes. Her haggard appearance suddenly flickered as if it was fading and then shimmered.
He face seemed to catch the light beaming down from the skylights of the mall, and for a moment Hinata swore she saw deer antlers sprout from the old crone's head, and her haggard appearance dissolve. Awe-struck, Hinata blinked several times, not believing what she was seeing. She didn't realize that she had stopped in her tracks as she did so.
"Hinata," Sakura called making Hinata tear her gaze away from the old woman. Concerned green eyes met with pearl white. "Are you okay?"
Hinata turned to look at the woman once more, but the woman had returned to normal. Her knobby hands scrubbing furiously at the store-front window of her shop. A perplexed frown spread across Hinata face for a brief moment. What had she just seen?
Hinata nearly jumped when the waving hand of her friend blocked her vision. "Where are you staring off too, Hina-chan?" Sakura asked, her tone while light held a hint of concern.
"o-Oh! Nothing," Hinata said with a weak wave. "I just got caught up with my thoughts, is all."
Sakura's brow narrowed slightly before she shrugged. "Well come on! A fresh brew of coffee is waiting. I can smell it from here!" Sakura said with a big grin, before grabbing the dark haired girl's hand and dragging her into the small café. Hinata could barely put in a word of protest, and had to jog to keep up with her friend. She stumbled and did not catch her friend's quick glance toward the old woman still cleaning her windows, nor did she see her friend's frown.
"Sakura," she said in a weak reprimand as she entered the café's doors, but the look on Sakura's face had her words dying on her lips. Her friend looked so relaxed within the confines of the shop, her green eyes brightening with calm happiness. The hand around her wrist loosened and fell to Sakura's side.
The girl's shoulders seemed to slump, like a weight had just been lifted from her shoulders, before she turned to Hinata once again.
"Why don't you find a table, I'll place our order." Sakura said softly before filing into the small line leading up to the register. Hinata could only nod in response, but she watched her friend for a few more seconds before moving to a small table in the corner. During her journey, she wondered if Sakura was still tense from what had happened earlier.
Sakura was eerily chipper after such an event. Usually upon a run in with Ami and her crowd, Sakura would have been cross for a few hours afterwards. She would be steaming, mostly due to the fact that Ami and her gang were just "so horrible." Hinata never heard Sakura utter such dark threats before, nor did Sakura ever contain such a dark aura when discussing the group of girls.
"They need to be shown their place!"
Thoughts about Sakura's change once again snuck into Hinata's forethoughts. She could still recall the pure hatred in Sakura's eyes, as well as her cold and deadly demeanor. Reaching her desired seat, Hinata slumped ungracefully into the booth, as her mood continued to sour. 'What did she mean by "showing Ami her place"?' Hinata reflected, her brain finally having time to search for answers. Last time she checked Sakura wasn't high on the social sale, nor did she come from a wealthy or notable family.
'And what was that dark energy?' Hinata frowned. It was unsettling, and a deep nagging feeling at the back of her mind told her that it was just the beginning. This would not be the last time she would see such a change occur in her friend.
Hinata turned her gaze to her friend at the register, her pearl eyes watching Sakura's interaction with the barista carefully. Sakura seemed to be returning to normal, from what she could observe, but somehow Hinata felt like this normalcy was now tainted. Fear and doubt surrounded it, and she was left wondering if another episode was lurking around every corner. Would this be the first and last time that Sakura's aura would change? Or would there be more instances to come?
Hinata turned away sharply, as more dark thoughts clouded her mind. Hinata desperately tried to come up with a reasonable answer to why her friend lashed out uncharacteristically, but nothing she found made any sense. Even when Sakura approached her with their drinks in hand and a disarming smile, Hinata's fear couldn't be dispelled. It had settled in her heart, and refused to release its grip. Hinata was left wondering if she really knew Sakura, a thought that shook Hinata to her very core.
The sun was setting on the horizon. Rays of gold, crimson, and orange light penetrated the dark green canopy of the forest below, and cut through the darkness like spears. The last echoes of bird song trickled through the branches of the trees, a soft warning that night would be arriving soon. The forest was peaceful as animals began to settle in for the night, and nocturnal creatures began to stir from their slumber.
A young man with blonde hair soon cuts through a set of bushes breaking the serenity only for a moment. His boot-clad feet guided him away from the green foliage to the dusty path before him. Blue eyes quickly scanned their surroundings, before settling on a small clearing up ahead. Releasing a soft sigh of relief, the man began his stroll.
It was liberating to be out in the fresh air of the forest and away from his responsibilities. The further he walked, the more relaxed he felt. It had been a week since the last time he was able to step out of the palace on his own, without the shadow of guards or advisors. He was sick and tired of being smothered, and restricted. The court atmosphere had been so stifling that young man swore that if he had stayed a moment longer within his castle, he would have snapped.
Just as the young man was about to exit the shelter of the forest for the clearing, he felt something grip his forearm tightly. He was yanked backwards, and before he could let out a gasp his back hit the hard bark of a tree, knocking his breath out of his lungs. He felt a sharp blade pressed against his throat, the cold steel almost searing his skin.
"Naruto," the attacker growled, as blue eyes met with two crimson orbs. Naruto only frowned, and released a groan of annoyance. His blue eyes briefly broke contact with the dark-haired man's gaze to look skyward in aggravation.
"Sasuke! What the hell?" Naruto hissed, his hands rising to push away the blade away from his neck forcefully. The dark-haired man named Sasuke scoffed, but relaxed his stance, letting the blond push him back. He then sheathed his dagger at his waist coolly, his eyes not straying from the blonde's form.
"You need to be more aware of your surroundings, young Prince," He replied stiffly, his gloved hands crossing over his chest, his silver gauntlets and chest plate catching the last rays of the sun. His now onyx orbs held deep disapproval, making Naruto scowl in response.
"I've had a long day, you bastard," Naruto grumbled as his left hand rose to rub his sore right shoulder. He shot a contemptuous glance toward Sasuke, still not too fond of his friend's impromptu greeting.
"Nevertheless, you should always keep up your guard," Sasuke reprimanded, as he turned to face the quiet clearing, to watch the last rays of the sun disappear behind the mountain on the horizon. Naruto only released a sigh, his silent admittance to his error in judgment. "You are the next in line for the throne after all," Sasuke added softly before shooting Naruto a playful smirk. "Spirits help us all."
"Hey!" Naruto shouted, his fist gently slugging Sasuke's shoulder in response to his friend's insult. This only made the man release a soft "tsk" as a smug smile spread across his face.
"You're lucky I wasn't a true Useelie scout, Naruto." Sasuke quipped, as he dodged another swipe, by leaning backwards. "You would be dead."
Naruto paused in his assault, his eyes narrowing in thought. He relaxed, his fists unclenching and falling to his sides. "It is a good thing you are on our side then." He said with a shake of his head, dispelling the last of his anger toward his friend. There was a slight pause in the conversation, Naruto's eyes boring into Sasuke's form. "Speaking of which, what brings you here, Sasuke? Aren't you supposed to be staying close to the Useelie King?"
Sasuke released a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly. If Naruto were not watching so closely he would have missed it. Something was bothering his childhood friend, and had made his mask falter for a brief moment. "I need to gain his trust, and in order to do that I have to complete errands." Sasuke spat, his eyes narrowing in anger. However, the anger was not directed toward the blonde. Naruto knew that Sasuke hated being treated like a lap dog. "I was sent out to scout this area."
"So you are going to met with my father again?"
Sasuke nodded in confirmation. "I need to know what information I can disclose to lead the Twisted King astray."
Naruto remained silent, his blue eyes darkening in thought. His father had kept him in the dark about Sasuke's mission within the Useelie Court. Despite how hard he pressed his father to tell him the details, the King had remained tight-lipped. Naruto knew he would be unable to get anything else from Sasuke. For the young Uchiha cherished secrecy, and would never jeopardize his mission just to ease his friend's worries.
"Shouldn't you be in palace?" Sasuke suddenly asked, startling Naruto out of his thoughts. Naruto released a nervous chuckle, his hand ruffling his hair in nervousness.
"Yeah… about that," he muttered turning away from Sasuke to view the rising moon. He cast a quick glance back toward Sasuke, and out of the corner of his eyes caught the young Knight's pointed look. He then released a sigh, knowing full well that Sasuke wouldn't leave until he had an answer.
"I just couldn't deal with those stuffy nobles any longer. They will not leave me alone until I pick one of their daughters as my bride," Naruto explained, his hand in his hair slipping down so it could rub his neck. He then released a pained groan, his hands rubbing his face before falling to his sides. "But it's so hard to pick one!"
Sasuke scoffed, as he rolled his eyes. "It's not so hard Naruto. You just need to pick the one that is the most qualified to rule."
"Of course you would say that, you heartless bastard," Naruto grumbled. "I don't want another advisor, I want a life partner. Someone I can actually love."
Sasuke shook his head, and turned to leave.
"Oye, where are you going? I'm not done!"
"Save your pathetic whining for someone else. I don't care," Sasuke said gruffly as he continued to head back into the shelter of the forest canopy.
"One of these days you are going to have love problems, and I am not going to help you!" Naruto shouted at Sasuke's retreating back.
"Why would I ask for your help? Your advice is horrible" Sasuke shouted back, before he sent Naruto a mock wave as he disappeared into the darkness.
Naruto growled in anger, before scoffing. Sasuke's parting words falling flat of riling him up. If he were not so stressed to make a decision he would have chased after the dark-haired fae and pummeled him. While a spar would have helped him vent out his frustrations, Naruto figured that he would be too distracted to do any damage. Turning once more to look upon the full moon, Naruto let his mind wonder. He hoped that he could find someone to marry who would love him, not for his title, but for himself. The noble's daughters just didn't strike a note with him. He found them fake and insincere.
He groaned once more. "Why does this have to be so hard?" He asked the night. But no reply came, so he let his mind wander, as he looked up to the star filled sky. He was not quite ready to return home, and face his responsibilities.
There are the two boys like I promised. I am trying to keep Sasuke a bit more like his Genin self, but that will change later. :)