O
IV. Bloodlines.
"Well, miss Yamanaka. You're lucky today."
"I'm sorry."
"I just closed the door. Go sit down."
Out of breath, Ino nodded toward Gemma Shiranui, their math teacher, a Common, and went to sit down, all her classmates' eyes following her. Ino Yamanaka was never late (or almost late).
Sakura raised an eyebrow but didn't react. She had yet to talk with the girl or with Hyuuga about their project, but she wasn't in a hurry to do so. She was annoyed and embarrassed about her actions in the café, and at the same time, was quite pissed off. Just when things were looking brighter money wise, she had to endure this situation.
Almost one hour later, Shiranui let them talk amongst themselves until their next period. To Sakura's horror, Ino came directly to her desk.
"Hi. Look, about the other day, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. Really."
Sakura swallowed back her unease and nodded.
"I'm sorry, too. I was out of line."
Ino offered her a little smile, and Sakura was shocked by the exhaustion she could see there.
"Okay, so Hinata, you and I could go somewhere to talk about Yamato's homework after school."
Sakura was nodding when their teacher's voice sounded in the classroom.
"I almost forgot. I want your homework on my desk before you leave."
"There was homework to do for today?" Ino asked Sakura, surprised.
"Uh, yeah."
"Damn."
"I want to know right now who didn't do it. Don't force me to count the papers again."
A boy and a girl raised their hands, one far more serious than the other. Shiranui was known for his strict rules about lateness and homework. It was a sure ticket for a trip to the headmaster's office.
The teacher, their classmates and her friends all looked at Ino with wide eyes when she too raised her right hand.
"Yamanaka?" Shiranui asked with a trace of shock in his otherwise impassive voice.
"I apologize, Shiranui-sensei, I don't have my homework today."
"Well, there's a first for everything, I guess. You will all go see the headmaster after your last period. I hope it's for the last time, huh, Taruno?"
The girl, a known troublemaker, only shrugged.
After her last period, Sakura waited by the north entrance (the largest), feeling quite stupid. She wasn't used to have to wait for anybody, and realized that, besides with Mari lately and obviously school, she never had to adapt her chosen daily timetable to people, to anything really. She'd been totally independent for years.
Hinata Hyuuga was the first one to spot her. She smiled shyly and waited patiently at her side. A big, white dog soon joined them, and to Sakura's amazement, Hinata was quick to introduce her to the animal.
"This is Akamaru, Kiba's pet, but I think you already know that. Akamaru, this is Sakura Haruno."
The dog barked gently, as if he understood what Hinata said, and Sakura could only nod.
Finally Kiba, Naruto, Lee and Tenten arrived.
"Oh, Sakura! Hi!"
"Hi, Lee," Sakura answered warily to the strange boy in green. He had too much enthusiasm and was way too loud for her liking. "But we were in the same room all day, you know."
"But I didn't say hi to you."
"Right."
"Hum, look guys, I really have to go home," he then informed his friends, visibly ill at ease.
"What? Why?" Naruto asked.
"My mom wants me to make sure that my sisters arrive home safely. They're surely waiting for me by the South entrance."
"Oh. Okay, then."
"Hey, you know that if I had a choice, I would stay with you. Mom's just being overprotective."
"She's scared of what we could force you to do," Kiba said darkly.
And Sakura noted that he looked weirdly like an angry wolf when he wasn't being the good natured boy.
"Oh, come on, she knows all of you. She's just nervous, it'll pass."
"It's okay," Kiba smiled. "We're badass, we know that."
"Have you seen Ino? I just wanted to apologize again for my absence to the birthday party last week-end."
"Yeah. I suppose that letting you go to the Nara's house to celebrate the birthdays of their son and of the Yamanaka heiress was a little too much," Tenten joked.
"Could you tell her? I really have to go."
"Don't worry, she knows."
"Bye."
Once he had left, Kiba sighed and his dog whimpered.
"Man, it sucks."
"Yep."
"So, Tenten, your parents aren't too jumpy when you're with the Old Clans' evil children?"
"You're kidding! My mom finds it so cool! My bro is jealous, he's friend with a few Gifted of course, but they're not you."
"Ah, it's nice to be loved," Kiba smiled, putting a kiss on the girl's cheek.
Sakura found it all boring, and she was sick of waiting. She was ready to leave when at last Yamanaka showed herself.
"Sorry."
"It's cool. So, what did the headmaster say?" Naruto asked.
Ino shrugged.
"He was okay, as always. He let Shiranui give us detention and homework to do."
"He's cool with everybody but me," Naruto whined. "I swear he hates me. He hated Dad too."
"He's nice with all the students, I'm sure it's just bad luck in your case."
"Tss."
"Sakura, Hinata and I have homework to do."
"Okay."
They left the school and were ready to split up in two groups when a minivan stopped near them. A tall boy with a ponytail got out of the car and nodded to them before stopping in front of Ino. Sakura knew who he was.
Shikamaru Nara. One of the three heirs of the Nara Clan, but the only one of the main branch. Shikamaru would therefore be the next head of the Clan according to their laws. Even if Sakura didn't really see the point nowadays. Stupid traditions.
"We need to talk."
Ino nodded.
"Okay. About what?"
Shikamaru glanced at them, obviously not wanting to talk in front of them. He turned his head back toward Ino and looked intensely into her eyes. They seemed to understand each other, because she nodded gravely. And then, after a few more seconds of strange silence, he sighed.
"Troublesome," he whispered, annoyed. He turned his head towards Tenten and Sakura and narrowed his eyes. "Do you know how to keep secrets?"
Tenten immediately answered positively, and Sakura nodded despite herself.
What the hell? She just wanted to work on her homework!
"What was that?" Kiba whispered, looking intently at Ino and Shikamaru.
But the two oldest teens invited them to enter the van. A chubby redheaded young man was behind the wheel.
"Hey, Choji," Ino smiled, she was the last to enter the red car and as such closed the door after her. "How are you?"
"Well. Want to drive?"
"Ahaha. But you'll see, I'll have my license before this winter."
"Hey, I hope. I won't have to drive you anywhere anymore, princess. My parents and the rest of the family say hi. Mom wants you to visit the restaurant, she says it's been a while since they last saw you."
"Okay. Thanks."
"Where to?"
"Shika, are your parents home?"
The boy frowned.
"At work."
"Okay, then."
Choji turned left and gave them all an apologetic smile when they ended up crushed against the side.
"Sorry, it's a little old. My uncle and my dad fixed it and restored it for me last year for my birthday."
"It's cool. At least we all fit in there," Naruto grinned. "I hope I'll get a car too for my birthday next week."
"Don't keep your hopes up. Iruka doesn't have the money for that and, contrary to Choji's dad and uncle, he doesn't know a thing about cars," Kiba smirked. "Hey, you still didn't tell us about the party."
"It'll be at home of course."
"Huh… in Iruka's flat? Are you sure? Last time the only reason your neighbors didn't call the police was Neji and Sasuke answering the door."
"Nah, it'll be cool, I swear. And it'll be just us this time. I won't invite all the class, I promised Iruka, and no clone. Oi, Sakura, you should come!"
Stunned that they hadn't forgotten her, the girl raised her eyes to see the blond boy grinning at her next to her.
"Yeah, you should come to my eighteenth birthday, next week-end. Last week we celebrated Ino's one and Shikamaru's nineteenth birthday. They were born one year and one day apart. You should really come, no need to bring anything, it's just going to be a party with a lot of food and a little alcohol. Nothing wild, I swear."
It was weird that Naruto invited her when he had just said that he wanted to invite only the close group of friends. But it was who Naruto was, she guessed. She didn't say yes nor did she say no, and he didn't insist.
"Whoa! Look at that! It's not a house, it's a castle!" Kiba exclaimed.
Sakura turned her head to see an old mansion on the right side of the road. The neighborhood was calm, serene even, with big houses and well-kept gardens, far from the buildings in the center. But the propriety Kiba pointed at was different with its elegant and old grey stone walls, its European style and beautiful wooden doors and windows. The gardens were full of colorful and rare flowers and a grey wall and a black metal gate protected the expensive home, letting them see just a glimpse of it.
Shikamaru sighed.
"Kiba, that's the Yamanaka Manor."
"The… Fuck, Ino, you live in there?"
Ino, who hadn't reacted to her friends' awe to the sight, shrugged.
"I was born here."
"Really?" asked Tenten.
"It's usually a tradition maintained only for the first born of the clan's heirs, but my mother wanted to have me at home, despite my father's wishes."
"But… are you not the only heir to your family?"
A short silence answered before Ino did, her eyes on her family's home.
"My father is the second of three sons. My cousin along with my pregnant aunt died in a car accident three years before my birth, which made me the sole heir, but not the first born."
"Oh. Sorry."
"It's okay."
"How come we never came here? Wait, Hinata, are you living in a castle, then?"
The girl reddened.
"No. The propriety was built forty years ago by my grandfather, it's a nice villa but not as big as Ino's ancestors' manor. But it's just my parents, my sister and I, so it could be considered as a large house."
"So, how many times did you get lost in there when you were little, Ino?" Kiba asked with a smirk.
"Never, but Shikamaru did when he was six. He used his control over shadows to find his way."
"Shut up," the young man sighed, annoyed.
"Anyway we don't live there alone. My grandmother's quarters are on the ground floor, my parents and I are living on the first floor, and my uncles on the second."
"You all live in there?" Tenten exclaimed. "Ugh. I'd hate to have to live with my grandparents and my cousins."
"Well, my clan was one of the biggests when ninjas still existed, but the last three centuries have reduced our number greatly. That's why we've all been living together in the manor for decades."
Ino wasn't telling them everything, Sakura could see it. But it was her right, so nobody called her on it.
"Why didn't we celebrate your birthday here?" Kiba said avidly. "No offence, I love your house, Shika."
"None taken. You should see the swimming pool."
"Like I said, I don't live there alone."
"What was this thing on the portal?" Tenten asked her.
"The emblem of my clan. All of the old clans have one."
"Here we are," Choji announced.
He parked in front of a traditional house, the Nara's emblem discreetly painted on the wall. It was a beautiful home, middle sized, very traditional with its tatamis, wooden hallways and screen doors. They all went to the garden situated in the center of the house.
"So, what's the problem?" Kiba asked, sitting down near the koi pond.
"The remaining Uchihas have disappeared."
"What?" Naruto asked. "And Sasuke?"
"I don't know. I just heard my father talking with Ino's about it. It appears that the Agents can't find them anywhere. They were preparing something big before the murders apparently, and Inoichi and dad are worried they're going to do something soon."
"So do we know if they're still in Konoha?"
"No."
"But, Ino," Tenten began, "can't your father feel their presences or something?"
Ino frowned, looking ill at ease.
"Konoha's really big, with thousands of people. My father's gift in scanning presences isn't powerful enough, far from it actually. His telepathy isn't centered on that."
"Do you think the Uchihas know who murdered their family?" Naruto asked darkly. "Do you think they've always known?"
"It's a possibility," Shikamaru answered. "It's a possibility that they're plotting their revenge, but we still don't know what they were planning before it happened."
"Ino?" Choji asked. "What are you thinking?"
The girl raised surprised eyes to him, and seemed nervous with all their eyes on her.
"Whatever the Uchihas were planning, it was criminal."
"How do you know that? Huh, never mind," Shikamaru quickly added. "Wait. The city's authorities can't have plotted their death, right?"
"I thought about it," Ino admitted. "But if it had been the case, my father would have been involved, and I'm certain he doesn't know what happened that night."
"Whatever it is, it must be big. Your dad reminded mine about the oaths. He seemed worried, as much as Inoichi can seem worried."
"The oaths? What oaths?" Naruto asked curiously.
"The Akimichi Clan, the Nara Clan and the Yamanaka Clan have been linked by oaths for centuries. Shinobi of our families trained together and protected each other in wars and conflicts. They've been helping each other financially and politically since then. Every generation of heirs swear oaths. Ino, Shikamaru and I did on our sixteen birthdays, too."
"Our fathers were friends anyway. So we've known each other since birth. Anyway if my dad was reminding Shikaku of his oaths, it's because he's worried for the safety of my clan, maybe of all our clans."
"It's clear that the Seven seem to be at the center of this… thing that's going on," Kiba said.
Sakura stayed silent, sitting apart for them, feeling quite awkward about being there during this strange reunion. She was absolutely curious about all she was hearing but she couldn't help but wonder why they all seemed so at ease talking about all that in front of her. After all, they barely knew her!
"The Seven?" Tenten asked, confused. "Seven what?"
"Old Clans. Well, the most powerful clans, at least, because there are a few more than seven," the boy explained. "Initially when Konoha was still a shinobi village, seven families raised above all others because of their secret techniques and the strength of their members. They were the Senjus, the Uchihas, the Hyuugas, the Naras, the Akimichis, the Yamanakas and the Aburames. It's because of their number and their strength that after all the ninja wars they remained large clans, and that's why they didn't disappear during the last centuries like so many others. The gifts the heirs of these clans hold even nowadays are very powerful and above what families like mine can still do. Some even say that they know secrets about the past and the true history of the world, knowledge that was lost for everyone else generations ago."
"Really?" Tenten asked Ino, Hinata, Shikamaru and Choji, obviously loving those stories.
"The secrets of the clan stay in the clan," Choji answered, his mouth full of his beloved chips. "First rule we learn as children. There are three."
"Anyway," Kiba resumed, "when the Seven were still the main forces of the Fire country, the principal secret every ninja had to keep by all means was the secret of their techniques. At that time it was still possible for people to learn how to use others' powers. That's why they were techniques, and not natural gifts."
"And now three of the Seven Clans are really weakened or close to extinction, moreover the sole known heir to the Senju family is somewhere unknown. The Aburames are also not in the city anymore. I doubt that what happened to the Uchihas and the quick departure of the Aburame clan are a coincidence. Damn, it's so annoying."
"Someone is trying to weaken the city… because they fear the power of those clans."
"So…" Hinata whispered. "It must be people powerful enough to stand against us. With a plan that takes its origin years in the past."
"Probably. Anyway, we all have to stay alert. Four of us are future heads of clans, and Kiba and Naruto come from respected gifted families known to always stand up for justice. We could be targets."
"Huh! I pity the fools who would try attacking Hana or me," Kiba snorted. "My mother and the dogs would tear them to pieces."
"Or die trying."
"Gee, Ino, aren't you positive today?"
"Sorry," the girl sighed. "Shikamaru?"
"Yes. For security reasons, we should all meet at least once a week."
"All of us?" Hinata asked.
"With Neji, if he can."
"Why not a phone call?" Choji asked.
"Too easy to fake."
"But if we can't come to the meetings?"
"It's once a week, Choji."
"But knowing our timetables it will be every Friday, after school. It isn't a good moment for me."
"We're interfering with his love life," Ino teased.
"Hey! Stay away, you know our rules!"
The girl raised her hands.
"You projected."
Sakura, and the others apparently, had no idea what they were talking about, but she forgot it all when Shikamaru's dark eyes suddenly settled on her.
"You too."
"Me what?"
"You should come to these meetings, for your own safety."
"E-excuse-me? I don't have anything to do with –"
"You're a First. You are surely not aware of this, but you're not the only one in the last three decades to have been born in Konoha. A boy a few years older than us who had been declared as a First was abducted when he was three years old. The police and the Agents tried to find him for months, but the baby had vanished without a trace. And you're the only other First in the country since Jiraiya himself, and the three of you are the only Firsts of this century. That fact is known today by many, and the enemies are obviously interested in powerful people. Firsts are, by definition, dangerous gifted people. Conclusion: you are surely in as much danger as us."
What the hell? Are they nuts?
"I have nothing they could be interested in," she affirmed firmly, feeling annoyed and tired. "Believe me, there's nothing tremendously powerful about me."
"They don't know that. And truth is, you don't know either. Don't feel insulted. It often takes decades to learn to develop and control one's gift, and decades more to really understand its nature. We, as heirs, are taught everything our parents know about our abilities and we are trained from birth. And besides that, we're all alone when it comes to really know what we can and can't do."
"And even without that, they could want you for your blood," Naruto said darkly. "Our gifts are linked to our genes. Many theorists have studied gifted families and their blood to find the origins of the abilities, and some people were even experienced on before the Laws were established."
"Orochimaru himself was a great scientist, obsessed with abilities. He was convinced that, like our ancestors, we could learn other techniques, and that the key to that was in the body and the blood. Some believe that he found a way to gain other powers, but his research, too dangerous for a lot of obvious reasons, was destroyed by Tsunade and Jiraiya." Ino looked at Sakura darkly. "That boy, the other First, was not the only one who mysteriously disappeared these last decades. Other children were abducted in other cities. Nobody can affirm that all these things are linked but it is highly suspected by both the police and the Agency. Now given what we know, it is possible that one of the goals of the people behind all this is to resume Orochimaru's research. We could be wrong. Maybe they simply kill powerful gifted by hatred or prudence. Either way, they could soon be interested in you."
Nice. Really nice. Is it always this weird to be around people?
"Don't worry, I can take care of myself."
"You do what you want. But think about it," Shikamaru said before yawning. "My mother will be home soon."
"We're leaving. We have work to do, after all," Ino smiled. "Choji, you will be there Friday."
The boy grimaced.
"Come on."
"Bring her with you."
"I'm trying not to scare her away with our general weirdness. Hey, you could contact me and you'll know immediately if something's wrong! That way I –"
"She won't," Shikamaru intervened while stretching. "She's not a tool."
"See you Friday!" Ino grinned while leaving with the girls.
Sakura just sighed.
O
"I'm sorry," Ino apologized for the tenth time of the day when the girls sat down in the public library. "You were kind of kidnapped there."
"Yes," Hinata gently said. "It must have been really weird. I assure you we are not always this strange. And we don't kidnap people, of course."
"It's okay. So, about science?"
Sakura was really eager to end this session, and this weird, freaky day. She had learned in the last hour a lot more than she wanted to. What those crazy people were doing, exactly? Playing detective? And why the hell had she been involved in all that? She never even had talked to Akimichi and Nara before, and they seemed to know everything about her!
But, Sakura thought as she walked slowly toward home, there was truth in there somewhere. She remembered to vividly the warning the authorities gave her when her status had been registered. And all the advises she had heard again and again. Now that she thought about it, they all had seemed really insistent, anxious that she understood that she was in a delicate situation and that she had to be as discreet as possible.
And Mitarashi a few weeks ago, asking her if anyone had been interested in her gifts, her eyes darker than usual, a worried frown on her face. The weird and invasive group of friends wasn't the only one to be tense about the situation apparently.
One more reason to stay away from them all.
They were distracting, annoying and loud, and if they thought she was going to be frightened by their words and go to their meetings, they had another thing coming!
She couldn't understand them, couldn't understand their reasons, and Sakura hated not being in control of things. She was wary of the situation, and of them all.
Thankfully, the study session with Yamanaka and Hyuuga had been okay. They hadn't tried to talk about anything other than their project and hadn't broached again the subject of the danger they were supposedly in.
Really, they were idiots, all of them.
Except…
Well, Sakura would laugh about it all, if only she wasn't so sure that they were right.
O
She blinked, looked at herself, blinked again.
Nice, she decided, maybe for the first time of her life.
In only a month, she had gained weight and was thin instead of skinny. She even found her skin less pale. Eating properly a few times a week worked wonders for the body.
Shaking her head in self-derision, Sakura took her bag and left for school. Today would be the day their science project would be held over to their teacher. It meant no more study sessions with the girls, even if the last one the day before had been quite normal compared to the other two, especially the one in the beginning of the week. But it didn't mean that Sakura was going to go to their meeting after school.
"Sakura!"
With a little sigh, the girl stopped and waited for the child. Mari grinned up at her.
"Hi!"
"Hi."
She was wearing the jacket Sakura had bought for her the last time they had seen each other, when they had skipped school. It was quite expensive for Sakura, but the girl had really needed it. Mari seemed well this morning, a relief. Getting angry and frustrated wasn't what Sakura wanted to begin her day.
"Look! It's going to rain, it's great!"
"Great? You really find everything great," Sakura mumbles.
The girl laughed.
"Of course! I love rain, and sun, too! It's because they're so different."
They walked a while more, with Mari chatting about everything she could see.
"And look at this old guy! Isn't he funny? Oh, and these little children, they seem so excited! Whoa! I love those flowers!"
Sakura was ready to snap. Really. Thankfully, the end of the street was near, and they would each take a different bus.
"Don't you love it, Sakura?" Mari asked curiously while they sat down on a bench to wait.
"Love what?"
"The world. You rarely smile, you know. Don't you love it? People, and the sky when it's going to rain, the sound of the leaves when the soft autumn wind plays with them, and all those people in the streets, all of them so different…"
She didn't. Nothing was beautiful to Sakura, everything had lost its colors years ago. Especially now that people were all potential dangers. The world was harsh, and cold, and lonely. There was nothing beautiful about it when you starved every few days, when you had no shoes that fitted you anymore to go to school, when you couldn't sleep because you were scared you would freeze to death. Or when little girls who loved this cold, lonely and harsh world spent their time trying to avoid getting beaten by the very same man who was supposed to protect them from everything and love them unconditionally.
But that didn't exist, right? Unconditional love.
Unsaid rules were always hidden somewhere behind it, and someday, without warning, they suddenly blinded you with their existence and you found yourself confused, lost and all alone.
"The world is a beautiful place, Sakura! When you try and forget the hurt inside, it's really a beautiful place."
What an odd little girl, this Mari.
O
"Hey."
Sakura raised her head and was only half surprised to see Ino Yamanaka a few feet away from her. After her quick lunch, Sakura had decided to go to an isolated corner of the school to be alone, but lately nobody seemed to respect her need for privacy.
"Hey," Sakura answered.
Ino seemed strangely nervous. Her grip on her blue bag was strong, her voice wavering.
"Hum, I was wondering if maybe, if you have the time, you could help me with my math homework, the one Shiranui-sensei gave me when I forgot to do the other one."
"You're second in this class," Sakura replied, quite dumbly.
"Third," Ino corrected with a little embarrassed smile. "And math is really an hard subject for me. I… well, I spend a lot of time studying to obtain these marks. I'm not like you, it seems so easy for you. Usually, I would ask Shikamaru, but it's a pain to convince him to work, and with university…"
Study harder, was what Sakura wanted to answer. But it was really uncalled for, and Sakura wasn't that mean.
Ino was intelligent, and when she stopped chatting about everything that crossed her mind she could be hard-working. It wouldn't take very long to have this paper done. And Sakura felt she owed it to her after what Ino had done (and risked) when the boy Sakura had helped almost put her in the spotlight.
"Okay, I'll give you a hand."
"Great," Ino grinned happily. "Thanks a lot!"
"Do you want to do that today?"
"Yes, well, if you can, that is."
"It's okay. I'll see you after school."
Ino nodded happily and left, her steps bouncy and a smile illuminating her eyes, making them clearer.
Was it Sakura, or everything was strange lately?
O
Sakura had to wait for Ino. The girl was comforting a seven-year-old who had fallen in front of the south gate and burst into tears when her peers had laughed at her.
"Here, see? It's nothing. The mark will leave with a little water and your dress will be as good as new."
The girl sniffed and nodded.
"Thank you, Ino."
"You're welcome," the teen smiled gently. "Hey, everybody fall once or twice here. No need to feel embarrassed about that. Crying is human."
"I know," the child affirmed, but her bottom lip was still trembling.
"Tomorrow, if somebody talks to you about it, don't lower your head. Stand proudly, and smile, you have a beautiful smile. And one day, you won't be an awkward little girl anymore, you'll be a beautiful young woman."
"How can you know that?"
"Because buds all bloom into beautiful flowers someday."
As she talked, her right hand went to fetch something in her pocket and soon, to Sakura's stupefaction, a beautiful and radiant yellow, red and orange rose grew in her hand. The child's eyes sparkled with awe and glee.
"Oh! It's magic!"
Ino chuckled.
"It's for you."
"For me?"
"Yep."
The girl took the rose prudently, minding the thorns like Ino told her to.
"Remember what I said."
"Thanks, Ino!"
Ino smiled and waved at her before joining Sakura. They began walking slowly together, and Sakura wanted to ask the other girl if she was always this altruist, or nice, or maternal, or stupid, whatever. What did she gain in all of that? If one day Ino needed people to help her, comfort her or come to her defense, all these people she was always helping would not do a thing. That was for sure.
And what the hell was that, with the strange flower? Weren't Yamanakas telepaths?
"My mother's shop isn't very far from here. I was thinking that we could work in there, it's calm at this hour."
"Okay."
O
Sakura had never seen a flower shop this big.
Four greenhouses were aligned behind the main building (the shop in itself), and glass doors led to them. The main room itself was full of colorful flowers and various plants, the smell was divine and the atmosphere serene. Walking in the alleys of the shop was like entering a labyrinth, and Sakura wondered how many customers were found dead in there in a week time.
At last they arrived in front of a counter behind which a door was leading to the office and the workshop. A beautiful woman was working there. She had mid length auburn hair and warm, chocolate colored eyes. Her skin was tanned and she was quite tall.
"Mother?"
Surprised, the woman raised her eyes toward the girl and offered her a little smile.
"Ino. Hello. How are you?"
"Fine. Thank you."
"Did you need something? I asked Mister Kino to grocery shop earlier this week, but he may have forgotten."
"No, it's okay, you know he never forgets anything. I'm good. I thought you were coming home yesterday evening?"
Mrs Yamanaka seemed to have a hard time looking into her daughter's eyes, Sakura noted. She knew Ino noticed it too. Also, the girl was very different in front of her mother, less proud, hesitant, shy somehow.
"I'm sorry. You know I was in Kiri these last few days and I met a distant cousin of mine. I decided to stay a day more. I came home only this morning. I didn't see your father, how is he?"
There was even more tension in her shoulders than before. Worry didn't seem to be a word strong enough to describe what Sakura saw in this pretty woman.
"I wouldn't know. I didn't see him these last four days. And Uncle Irake and Uncle Idaiki didn't put a foot in the common quarters either."
Mrs Yamanaka nodded, looking torn, but Ino saved her from having to say anything.
"Sakura and I were hoping to use a table to work. Is that okay?"
"Yes, of course. Hello, Sakura, it's very nice to meet you."
Sakura bowed lightly.
"You, too. Thank you."
Ino watched her mother take care of a few weird looking brown flowers with her gift before asking softly:
"Will you be home for dinner?"
"I don't know. I have a lot of work here now that we brought back all those new buds from Kiri."
"Oh, okay. I could stay to help you."
"You have enough work with school, don't worry about that."
"Fine. See you later, then."
Sakura followed Ino back into the labyrinth, a little ill at ease. Apparently money and power could be associated with a lot of work. She wondered briefly how many meals the Yamanakas took together in a week before stopping herself. It didn't mean anything. Still, Ino's mother had a strange behavior. She had seemed sad and worried, a guilty feeling in her eyes quite obvious, but in spite of that she hadn't say a thing to make things better. Maybe because of Sakura's presence, but it seemed unlikely.
As she sat at an isolated table in the middle of the flower forest that was the second greenhouse, Sakura noted that for the first time she was seeing Ino Yamanaka without that trademark elegant cheerfulness. No hint of a smile, eyes of a dull grey color, it just wasn't the same girl everybody admired and seemed to either love or hate.
Sakura found she liked it better when those eyes were a clear and sparkling dark blue.
"I take it the thing with the flower came from your mother's side."
Ino raised her eyes toward her as she opened her math book and nodded.
"Yeah. But I'm far from having the level of control my mother has. It's what we could call a minor gift in my case. I developed it very tardily and I never will be able to obtain the power my mother's clan usually holds."
"I didn't know we could inherit two gifts."
"Really? That's why the Uchihas can create fire, you know. Generations ago their clan was mixed with another. But no one can develop more than two gifts, no matter how many different gifts there is in the genes of their ancestors. And developing two gifts is not a sure thing even if the two parents have one. For a long time my family thought I would only be able to use telepathy, because my ability in controlling vegetation was so dominated by my telepathy that it took me years to discover it. I could have very well not inherited it. The genes which hold the secrets of the gifts can be recessive, you see. Take Neji Hyuuga for example. Despite the fact that his mother can use telekinesis, he can only use the Byakugan of his father's side. But it's possible that his children or even great grandchildren will suddenly develop strong telekinesis, even if it's really rare. Byakugan and Sharingan both are dominant gifts, like my clan's telepathy. Naruto can use clones easily but can only create a few seals."
"I see."
In fact, Sakura found herself really intrigued by it all. It was pure genetics and science, and these subjects were her favorites. She never had read anything about it in the library, and she wondered if only students in those subjects had access to the books developing this. Or maybe they were forbidden to stop crazy people like Orochimaru from trying to develop experimentations and people like the haters from elaborating theses about the Gifted Population's Extermination – a term forbidden by the Laws since the foundation of New Konoha. Maybe Kiba was right, and this knowledge was truly held only by the clans nowadays.
"So, math."
O
"Hey, you."
Shikamaru almost jumped out of his skin. He had been ready to enter his car when the feminine voice surprised him.
"What are you doing there?"
Temari Suna smiled at him, clearly amused.
"I was representing my country in an unofficial meeting with Hiruzen Sarutobi."
"Where is your team then?" the boy asked, knowing the twenty year old blond woman would never be allowed to come to another country without advisors from Suna's Council and bodyguards.
"I lost them to say hi to you, you idiot."
"Troublesome," he replied, but the hint of a smile appeared in his eyes. "How are your brothers?"
"Well. Kankuro is working on a project to develop Suna's tourism, and Gaara is doing surprisingly well given that he's only seventeen. But as the reigning prince, chosen by Suna's people, he had to learn fast."
"Your father's death was sudden, that's for sure, your highness."
Sparkles of anger made her brown eyes lit up.
"You know how I hate when people call me that. I told you when you were twelve, and I've been telling you ever since."
"Ah, yes. That trip with my father to meet the king of this strange city lost in the desert. And instead I met three brats with the annoying habit to use their gifts on everybody."
"I wouldn't have used the wind to teach you a lesson if you hadn't been this… you."
"Luckily for me, you aren't as gifted in the puppets' control as Kankuro."
"You would do well to remember that I can still teach you a lesson."
"I doubt it," he smirked. "How long are you staying here?"
"Until tomorrow. It gives you time to invite me to eat dinner."
"I really don't want to."
"As if I was giving you a choice. And I won't tell you why I'm here, don't try and form sneaky plans in that big head of yours."
"You're already annoying."
O
Ino was preparing herself to spend a cold, lonely evening in the Yamanaka Manor. Lately her parents were rarely home, and when they do were home, the atmosphere was tense and even more silent than usual.
His father was especially quiet, short tempered too, which wasn't like him. He tended to forget things, to lose control of his telepathy. He looked exhausted and Ino knew that her training had a lot to do with it. At least, that was finally over.
Her mother was worried for them both. And when Kire was worried, she retreated into herself. That was something Ino had seen for the first time years ago, when her father and uncle had confirmed that her telepathy was above theirs. But they never talked about all of this. About the common fear, the worry, the consequences for them all, for the clan, for their society.
Ino was currently losing her father, it would take months, a year, maybe more, but soon, very soon, she would lose him. And nobody wanted to talk about it, because Yamanakas were supposed to be perfect, smiling, brave, intelligent, helpful people. Yamanakas were infallible. They had to appear that way to protect themselves, to protect the balance.
It didn't mean they didn't want to talk, didn't mean her father wasn't angry or terrorized by what was currently happening to him, didn't mean Ino wasn't feeling like a scared little girl abandoned in a big and cold mansion. An old house empty of any laughter and that held the most important of their secrets, their fate. An old house they didn't choose, and that sometimes felt like a prison.
Ino went immediately to the common quarters, where the members of the clan reunited to eat together or to spend time together. It was there that the two remaining training rooms still were, here that Ino had walked for the first time and celebrated a lot of birthdays, here that she had her happier memories with her parents, uncles and grandmother. Even if they all had a living room and a kitchen in their respective quarters, they had taken at least four dinners a week in this room when Ino was a child. Her father and uncles used to love to tell her stories about their clan, about heroes and epic battles, secrets and family legends, her grandmother had taught her how to hold herself like a woman and had talked to her about all those animals that she loved so much, her mother had told her about flowers and plants and trees, about her hometown of Kiri and her clan, about the world and its people.
Her family was a good family. Loving, noble, strong, altruist, they had done so much for this city, for this world during centuries. All of them, her uncles, her parents, her grandparents but also her late granduncle Satoshi and her dad's late cousin Santa, all of them were or had been beautiful people.
Ino couldn't be prouder of them, of her clan.
It didn't mean each of them hadn't cursed their own blood at least once.
"Hey, princess."
Ino jumped, which made her thirty-nine year old uncle smile proudly. Idaiki Yamanaka's telepathy was barely developed compared to what the other members of the clan were capable of. But he was a master when it came to shield his presence and his mind.
"Hi, uncle Idaiki," Ino smiled. "It's been a while!"
"Yes, I know," he answered while going to fetch water for them both. "I was occupied lately, and the rest of the time I stayed up there."
Ino nodded, suddenly somber.
"Irake isn't well."
"No, he isn't. We'll have to do something for him soon. He's becoming too dangerous, he can't stay in the manor without supervision anymore."
"I know."
"Where are you parents?"
"Working," Ino shrugged.
"Again?" he frowned. "That's why I'm happy I decided not to enter the Agency. Irake and dad were the same when there was a crisis in the city. Never there."
"Where were you this last week?"
"Dating. It's great, for once," he answered, passing a hand in his short bright blond hair, his light blue eyes losing its spark. "A Yamanaka with no stable job tends to scare women away. Even if I shouldn't even carry the Yamanaka emblem given my pitiful gift."
"Don't say that," Ino whispered, her eyes on her glass of water. "It doesn't matter. And you should feel lucky."
"Ino, is something wrong?"
"It's been a while since you've seen dad, right?"
"Yes. Why?"
"He didn't say it clearly. But it has –"
"No," Idaiki paled. "Inoichi, too? But… it's so soon, he's still young."
"No. He's already forty-three. Grandfather was that age when it began for him, and their telepathy is sensibly at the same level."
Idaiki stayed silent for a moment, before putting a hand on his niece's shoulder.
"You know he's strong. He'll try and stay with us for as long as he can. And, Ino, I'll always be there, right? I'll stay here with you, always."
"But I won't," she whispered.
The hand on her shoulder tightened. She knew it was hard for him too. He would remain the last one standing, after having seen his entire family die or disappear.
"Let's talk about something else," he declared, sitting down across from her in the living room. "Have you lost your virginity yet?"
She almost spluttered, reddening quickly.
"Wh-what? Idaiki!"
"What?" he smirked. "So?"
"No," she mumbled. "I have other things to think about lately. I haven't dated anybody since Daiki."
"You didn't date him long. You're interested in no one lately?"
"It's not that I don't have opportunities, I just… never feel well with people other than my friends. It's just…"
"Complicated. I can understand that, even if I can't read thoughts like you do. It can't be easy for you. Some will only be interested in your beauty, your money, your name, your fame, your abilities. Very few will see the real you, and fewer still will like it. But one day, someone special will find a place in your heart, I know it."
"Since when are you a romantic?"
"I'm not."
"It's not important anyway. I'm not really looking for romance these days. Boys just don't seem to be a priority."
"I'm sure your father would love to hear you say that, princess."
"So, dear uncle, who's the mystery woman? It's been months now, right? Four?"
"Almost six," Idaiki smiled. "She didn't run away when she saw my eyes, didn't ask weird questions, couldn't care less about money, is perky, bright, cute and funny."
"Wow. Common?"
"Yep. Her name is Aya. Aya Aido."
"It's great, I'm happy for you."
His smile became gentler.
"I know."
"And now I don't carry the future of the clan on my shoulders anymore. When are you planning to give me cousins?"
It was his turn to splutter.
"Cousins? Babies? Wow, slow down!"
"It's the first time I see you so... happy. You're in love, aren't you? You're smiling! Come on, tell me! You want a future with her? A family?"
"I don't know about a family. I… wanted to ask her to marry me before anything else."
"Really? A wedding? Nice!"
"Small, small wedding! As for children… well, it's complicated, isn't it?" he whispered. "I'll have to tell her a few things about our clan before we take that kind of decisions."
"Of course," Ino said. She hesitated for a while. "Idaiki? Do... Do you think mom sometimes regrets having me?"
Idaiki's gaze on her became deadly serious.
"If there is a thing I'm absolutely certain about concerning our clan and its members, it's that no one ever regretted having given birth. There is not a single person living under this roof that doesn't love you with all their heart. Your mother will never regret your existence, even with the apprehension, even with the pain, she will never regret having given birth to you. She brought you into our family, and we couldn't have dreamed of a better heir to our clan. Life is the most important thing in the world, never forget this. It doesn't matter if it can eventually come to an early end."
Ino nodded with a terse, shy smile. Idaiki stood up and stretched lazily.
"And you know, princess, I wouldn't hesitate to have a child of mine if I was sure it was going to be a cute little Ino."
He winked and left the room, leaving his niece with a little smile on her face.
"Thanks, uncle."
O
"You know what? Do what you want, I don't care!"
"I'll do what I want, because I'm the mother here, I'm the adult."
Sakura snorted. The adult here was her, it had always been her. Without her, her dear mother would have ended up in the streets years ago.
Clutching her last bottle of white wine, Reika glared at her with her dark, green eyes. Her red hair was falling over her shoulders, dirty and matted. Her pale skin only added to the pitiful image she presented.
"I never asked you anything."
"I was just saying you should stop now, no need to become this aggressive," Sakura retorted.
"If your sister were there, it would be different!"
"Yeah, but it's just me tonight, deal with it!"
"You should stay with your kind, leave us good people in peace…" Reika mumbled. "If we had known, if we had known before…"
"What? You would have had an abortion? But then you wouldn't have had Sairi, right?"
"Don't talk about Sairi!"
"Isn't it all you're capable of talking about?"
"I should have left, like your father! He was the bright one, leaving like that, the bastard!"
"Nobody is forcing you to stay! Leave!"
"I hate you!"
Oh, that I know.
Sakura took her bag, her jacket and quickly left the flat before saying or doing something she would regret later. It wasn't late, she could go to the library and come back in two hours, her mother would be out and she would be able to sleep.
It was better than to try and stop her mother from drinking or doing stupid things like literally throwing her treatment out the windows. It was better than listening to her mother and her hateful words.
It was better than trying all evening to resist the envy to take her few things with her and leave the flat, the city, the country forever, without turning back.
It was just better.
O
"Catch me if you can!"
Sakura giggled when Ino caught her quickly. The blond little girl grinned.
"You're slow."
Sitting on the grass of the beautiful clearing, Sakura sighed and looked up to the bright, blue sky.
"I wish I could stay here forever."
"But you'll wake up eventually, again."
"But then I'll come back later and you'll be here again."
"I don't know. I'm not sure of how it works." Ino frowned. "It's been what? Three times? It could stop soon. And I could disappear soon."
"Disappear to where?"
Ino smiled mysteriously.
"It's not really important, is it?"
"I like to play with you. I like it there."
"It's beautiful," Ino nodded as she watched the numerous flowers around them. "But you made that place up with your mind, you know it's not real, not really. And I love to be here with you, too."
"I'll miss you," Sakura pouted.
"Maybe you won't," Ino grinned. "I could be closer than you think."
"You're just something I made up in my mind."
"You can't be sure of that. Next time, try and remember."
"Why? Why don't you tell me?"
"I can't," Ino whispered. "I shouldn't even be there. If someone was to find out…" She shivered. "I just wanted to help you."
"But you did."
"I did? I mean, I did. You'll have to remember alone, Sakura. And remember what I've told you. Stand proudly, be happy, don't let them win, and you'll bloom into a beautiful flower, I'm sure of it. Sometimes it just takes longer than usual."
With a smile, Sakura reddened and nodded.
"You're really strong, Ino. I wish I could be like you."
"I'm not, not really," the blond answered, embarrassed. "I'm not intelligent like you, and I'm sure you're stronger than me."
"You'll always be there?"
"I will," Ino smiled. "That's what friends are for!"
"Then we'll always be friends?"
"Of course, I promise you, always."
O
Sakura blinked sleepily. It was still dark, but that weird dream had to have woken her, for the third time this week. She couldn't remember it clearly, just bits and pieces.
A warm day, a beautiful clearing, laughter, a child, a… friend.
You'll bloom into a beautiful flower.
She had heard that somewhere before…
Sakura sighed before going back to sleep.
Everything in her life was just plain weird lately.
It would pass.
O
Ino sighed in the dark, wondering if Sakura was sleeping, wondering if they would have stayed friends all these years if things had played differently then, if Sakura had remembered.
"I'm sorry, Sakura," she whispered. "I failed you. I broke my promise."
O