Chapter 7
"Byakuya-sama will find us" said Sakura.
Her mother's servants were moving about, all with their own jobs. One in particular that Sakura knew as Kurohana was sitting with her. "And what will you do, when he does? Will you serve me up as you did your father?"
Sakura was shocked that a mere servant would speak to her that way "How dare you!" Though Kurohana was just a servant, she still felt she had to clarify the situation before rumors spread. "I had nothing to do with—"
"Don't give me that! As the wife of a powerful lord you have a great deal of influence and if she doesn't she is pathetic."
"I hadn't at that time, and who are you to speak to me that way!?"
"He won't find us, and even if he does he won't be any more powerful than an ordinary human. These walls will see to that! They're all sekki stone."
Sakura shook her head in confusion "Why are you doing this? He has been so kind to you! I won't to go to my family's fortress either, I'm tired of these games."
"You will not!"
Sakura was suspicious of this woman's motives. She knew she was in danger, but didn't quite know where this servant came from. "I get the sense this is about you. What is going on here?"
"That's enough. You need to rest."
"I've been resting too long already. Why did you bring me here?" Sakura's anger began to rise.
"You killed your father!" she said hysterically.
"Why are you saying these things to me?" It was hard for Sakura to argue, because at times she felt she was responsible for her father's demise. 'Perhaps if I had done something…'
"You told Kuchiki! You advised him to not back your father! You killed him!"
Sakura didn't understand why this woman was so wild. "You're just a maid. Why are you so upset?" asked Sakura, her suspicions about this woman taking a more solid form.
"You killed him the same as if you stabbed him!" she said harshly, catching the attention of the other servants.
Sakura shook her head in confusion. "You're insane. What is wrong with you? You're not making any sense."
Suddenly a servant came out of the darkness and put a hand on Kurohana's shoulder. "Please, this is not the time. You'll have your revenge." Kurohana stood up and briskly walked out of the room.
"What are you doing?" 'She's the same servant who must have drubbed my tea!' Sakura's insecurities were rising. She knew she couldn't use her own spirit power while encased inside the sekki stone room "Where is my son, bring him to me."
"Milady, he is sleeping."
"Did you drug him too? Bring him here."
Sakura was angry and determined to get home to Byakuya.
"No, milady it's night time."
--
Byakuya
and his men had walked all day and found themselves moving in the
direction of Sakura's home lands. Renji thought to himself 'I
hope she didn't run away for his captain 's sake. That would be
embarrassing if we arrived and she refused to come with us.' The
hideous tracking device beeped louder and more frequently than it did
at first. Byakuya knew he was closing in. His relief was palpable.
.The child was close, and perhaps Sakura was close as well.
They all began to run to keep up with the Shinigami Captain.
--
Underground
beneath the soil and beneathe the two thick layers of sekki stone,
Sakura sat feeding her child. A torch flickered in the corne and she
spoke softly to her son. "I don't know what she planned after
this, little one. Your father will come for us. I know your father
and I know he will come for us." She stroked the baby's
head.
Right above Sakura on the surface Byakuya stood with his tracker listening to it tell him the child was right there. The series of beeps had become almost a solid tone: it was a trilling noise which everyone could hear. There was obviously nothing on the surface, but the grass, and an occasional bush. Byakuya was determined to return with his family, alive or dead, as soon as possible.
No one could feel their reiatsu. The one thought they all shared but did not dare speak was that their lord's young wife and child had been buried there. The guards stood around with Byakuya in the center. The captain was in his own world hoping against all hope that perhaps there was a reason aside from death which prevented them fro feeling his wife and child's spirit force.
Renji was the brave soul to first ask Kuchiki what their orders were. Byakuya had no alternatives. He would return his wife and child to their rightful home. "Dig." Byakuya then walked out of the clearing into woods which surrounded them.
--
Kurohana
came into the room again just as Sakura had finished feeding the
baby. The servant said to Sakura "This is your father's safe
house. There is only one entrance/exit. You will not be going out
that way."
"Are you taking me somewhere?" asked Sakura a little afraid. Sakura thought back to her father telling her one afternoon in his office about the safe house. She remembered images of the map on his low desk. She was very young and just remembered his smiling face, nothing more. 'Oh papa…'
"You will come with us" she said succinctly.
Sakura felt a serious danger fill the air "I'm not going anywhere with you"
"You will come with us. If you don't come with us we will kill you."
Kuchiki returned to oversee the dig. He walked around and found the spot where the tracker was most active. He then asked his guards to dig. Renji stood back and crossed his arms into his sleeves. "Sir, why don't you take a rest. I can supervise things here."
Kuchiki said "Your concern is appreciated, but I want to be here when they are found."
Kuchiki again looked down at the tracker as it blinked. And beeped. He shut off the sound and continued to wait.
Right under his feed Sakura sat with her captors. She did her best to go through her memories and find this servant, but she couldn't. 'When before this did this woman serve my mother? She is familiar, but I don't recall-' Sakura swallowed a gasp she almost used when she realized who the woman was. She had seen her before, but not as her mother's servant.
A long time ago as a little girl she followed her father everywhere. She admired him so much and wanted nothing more than to be with him all day. It wasn't possible when he went out into the world to administer justice and battle, but when he was in the castle she could easily track him down and find him, no matter where he was.
One day she followed him to a part of the castle where she had never been. She followed her father down a hallway with out his direct knowledge. When he was out of sight she followed him further. A couple of guards stood in her way and would not let her pass, no matter how cute she tried to be. "That place isn't for little ladies like yourself, Sakura-chan. Run along now. Your father is um…taking care of business." The other guard laughed and Sakura left to find another way into that area of the castle.
Being resourceful and still a small chilled she found a passage that bypassed the guards. She popped out into a hallway of beautifully decorated screens. They were decorated with trees of autumn and falling leaves. She then heard some giggling and a light airy music floating through the air. Sakura followed it and looked through a slightly opened door. There was a woman with her face painted white and a red lips. Her kimono was grand and luxurious, and definitely more elaborate than she or her mother wore. The woman was Kurohana and she was pouring her father sake. There were other women in the room, but none held her father's attention like this woman. Though they were not doing anything that was outright unacceptable Sakura knew her mother would not like this situation or that woman and quickly left trying to forget.
Sakura now understood what was happening. Kurohana, who had depended on Sakura's father, was now gone and someone had to pay. Sakura thought it was more than generous that her mother allowed Kurohana to stay on at the castle. Her job was ended when Lord Taki passed away. 'Did mother even know about this woman?' Sakura said "I'm sure that if we return immediately your sentence will be light and that Bya-"
"I refuse to be sentenced, Sakura."
"Kurohana, there is not other option. He will find us and you will—"
"With all of this sekki stone your husband is powerless against us."
"Don't speak that way!" This was becoming a little more serious than Sakura thought it was going to be.
"It is true Sakura and you must realize there is not other way."
"There must be!" 'I have GOT to get OUT of here!'
"And you will join me.."
"I will not!"
"You do not have an option, dearest. It is only logical. You must atone, one way or the other, for the legacy of betrayal and your part in your father's demise" said Kurohana.
"You have completely lost your mind!" said Sakura, breathless with confusion and shock.
"You must never speak to me that way again!" snapped Kurohana.
Sakura's eyes searched this woman's face for some explanation, and when she found none she began to cry.
