Amaryllis

Chapter 9: Illness

Sorry

"GENERAL! GENERAL, I'M SORRY! PLEASE FORGIVE ME!" the soldier sobbed into the dirt. His wrists were bound together and stretched in front of him. Kneeling in the dirt with his forehead pressed to the ground, he wept pitifully. They were the tears of a boy, mixing into mud on his face.

The hollow lack of sympathy in her chest was probably the worst.

His comrades had been too shocked to react before the sword descended. He was the worst. He knew what was coming. And he screamed his pleas for mercy without shame.

"General. Please," murmured Kiba as he took one step toward her. Shikamaru stood a ways off, hands in his pockets as he refused to have anything to do with the grisly affair. The pool of blood gathering under one of the executed men began to spread, making its way toward the toe of her scuffed boot. Shino stepped forward then, mouth hard as he approached. Kiba and Sakura stared at him, waiting for his words to fall.

Shino raised his right foot and placed it on the soldier's back. With one shove, he mashed the soldier's face into the ground, muffling his screams.

"General, please," intoned Shino. He mirrored Kiba's words but meant the opposite.

Sakura wiped her blade clean against her thigh, staining her white pants a deep red that was almost black. Eyes hardening, she raised her sword high. When it lowered, there was a sickening thud and the muffled shouting abruptly ceased.

Sakura's eyes flew open. They were already wet with tears. Biting down on the inside of her cheek, she rolled onto the other side of the bed that wasn't already damp with sweat. And though she tried to squeeze her eyes shut and sleep again, the image of her sword slicing through tender necks was burned into her eyelids.

She abruptly sat up. She almost reached for the cord on her wall to call Moegi and Haku for some tea. But she realized, with a jolt, that she wasn't in the Mountain Kingdom's palace. Sakura struggled, in her sleep-addled mind, to remember what to do, then.

Sometimes, on nights like these, Sasori showed up like a miracle, as if he could read her mind. But, Sakura reluctantly remembered, that her cousin was not, in fact, telepathic. He was simply extraordinarily attentive and lucky. And the empty creak of her apartment made it clear that tonight was not such a lucky night.

No, on the nights when Sasori slept peacefully in his bed and the night seemed too calm to disturb with her ugly flashes of memory, Sakura slipped from her bed and its silken sheets. She went out, dressed only in her nightgown and a light robe tied over it. Feet bare and expression empty, she ran to the stables where all the horses slumbered with their heads down. But at her approach, Kaze's ears perked up. His silvery head appeared over the top of the door, his dark eyes already searching for her.

She opened up the door to his stall and Kaze remained motionless as he waited for her to gather the saddle and the reins. But she slipped inside and mounted him bareback.

It had been a long time since she had done so.

Her bare thighs rested on his back. Leaning forward, she wrapped her arms around Kaze's neck and closed her eyes.

"Just go. Anywhere,' she whispered into his ear. Kaze hesitated for only an instant before he snorted and took off in a gallop. Eyes drying, Sakura lay against the stallion's neck and silently felt the wind whip over the back of her neck and over her legs. She could hear the crash of ocean waves and smell the salt in the air. And as she listened to the hard clatter of his gallop quiet, she knew that they were now running along the beach. The soft sand sprayed against the bottom of her feet.

Kaze ran long laps up and down the shore. His breaths were steady huffs as he dutifully went back and forth. He could feel her distress in her strained voice, in the tightness of her muscles and the way she clung so tightly to him. When he tossed his head, she responded by patting his muzzle.

Eventually, Kaze stopped running, he stood in the sand. And Sakura stayed motionless on his back, finally having fallen asleep. Kaze patiently stayed that way until dawn, occasionally pacing over and bending his head to graze on tiny tufts of grass. When he let out a wheeze and gently shook her awake with a toss of his head, the sun was climbing over the horizon.

"I had another dream, Kaze," she murmured on the edge of waking up. Kaze made a noise that sounded inquisitive to her.

"I can't remember what it was about. But I think it was a happy dream," she sighed.

That was a partial lie. She knew that she had dreamt of happier times- of days running from private tutors and of nights spent staring up at stars and being amazed that her mother seemed to know the names and the shapes of all the stars and constellations.

Sakura watched the sun rising over the east side of the island before she gently urged Kaze forward with a push from her bare heels into his sides.

She returned home, where Shizune, finding her bed empty, had roused the palace in a flustered search for her. But Kaze rode up slowly and everyone saw the droop of Sakura's proud shoulders and immediately fell silent. As everyone kept his or her distance, only Shizune stepped forward. And after a moment, Haku elbowed his way out of the cluster of kitchen girls. Together they pulled Sakura off of the horse's back and sent the steed off with one of the stable hands.

"Perhaps a bath and then some tea, My Lady?" suggested Shizune in a warm voice. Haku stood holding Sakura's hand, unsure of whether to help her move or to simply stand quietly. But Sakura's distant gaze slowly focused, as if she was just then returning from a long journey. And then she lightly squeezed his hand in return.

"Perhaps," Sakura softly agreed. She pulled her fingers through her hair to untangle it. And she quickly returned to the pillar of composure that everyone remembered.

Her back straightened. Her mouth quirked into a half-smile. The sadness lingered in her eyes, softening her gaze.


Two weeks after Sakura returned home to Plumeria, Gaara stood, staring thoughtfully at her apartment from afar. It was early in the morning and he had just finished his breakfast with Temari and Kankuro. Still, the weight of fresh fruits and tea in his stomach did little to settle the knot of worry twisting around.

It didn't seem like it, but Gaara knew, generally, where Sakura was at any given time.

She rose at sunrise, rode her horse along the beach for about an hour, washed and had breakfast, and then usually sat in her throne room to see to the day's questions and complaints from her people. There was lunch in one of the pavilions, sometimes a late morning swim before, and then she headed into the market or spent the afternoon meeting with officials and advisors. At night, her schedule was much less rigid. It was harder to find her then.

There were some days where breakfast ran long as she lingered over tea with Sasori or when an urgent messenger cut her morning ride short. But in general, Sakura's time as a soldier bled into her everyday schedule. It was all about order.

However, ever since coming home, Sakura had not come to reclaim her place in the throne room once. Gaara waited each morning for her to walk in and seat herself in the high-backed chair as if she had never left it in the first place. But she did not appear and only then, with reluctance, did Gaara seat himself.

Gaara jolted out of his thoughts when he felt a hand clap down on his shoulder.

"She will return when her heart is prepared," Kankuro simply assured him, shaking his younger brother slightly. Gaara let out a sigh.

"I wish she would tell us what was wrong. She only ever tells Sasori everything," lamented Gaara.

"To be fair, little brother, I don't think even Sasori knows everything. Lady Sakura tells him the most, I think. But probably not everything," replied Kankuro. They both turned as they heard another set of footsteps join them. Gaara gave a small smile to his sister who ruffled his hair in return.

"Does she not trust us? Have we done something to prove unworthy?" wondered Gaara with guilt in his voice. But Temari's own smile faded as she shook her head.

"I just think Lady Sakura prefers not to make herself vulnerable. Think of how lonely an existence that must be, not to trust the people around you. Even her own family has stabbed her in the back," Temari said. And all three siblings knew that she was not referring to their side of the family tree.

"I think," added Temari in a softer voice, "that Lady Sakura's wounds run deeper than anyone else's. Once you've been scarred like that, I think it's difficult to ever know who to trust again."

A contemplative silence settled over them after that. Letting out a long sigh, Kankuro clapped Gaara on the shoulder once more before he released him. He gave a parting sort of salute to Temari before he walked off with his hands crossed behind him. Further down the walkway, they spotted a man in tan robes waiting for him. Gaara's eyes met the man's and he quickly turned away, cheeks flushing red with what he couldn't decide was either shame or anger.

"Go talk to her, little brother. Lady Sakura has always had a soft spot for you," Temari advised him before she too parted with him.

Gaara stood thinking for another moment before he let out a sigh and decided to head for the duchess' apartment.

It was around the time that she would be finishing her breakfast. It was the least bothersome time to interrupt her.

As Gaara rounded the bend in the path, he began to hear her voice. It was a familiar sound. Sometimes it was soft. Other times it was a chuckle. She barked orders with the hard strength of a soldier. And the low growl of her deep anger was the most frightening of all. They were all ranges of Lady Sakura's voice and Gaara had grown to regard them all with an equal measure of relief and fear.

But this laughter was something new to him. There was a softer lilt to it, an undercurrent of something that Gaara couldn't recognize. And as he drew closer and saw past the other buildings in the palace, he understood why.

"I don't suppose any of your books can answer that question," teased Sakura. Itachi raised his eyebrows at her.

"I don't need a book to answer that. It's quite obvious that it's a wig," Itachi responded. He looked down at the painting propped up against the column to their right and he shook his head. The shining bowl cut of the Marquis of Sunpoint's son was garish and uncomfortable to behold. But at the same time, he could not tear his gaze from it.

"It must be a wig," he muttered afterwards.

"It is not and I can prove it to you," Sakura said as she set her tea down on the table. Itachi gestured for her to continue.

"Once, the Marquis and his son came to visit us. And for some unfathomable reason, I allowed them to stay in one of our guest quarters for a week. One morning, I was riding Kaze along the beach and I see a boy get out of the water. And it was the Marquis' son. Awful hair plastered to his head. It isn't a wig,"

Halfway through Sakura's story, Itachi let out a snort of laughter. And this prompted Sakura to end her story amid stifled chuckles.

"Then why on earth do you own this ghastly portrait?" queried Itachi with a quick glance at the offending painting.

"The Marquis had it sent over especially for me. He would give anything for me to marry his son," sighed Sakura. Itachi raised an eyebrow.

"Even his wig?"

As they both broke into fresh peals of laughter, Gaara slowly approached them, unsure of when to insert himself into the conversation without being rude. But Sakura caught sight of him as she wiped tears of mirth from her eyes.

"Ah, Gaara, did you have breakfast yet?" she said, beckoning him over. Gaara hesitated for a moment as he looked around the terrace. Then Sakura grasped his wrist and pulled him down next to her into the soft clutter of mats and cushions.

"Eat. You're thin enough as is," she ordered, pushing a plate of fruits and pastries at him.

"I've already had breakfast, My Lady," Gaara replied weakly even as he picked up on the golden-brown pastries that glittered with fresh globs of honey. Only when he took a bite did Sakura settle back into her seat to relax again.

As he ate, Gaara noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. He glanced down and saw Sakura's leg stretching out. And then, he heard a thump as Prince Itachi jolted in his seat. Somehow embarrassed, Gaara quickly averted his gaze and swallowed down the rest of his food.

"So, little cousin, what ails you to make such a sour face on such a fine day?" queried Sakura, chuckling to herself. Wiping crumbs from his mouth with the back of his hand, Gaara stole another look at her. She was in a blouse and military breeches but the top buttons of her shirt were left open to reveal the thin gold chains draping across her collarbones. When she reached for him, the bangles on her wrist jingled together.

"There is the matter of your spot being empty, still, Lady Sakura," Gaara admitted after some hesitation. He blanched when Sakura's hand fell to her side and she burst into loud, full-bellied laughter.

"Is that what you were worried about? Oh Gaara, you're so ridiculous sometimes," laughed Sakura with her head thrown back and her shoulders shaking. Pushing her hair out of her eyes, she nudged Gaara's arm.

"I've been so occupied catching up with the trade and finances that I felt more comfortable leaving you in charge for a little while longer. I was going to resume sitting in court starting tomorrow once everything calms down," explained Sakura with amusement twinkling in her gaze. Gaara's pale face slowly grew pinker and pinker.

"So go about your day, Cousin. And I will return to my position tomorrow," added Sakura. Gaara nodded, moving to get to his feet and make a hasty retreat. But Sakura's hand on his arm stopped him.

"My grasp on this country's throne is tenuous at best. Did you really think I would throw this one away as well?" And though her question was light with all the indications of humor, there was darkness in her eyes. In response, Gaara said nothing but he leaned in and lightly kissed her cheek.

"Even if you killed me, Lady Sakura, I would do everything in my power to keep you in charge," he answered.

Intrigued by the exchange, Itachi followed Gaara with his eyes as the redhead bowed and then took his leave. Sakura also gazed after him, her chin in her palm.

"May I ask about that?" Itachi queried after a while.

"About what?" questioned Sakura.

"About that. I know by now that you get along extraordinarily well with this half your family. But you seem to be particularly fond of your placeholder," clarified Itachi. Sakura bit down on a moonbloom as she considered the question. Then she let out a heavy sigh while running a hand through her hair.

"His father is my Lord of Finance. And though he has done his job faultlessly for years, he is also a cruel man who beats his son," began Sakura as her hands balled into fists.

"All his children?"

Crossing her legs, Sakura shook her head.

"Just Gaara. His mother died giving birth to him and his father never forgave him. I used to find him bloody and bruised whenever his father had anything to drink," she corrected him. Her upper lip curled as she remembered the mosaic of purple and red splotches all over Gaara's throat and arms. She had never been good with offering sweet words of sympathy. But when she sat next to him, holding just his hand but not looking at him, tears of what she hoped were gratitude and not pain rolled down his cheeks.

"I'm not criticizing your judgment but why do you keep such a vicious man in your inner circle?" queried Itachi. At this, Sakura's mouth smiled. But there was decided viciousness to the pull of her lips.

"The Lord of Finance is a valuable gift from the Haruno family across the sea. Because of how long ago our branch of the Haruno family departed from the Arids, there is a constant concern on the part of the elders that our noble blood will grow thin. So we are encouraged to, periodically, take a bride or a groom from the Arids. Sasori's father, for example, was a young scholar who married my mother's sister. And The Lord of Finance also hails from the deserts. He is highly skilled and he treats my people fairly. Our family has never had concerns about money under his guidance," sighed Sakura. The subtleties and rules of her own family had long perplexed her. And now that she was the one in control and now that she understood the reasoning behind even the strangest traditions, Sakura still found them irritating at best.

But as she leaned back on her hands, she flashed another smile.

"And let us not forget that I have been grooming Gaara as my proxy. Though Gaara is his son, in my absence, Gaara holds such a position of power that his own father dare not touch him," added Sakura in a smug voice.

"So…since you are unable to reprimand or to eliminate that person, you instead choose to corner him until he has no choice but to comply with your wishes," summarized Itachi after a long moment of contemplation.

"I've learned that whatever works on the battlefield usually works in politics as well," Sakura replied. Smiling incredulously, Itachi dipped his head in deference to her.

"That being said, I would love to continue this conversation but I believe I have some appointments to see to," Sakura sighed as she noticed Temari waiting on the walkway. As Sakura rose, Itachi also moved to get to his feet. He nearly fell back into his seat when she suddenly leaned forward to press her lips to his cheek. The action didn't feel nearly as intimate as he had expected. And it was then that Itachi realized that this was the very same way she greeted her close cousins as well as the people who she traded whispers with in her private council chambers.

Itachi's eyes widened.

With one simple action, Sakura had sent him a very clear message.

You're in my inner circle now.


Several days later, Sakura sat in the throne room as she rubbed her temples with her fingers. Her mind continued to drift to the small message she had received from Neji earlier that day. It had been sent by a small brown bird- ideal for escaping notice. But the message inside had been far from unremarkable, and the knowledge held within had gnawed at her gut for quite some time.

"And?" she prompted in a tired voice.

The soldier standing before her didn't meet her eyes. Sakura didn't blame him. It wasn't his fault that he had been chosen to deliver the bad news.

"Eventually two patrons of the pub were injured in the altercation before we managed to subdue him. He's being held in the broom closet there… awaiting your judgment, General," the man concluded.

"Guzzling down pints of ale, assaulting one of the bar maids, and then injuring two other people? Sounds like your men could use some more discipline, darling," commented Sasori with a smirk. Sakura ignored him and gave a small nod when she heard Temari's fist connect with the top of his head in the background.

Sakura mulled over this report for a long time before she blew out a long breath.

"Bring him to me," she ordered. There was a brief moment of hesitation before the soldier bowed his head and quickly marched from the room to fulfill her order.

"What are you planning to do? A public lashing sounds fair to me," scoffed Temari. She had little patience for the lechery of men. But Sakura didn't respond to her. In fact, only when the soldier returned several minutes later with his squinting companion did Sakura speak again. Both soldiers dropped to one knee, fists over their hearts as they awaited her verdict.

"You are the one causing all this trouble, I assume," she began in a cold voice.

"Yes, General," he said with a loud gulp.

Sakura considered him for a long moment. Then she leaned back in her throne.

"You understand the rules of conduct. Your actions reflect on not just me but also on your fellow soldiers. You will be suspended for a period of 30 days, during which time you will be assigned to clean the streets of the market. You are not to visit any pubs or restaurants during this time. A fellow soldier will be assigned to you at all times to ensure that you are obeying me. And after the 30 days are up, you will report to me and tell me what you have learned," Sakura declared. Her tone left no room for argument.

"And…my pay?" the soldier dared to ask in a trembling voice.

"Your pay for the next month will be going to the owner of the pub you inconvenienced and to the medical expenses of the people you assaulted," Sakura said in return. There was such iron in her tone that even the blameless soldier who had simply reported the misconduct did not dare to raise his head.

Sakura sighed again.

"That being said, I understand that grief will drive a man to drink and to seek comfort in the wrong places. Use this as a time to reflect. Second chances do not come to everyone," she added. Before he could open his mouth to ask anything else, Sakura dismissed them. She sat watching their heavy-footed retreat until Gaara lightly touched her shoulder.

"That, I believe, is all for today, Lady Sakura," he whispered in her ear. And then, with another look around, Gaara spoke again.

"And I don't wish to alarm you, but you have some visitors," Gaara reported.

Sakura didn't even bother to ask "who". She motioned for the next people to be brought in and the heavy echo of marching boots answered her.

"Ah. I was wondering when you would show your faces around here again. Can I assume that you've left Nara and Hyuuga in charge?" inquired Sakura as the two decorated soldiers marched in and dropped to one knee before her. They bowed even lower than the previous soldiers had. Their foreheads nearly touched the stone.

"Aburame. Inuzuka. Rise. And we will move," said Sakura as she stood.

The entire party switched locations to the Lily Pavilion, where no one spoke until Sakura seated herself on the wooden bench in the room. Temari sat in one of the archways, her back up against the wooden frame and her spear held securely between her knees. Gaara sat in the piles of cushions near Sakura's feet, silent but his eyes following Sakura's every movement. Without hesitation, Shino and Kiba sat on either side of her. Kiba tossed his sheathed sword aside and it dropped to the floor with a loud clatter that made Gaara flinch. Before they could open up conversation, a little servant girl with bare feet pattered in and rose on her tiptoes to whisper in Sakura's ear.

"The princes asked me to find you. Do you have time to play, My Lady?" she asked. Kiba struggled to hide his chuckle as he overheard.

"I am a little busy right now, little one. But tell the princes that they may come here, if they would like," Sakura patiently replied and sent the girl running off again. Shino raised an eyebrow.

"Is that wise, General?" he questioned.

"Now, Aburame. No need to get jealous," teased Kiba, earning a glower.

And he continued with the light-hearted remarks until the two princes entered the pavilion and not one of the men failed to notice the shift in Sakura's posture. She tilted her head slightly, laughter bubbling up in her voice.

"Do I have time to play?" Sakura repeated the little girl's words.

"We hardly discuss business. I would call it play," Sasuke retorted.

"Dreadful. You lack even the decency to call is 'diplomacy'," she sighed.

"This is Prince Itachi and Prince Sasuke of the Mountain Kingdom. They are here as my guests for the season," added Sakura. Shino dipped his head while Kiba simply crossed his arms over his chest. He had watched their easy exchange with a steadily darkening expression. Sakura could read the suspicion clearly in his face. But she pretended not to.

"General, perhaps you've grown fond of these foreigners, but may I remind you that we are here to discuss matters of utmost importance?" Kiba growled. Sakura heard the distinct tone of jealousy coloring his words.

"May I remind you that I just said that these were my guests and also my friends? Consider them our allies in these matters," answered Sakura. But Kiba was unconvinced.

"Even if we were in an alliance with the Mountain Kingdom, I still wouldn't talk so boldly of our security matters in front of its princes," scoffed Kiba.

"Is there an alliance in the making?" Shino questioned with a scrutinizing gaze fixating on Sasuke.

At the same time, Sakura and Sasuke looked disgusted at the thought.

"Absolutely not."

"Respectfully, no."

But then Shino's eyes moved to examine the other Uchiha prince and Sakura cleared her throat before he could think too hard.

"Even without a marriage, King Fugaku has proposed a partnership between our isle and the Mountain Kingdom. He expressed interest in our tea and I did make some inquiries into his iron," Sakura declared. Her eyes were surprisingly soft as they fell on Kiba.

"I always encourage you to question me. It does not do for one person to have too much power. But in this case, be assured, Inuzuka, I know what I am doing," she said.

Kiba stared her in the eyes, searching for a long time before he acquiesced and bowed his head to defer to her judgment.

"Very well. Moving on, then. What news do you two bring from the mainland?" questioned Sakura. The somber air that had fallen over them abruptly fell away. Temari's grip loosened on her spear while the defiant line of Kiba's mouth relaxed into a faint frown.

"We have done some…subtle persuading…and we've discovered something that might make you rather upset, General," Shino began as delicately as possible.

"It takes some prodding to upset me, Aburame. What could this revelation possibly be?" huffed Sakura.

"It seems that Lord Danzo has been whispering in the King Regent's ear about trying to neutralize your influence in court," Shino revealed with a hint of hesitation in his words. Sakura's reaction was somewhat delayed. She sat taking in his words while Shino and Kiba exchanged looks.

"What else?" prompted Sakura.

"And it also seems that Lord Hyuuga has been dining with them quite often. And it is no secret that he has been less than amicable towards you in the past, General," added Kiba.

"Snakes in the grass," muttered Kankuro.

"Get me Tenten. And do it quickly," Sakura only managed to growl before she called over a servant to fetch her some wine.

"On an unrelated note, there is the matter of the bandits in the south," added Shino but Sakura dismissed it with a wave of her hand.

"I've heard," she simply said, pulling the letter from her pocket for him to examine. Kiba huffed.

"Of course. Always showing off, that kid," he muttered. Sakura wasn't amused.

The court musician arrived swiftly.

Chestnut hair tied up in buns on either side of her head, the musician set her lute case down with a huff.

"I enjoy playing for large crowds, My Lady, but a little warning beforehand would be nice," the woman sighed. But she took in Sakura's stony gaze and her easy smile faded. The high collar of her pink dress was held in place by a series of silver buckles. And the hem of the garment was short, only offset by the fact that she wore black shorts underneath. There was long pink fringe hanging from the bottom, swishing around with her movements.

"Ah. An unhappy occasion, then," Tenten observed.

Lips pursing, Sakura inhaled deeply through her nostrils. She examined the goblet of wine in her hands before she took a sip.

"I'd like it if you visited court in Leaves for a bit, Tenten," suggested Sakura in a voice that was the opposite of a suggestion. The acid in her gaze said enough of the situation.

"Will I be a passive guest or will I be ruffling some feathers?" queried Tenten.

"You will be a shadow. Stick to the Regent and to his confidantes. And if anyone asks?"

"I am a simple musician from the east who has come a long way to sing for His Majesty the Regent," Tenten replied with a grin.

"I have business to attend to on the mainland so we will travel together in the direction of the capital. Keep your wits sharp. We leave in three days at dawn," instructed Sakura. And Tenten bowed before she picked up her lute and made a nimble exit. But the unexpected news that Sakura was traveling raised several eyebrows. Only Sasori seemed unsurprised.

Gaara blew out a long breath.

"Can we trust her? She seems a little too lighthearted to be a spy," he questioned. Sakura couldn't help but smirk a little at his innocence. Gaara was a very capable proxy but she was reminded of how very green he still was. Musicians, at least for the Haruno family, had always been welcomed with open arms. Their appreciation of art and music was one factor. But the other was that sometimes, the most skilled musicians were often skilled in other areas that made them ideal as another set of ears.

"We need that smile, Gaara. A good smile is the best deception," Sakura assured him before draining her goblet.

She then stood. Without glancing at any of her guests or cousins, Sakura simply pulled off her boots and dove into the water. She sliced into the waves at a perfect angle. The splash bewildered Itachi and Sasuke who whirled to see the ripples already dissipating. Sakura was nowhere to be seen. But Sasori gave a disinterested glance in the direction of the noise while Temari and Gaara simply got to their feet with expressions of identical resignation. When Sasuke looked at him questioningly, Sasori shrugged.

"She wants to cool her head. She'll come out eventually when she's gotten the agitation out of her system," Sasori explained before he motioned for the two princes to follow him.

Meanwhile, Sakura, while floating on her back underneath the Lily Pavilion, listened to her cousin speak with vague irritation. It was a directionless, pointless sort of frustration, and that bothered her all the more. She drifted, feeling the tides pull her back and forth before she abruptly decided that afternoon that she didn't much feel like drinking tea or lounging around in the water or even like meeting with her advisors.

Flipping onto her stomach, Sakura dove down into the clear waters. She moved in powerful strokes in the direction of the back of the palace. With one strong pull, she lifted herself up onto the edge of the walkway and waited until a group of servant girls carrying clean laundry baskets passed. They all paused to bow and Sakura left them with a message for Temari about her general whereabouts before she dove back into the water with barely a splash.

Sakura did a few lazy laps around the area before she made her way into the heart of the royal apartments. And in one of the pavilions shrouded by vines and flowers, Sakura saw a head of curling black hair bent over a book. Without announcing her presence, she grabbed hold of one of the thick beams supporting the walkway and climbed up until she could reach the smooth wooden walkway. Water cascaded noisily down from her body as she hauled herself up.

It took a minute for her to catch her breath and wring most of the water out of her long hair. Still in her drenched clothes, Sakura entered the round space. Unlike most of the other rooms in the palace, this one had no walls at all. Instead, there were thick wooden posts at equal intervals that held up the beams above. The wooden floors were the color of damp sand against the blue of the lapping waves.

Sakura sat on an empty stretch of floor and leaned back in the cool shade. The crisscrossing pattern of the gazebo roof by itself wouldn't provide much cover from the sun but the thick vines growing over it did and so what light leaked in from above was dappling and it shivered as the wind moved the leaves. Letting out a loud sigh, Sakura shed her jacket with all its heavy medals and let her head loll over the edge of the gazebo. The tips of her long hair dipped under the surface of the water. The tide was beginning to recede.

"You seem troubled," Kurenai finally said as she closed her book.

"Troubled would be a mild word to describe it, Aunt Kurenai," sighed Sakura in return.

"Troubled would be a mild word to describe your life in general, dear. What, in particular, troubles you this time?" Kurenai quipped.

Her eyes were such a light shade of brown that they were nearly red. And they were as gentle as they had always been, despite the few lines that had formed underneath them and at the corners. Sakura couldn't help but let out at least a faint smile.

"Liars and fools at every turn and bend trouble me," admitted Sakura.

"It's interesting that you lump those two together," said Kurenai.

"They're equally unforgiveable," Sakura responded without remorse.

"Do liars and fools include your handsome guests? I don't believe I've had the chance to greet them yet," the older woman went on to ask.

"You would have met them had you come to that feast when we first arrived," Sakura reminded her. She picked a stray grain of sand out from under her nail before rolling onto her stomach. Her blouse was completely soaked and see-through. The light blue of her bandeau underneath peeked through, along with the strings of golden chains hanging from her neck. As she rolled her shirtsleeves up, Sakura felt Kurenai observing her.

"Dear, I've heard people say that they have seen you enjoying the company of one of those dashing princes. Will you quash my hopes?" Kurenai broached the topic as delicately as possible. And Sakura replied by shrugging her shoulders.

"The older one. He's frail and somewhat naïve. But he's also incredibly intelligent. And fun to tease," Sakura admitted.

"Are you pursuing him? I've never pushed you to marry, but if you've found someone…" Sakura heard the excitement in her aunt's voice and she chuckled.

"Maybe in time. But as of now, I'm a bit preoccupied with other matters. For example, I'm going to Leaves in a few days," she quickly dismissed the idea. The smile faded and instead Kurenai's expression sharpened in a way that reminded Sakura so much of her late mother that it had often made her sad to see when she was younger.

"Leaves? Why would you return to that nest of vipers before you had to, darling?" questioned Kurenai. Her posture suddenly straightened, all serenity vanishing from her demeanor. People were often fooled by Kurenai. She was beautiful, elegant, soft-spoken- an ideal woman. Despite her age, men often fawned over her, trying desperately for a chance to gain her attention.

But Kurenai was also Tsunade's younger sister. And that sharpness of wit had run down to them from their mother. Her barbs were more than enough to send unwanted suitors fleeing. And though she was not the researcher that her sister had been, her acuity was nothing to be scoffed at.

"Oh nothing. Just a mess to do with the southern border of the kingdom. It shouldn't take too long to handle. But it irritates me that I have to handle it at all," Sakura admitted. Kurenai raised an eyebrow.

"Why are you the one who has to deal with it then? Shouldn't one of your underlings be assigned to the task instead?" Kurenai wondered. Though Kurenai herself had no experience in the military, she knew enough to realize that delegation of tasks was a large part of what Sakura did. But Sakura shook her head.

"There are some things that seem little but are actually huge. For instance, the General of a country's armies personally riding out to address a small border conflict can be the difference between a war and a solid alliance. My respect, given in the form of time, can make things move much more smoothly," Sakura explained. Though Kurenai looked no less concerned, she nodded approvingly.

"Diplomatic and fierce. Your mother and father would both be proud," declared Kurenai.

With a hard laugh, Sakura sat up. She carelessly tugged her shirt over her head and tossed it in a sopping heap to the side.

"If only the pride of the dead could touch us in real life,' she scoffed as she ran her fingers through her hair. As she peeled her breeches off her wet legs, Kurenai tittered.

"It does, my dear. That is why we have dynasties,' answered Kurenai.

Throwing her head back, Sakura laughed loudly at the thought. She never tired of her aunt's ability to play with words. In just her bathing suit, Sakura turned to look at Kurenai.

"Have a nice swim. I'll always be here if you need to laugh again," Kurenai assured her.

"Thank you," Sakura replied. And then she dove off the edge of the gazebo. This time, her fall was at a perfect angle. She hardly made a splash. And she plunged deep into the warm waters.

A column of bubbles flew upwards as she exhaled. The world was painted in dazzling shades of blue. The push and pull of the tides rumbled above but Sakura drifted calmly beneath the waves. A school of silvery fish darted past, brushing against the side of her leg. Stretching her arms out in front of her, Sakura kicked off one of the wooden posts and pulled herself through the glittering water.


And suddenly, the Floating Palace, which had always been a place of ease and tranquility, became restless. Or perhaps it was Sakura who suddenly felt unsettled.

Feeling antsy, she decided to join a set of soldiers practicing archery in the courtyard. She was welcomed warmly. It was funny how easily she melted back into the lifestyle of a soldier. It was even funnier how willing the others were to accept her that way.

She stood, hands behind her back, feet shoulder-width apart. Whenever her gaze fell on anyone, she could see his shoulders tense up with the weight. But as the men warmed up and received last-minute advice, Sakura felt something touch her shoulder.

"You look tired. Tea?"

Sakura's posture didn't relax but she smiled. As she tilted her head, she saw him standing there, sunlight shining off his silk hair. The clean lines of the silk vest and the soft shirt underneath suited him well.

"Itachi," she said. She noticed the way he still looked embarrassed whenever she called his name so easily. But he didn't try to stop her. He only held out the steaming cup to her.

"You, on the other hand, look very well," she responded as she shook her head at the offer of tea.

"Perhaps it's the sea air. I've certainly felt more invigorated," said Itachi. They regarded one another almost cautiously before Itachi was the first to give a tentative smile. Sakura couldn't help but return the expression warmly.

"Nock your arrows. Elbows up. And fire on my signal," the instructor called out in a clear voice. Seagulls called out overhead. Sakura could hear the giggles of servant girls doing laundry elsewhere in the palace. And then there was a collective snap as fingers released the ends of the arrows.

The arrows should have flown cleanly, toward the ceramic vases always used for target practice. The shards were then collected so that children of the orphanage could make mosaic crafts out of them. But Sakura could see how one arrow hit its mark off-center. And the perfect shatter of the vases into a clean pile suddenly became a haphazard ricochet of sharpened pottery flying outwards. She followed, almost in slow motion, as a collection of shattering vase flew in their direction.

Sakura threw herself in front of Itachi before she realized what she was doing. And as she pushed him aside, the teacup slipped from her fingers, breaking against the pavement.

As blood ran down the side of Sakura's arm, Itachi felt panic rise in his chest. Someone let out a shrill scream for help.

"Sak-" He began to call her name but he was easily drowned out by the sound of boots clomping down the walkway. Pushing past the other men, and even past Itachi without a second thought, Sasori ran forward, eyes already frantically searching for something to staunch the bleeding. And at the same time, Gaara and his siblings came running from the opposite direction. Sasori ripped the scarf from Kankuro's head and then yanked at the thin fabric of Sakura's blouse. The sleeve tore easily, allowing him access to her upper arm. He bound her cut in rough tugs, his eyes flaming.

"It was an accident," she sighed even though Sasori hadn't yet said anything.

"An accident," he tersely repeated. His lips barely moved.

"Please clean this up quickly," directed Shikamaru, touching the shoulder of the nearest servant. She nodded and began quickly gathering the shattered pieces of pottery with her apron. A few of her fellow workers knelt to aid her.

"I will fetch the physician," Shino declared before he hurried off in a gait that was somehow simultaneously incredibly relaxed and incredibly urgent.

"Explain yourself," ordered Kiba. He crossed his arms over his chest.

'We were practicing aim. And the vase just- and the General," the dazed young man stuttered out. Letting out an exasperated noise, Kiba offered his hand to the soldier. Still only looking vaguely aware, the young man accepted the hand and pulled himself up.

"Calm down. I need you to tell me, in detail, just what happened," Kiba slowly said. They walked a little ways away to converse in low tones.

"What if this scars?" scolded Sasori, gingerly pressing his thumbs into the skin about the scarf wound around her upper arm. Despite the pain, Sakura kept a straight face.

'Then I will have another interesting story to tell," retorted Sakura. Shaking his head, Sasori leveled a glower at her.

"It was an archery exercise. This particular vase happened to shatter badly and one of the shards flew at me. It feels like a shallow cut. I will be fine," Sakura firmly insisted. She decided against telling him about how she had gotten hurt covering for Itachi. Though her cousin bore no ill will toward the prince, Sakura doubted he would take the news well. Temari nudged Sasori with the handle of her spear.

"From Inuzuka's expression, it looks as if Lady Sakura is correct. I say we have Uncle take a look at her and then clean this up quickly. The girls don't handle blood well," murmured Temari with one casual glance at the nervous servants. Sasori nodded once.

Sakura sat on one of the wooden stands that a vase had been seated upon. She idly brushed a few broken bits off it before she settled in, waiting with a look of absolute indifference. Sakura held her arm up above her head in an attempt to stem the bleeding. Her serenity only seemed to irritate Sasori further. He sighed and glared, crossing and uncrossing his arms as he waited.

When the physician arrived, Gaara made a hasty retreat. Sasuke's head turned as he followed the abrupt departure. But then he met Sakura's eyes and realized that he wasn't imagining things. Then Sakura jerked her head slightly in the direction of Gaara's back and Sasori silently went after him. Temari and Kankuro only hesitated slightly before they followed.

"My, my, things were so quiet when you weren't here, My Lady," Yashamaru joked as he set his bag down on the table. He sighed helplessly when Sakura grasped a shattered piece of pottery and pulled it from the gash on her upper arm. When more blood dribbled out, Sasuke's face grew slightly green.

"Would one of you please help me?" Yashamaru requested as he dug in his bag.

Sasuke opened his mouth to volunteer but then he shook his head in jerky motions. It was Itachi that stepped forward instead. Yashamaru didn't even look at him as he put on his glasses.

"Please hold this dish," the physician instructed as he thrust a round glass plate into Itachi's hands. And then, with his forceps, Yashamaru began pulling out the shards of pottery from the cuts peppering Sakura's arm. Most of the wounds were shallow across the surface, but a few had pierced deeply inside. As he pulled the pieces covered in blood out, he dropped them into the dish.

Sasuke lingered, most likely to show his support. But eventually he averted his eyes from the blood and then lightly touched Sakura's elbow.

"My friend, my deepest apologies, but I must take my leave," he said.

Despite the pain, Sakura cracked a smile.

"Don't push yourself for my sake. Go. I will see you later," she answered. Nodding, Sasuke left as well.

With a final clink, the last piece of broken vase landed in the dish. Yashamaru then set about washing the cuts out with warm water before applying an ointment that smelled vaguely of roses. As he heated a needle, Sakura remembered something.

"Yashamaru."

"Yes, My Lady," he replied as he threaded the needle in one try. Sakura didn't flinch as he grasped her upper arm and began stitching together the edges of one of the bigger wounds. Itachi stood at his elbow, watching the process with obvious fascination.

"Do you remember me requesting that you look into some remedies for a friend?" she queried. Yashamaru remained wholly occupied with keeping his stitching neat but he still nodded.

"Meet my friend, Yashamaru. I hope you've finished your research," Sakura then said as she gestured towards Itachi. Only then did Yashamaru tear his eyes from his work. Looking over his shoulder at Itachi, the doctor nodded respectfully.

"First, let me tend to you, My Lady. Then we'll talk," Yashamaru firmly said.

Yashamaru sealed up the rest of her bigger cuts in the same way before he covered everything in another ointment. This one had a much stronger smell, something faintly fermenting and bitter and the color of moss. He bandaged the upper arm completely before he turned his attention to the next matter on the list.

"Come with me, please," he said before he took off. They skirted around the servants kneeling on the floor to scrub away the last of Sakura's blood. Sakura could feel Itachi's wondering gaze on her.

"Suspicious?" she guessed.

"Curious," Itachi corrected her.

After a few minutes of winding turns and odd walkways, they arrived at the physician's lab. There were glass bottles of chemicals bubbling away above low flames. Already quite familiar with the place, Sakura seated herself on one of the stools without asking permission. Itachi remained standing, his wide eyes taking in the drying herbs hanging from the ceiling as well as the jars of various ingredients.

Yashamaru sorted through bundles of plants that all looked somewhat similar before he let out a small noise of triumph.

"It's an herb grown only in the desert. It is said to be good for the breath and the lungs," explained Yashamaru as he ground the brittle yellow flowers into a fine powder. He looked up for a moment and then his mouth tightened into a grim line before he resumed his work. Sakura caught the flicker of Gaara's red hair out of the corner of her eye before he disappeared around the corner.

"You could try to talk to him, Yashamaru," remarked Sakura with a look of boredom. It was evident, even to Itachi, that this was a tired, old conversation.

"What good would that do, Lady Sakura?" questioned the doctor in return. He sprinkled a few more flowers into the mortar and continued to grind the golden pedals.

"You practically raise the boy and then his father orders you not to coddle him. And so you convince him that you hate him. That's a little spineless even for you, Doctor," jabbed Sakura with a pointed look. Yashamaru's violet eyes narrowed.

"You vastly underestimate the Lord of Finance's capacity for cruelty. If childbirth had not taken my sister, I am positive that that awful man's temper would have," muttered Yashamaru darkly. When Yashamaru gave her a pointed look, Sakura shook her head.

"The time will come when we begin to move. Until then, be patient," she urged him. Yashamaru did not say anything else but his scowl eased up somewhat as he tore leaves into pieces and sprinkled them atop the yellow powder. However, his anger soon smoothed out into the natural lines of his gentle expression. He poured the crushed mixture into the water bubbling inside a black pot and stirred it once.

"We let the mixture brew for about ten minutes and it should be ready to drink," declared Yashamaru with pride coloring his voice.

"If you'd like, we could try this method to see if it helps your lungs at all, Prince," he then added as he looked over at Itachi sitting quietly on the other side of the table. His arms were folded over his chest and his expression neutral as he considered.

"Would there be any… side effects?" he cautiously inquired.

"Oh, well, the usual. Nosebleeds, headaches. Some people suffer from gastric distress. But that is somewhat rare," Yashamaru cheerfully listed off. There was not an ounce of insincerity in his smile. Itachi blinked slowly.

"Well…I suppose if you recommend it," Itachi finally decided as he looked over to Sakura.

Smiling, Sakura placed her fist over her chest and inclined her head.

"You have my word that this is genuinely what I believe will help you," she affirmed.


Conversation over afternoon tea trailed off when a small shadow began circling around and around. Sakura lifted her head and squinted against the sunlight until she saw the familiar shape of a bird with spread wings circling.

"A messenger hawk?" Gaara said out loud.

The hawk swooped down. Sakura automatically raised her arm and the bird landed, talons curling around her forearm. It let out a mighty squawk before allowing Sakura to untie the note on its leg. Then it spread its wings and took off into the air again before swooping off in the direction of the aviary where the other messenger birds roosted.

Sasori glanced at the seal in passing and let out an audible scoff.

"Again. Another invitation to tea time?" he mocked.

Unsmiling, Sakura pried the envelope open and pulled out the message inside. She already had an idea of the words that would be contained within.

Dear Sakura,

I hope earnestly that this letter finds you well. I would spare time for pleasantries but I'm afraid an urgent matter has arisen.

"Why? Did he trap himself in his bedchambers? Remind him to pull the door-not push, darling," Sasori bitterly interrupted.

As you know, the ancestors of the Uzumaki family were nobles from the former Wave Country. It was a small nation, dwarfed in comparison to the larger kingdoms surrounding it. After the fall of its monarchy, the people descended into chaos and now the land is ruled by roaming clans. Because of our family's ties-

"Our family?" repeated Kankuro with a clear note of disgust in his tone. But a stern look from Temari quieted him once more.

"Because of our family's ties of ancestry, our southwestern border with these clans has remained relatively free of conflict. The raids believed to be the work of bandits that have recently plagued the south are actually the product of these clans crossing the border. Though I, as the last head of my family, would prefer to meet with these raiders, my position does not allow me to leave the throne unoccupied. Therefore, I ask that you, along with my son, ride out to meet with these raiders. I trust that you will find a way to end this bloodshed."

The bottom of the letter was signed in looping script along with the seal of a familiar signet ring.

"How insulting." Temari was the first to speak after the end of the letter.

"This man does not seem to understand that his brother was, in fact, the consort and not the actual king," Kankuro agreed.

"My father was indeed the King Consort but he ruled alongside my mother. And, while I am most certainly a Haruno, I cannot deny that these are my father's kin," Sakura reluctantly declared.

"So you plan to ride out," Sasori guessed.

"I've been planning to ride out already. Even his urgent letters are late," remarked Sakura. It was true that the ship had already been loaded with supplies and it sat waiting in the harbor.

"With that pumpkin? I'd sooner attempt to parley with bandits with a dancing monkey tied to my back," Kankuro sneered.

"I must. The King Regent has requested it," said Sakura with an air of finality. Handing the letter off to Sasori, Sakura put her hands on her hips.

"Gaara, my dear cousin," she then said, turning to the redhead. He was the only one who had not spoken during this entire time. He simply stood at her elbow, eyes alert as he took in everyone's words.

"I will entrust this island to you once again while I tend to this ugly business," Sakura stated. Gaara nodded.

"And the pumpkin?" questioned Sasori.

"If the Regent so desires…" she trailed off. Her answer was obvious.

"And the princes? What will they do while you're off wrangling raiders?" Kankuro inquired.

Sakura shook her head.

"Ask them," she simply said before she turned on her heel and marched off.