CHAPTER 10
Sakura rested her head gently on the 15th prince's shoulder as he held her in his arms, spending some time alone in their own room. She didn't utter a single word. She closed her emerald eyes slowly as she breathe in the scent that surrounded both of them. She leaned closer towards Neji as if she was attracted to his body warmth. Just like how a little child would do to seek for comfort in the arms of his mother. "Sakura..." Neji whispered gently. "If only... if only we stay like this forever..." Sakura broke him off. Neji smiled upon hearing her words. "Why not?" He said softly. "No-nothing..." Sakura forced a smile. Somehow, deep inside her, she feel that Neji was going to leave her, soon.
Neji is the 15th prince and Sakura is the only child of a magistrate in Jiangnan. Whilst, Neji took on the heavy responsibilities in taking care of the countless affairs that concern the country's well-being, Sakura found herself no satisfying nor reasonable reasons to keep Neji by her side all the time. She looked up into her beloved's face. How fair and mysterious he looked... She backed away from him slightly, sitting face to face. Her delicate hand, reaching for his face. She stroked his face lightly. Neji said nothing while she did so. He looked into her eyes. And the only thing he saw was... misery. At this instant, somewhere in his chest, he could feel as if something in him was being wretched, so much so it hurts him badly. He wondered if he was being good enough to Sakura, if it was his fault to bring her here... "If all that torture is all it takes for me, I would gladly face it... as long as I have you by my side..." His mind spoke silently as he reached to hold Sakura's hand in his.
"Sakura... Forgive me will you?" Neji whispered slightly. "I'll take better care of you... I promise... Really... I-" Before, he could finish, Sakura planted a kiss on his lips. A kiss so warm and gentle. Her lips held his for a few minutes before she let go. "I just want to stay by your side." Was all she said. Neji smiled and pulled her into his embrace. "Thank you Sakura... for being there when I needed you the most..." Sakura could not help but to smile in return as her source of strength was the love that both of them had shared.
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"Father... I-" Neji tried to argue. "Enough said my son. It will only take a few days. I know you're worried for Sakura now that she is pregnant. But be assured, I'll make sure she's been attended to." His majesty replied calmly. "6th brother can definitely do it too." Neji said again, hoping that his father would change his mind and of course, get the threat of his life out of his vision temporarily at the same time. His majesty laughed this time. "Why? Is it telepathy? Your 6th brother suggested that you should go since you're in better terms with the Turks." Neji couldn't help but to feel all the anger building up in him. How crafty can Itachi be? There's definitely no more use to argue with his father for his majesty seemed quite defiant about his decision. "Now, all I can do is to hire someone to watch over Sakura..." He seethed softly. "Hmm?" His Majesty raised an eyebrow. "It's nothing, Father. I shall go in 2 days time." He bowed and left the room. Still unaware of what happened between the 3 of them, his Majesty said nothing but smiled thinking he can put his mind at rest for his sons.
"I said... go." He whispered maliciously into the ears of Yue-er. She shook her head in fear. She didn't want to bring the abortion medicine to Sakura and neither did she dare to defy Itachi's orders. "I- please 6th prince..." She stammered, on the verge of crying. "Would you rather bring this bowl to her?" He said, "Or sleep with me?" He seethed as he leaned towards her and licked the side of her neck. Yue-er screamed as she pushed Itachi back away from her. Itachi stumbled backwards, the unmistakable anger was shown in his eyes. "Please... Don't... I'm sorry 6th prince... Forgive me..." Yue-er cried in fear. "I do not care... You're going to bring her that no matter what... But before that..." He whispered as he stood up. He walked towards Yue-er and grabbed her in his arms. "I'm going to show you what I meant by punishing..." He laughed as he forced kisses on her neck. "Let me go... Please..." Yue-er cried as she struggled tooth and nail against the notable 6th prince. He ignored her pleas and carried on, tearing her clothes away, deriving sexual pleasure from a mere palace maid. Itachi pushed Yue-er onto his bed as he removed his own robe. Yue-er's eyes was swollen, her silky hair fallen to her waist. She was struggling to distant herself away from Itachi, trying to cover her body with the torn clothes as much as possible. This somehow reminded Itachi of Sakura. He remembered vividly, her voice, her scent, her skin... her everything. He couldn't keep his sudden thirst for her. He wanted Sakura.
Maybe it's insanity that took him and blinded his vision that he began to mistake the palace maid for Sakura, the one he really loved. "Sakura..." He whispered as he pushed her against the surface of the bed. "Be mine..." He said as he forced kisses on her lips. He caressed her in his arms as his tongue brushed against her skin. That was when he entered her. The pain was too much for her to take. She screamed and cried initially. But he stopped her from doing so by letting his lips invade hers violently. Her screams become muffled, her body now weak and drenched in pain. He then bit her, embedding red marks on her skin. "Please... Let me go..." Yue-er whispered, her face drenched in tears and her body shaking in fear. Her voice snapped Itachi awake. He pushed her away from him almost instantly onto the floor as he sent her a look of disgust. "Don't be confident of yourself just because I had it with you..." He seethed at her. "You nothing less compared to a doll of mine." He shot at the girl that laid broken on the floor. "Go get yourself properly dressed and be good. Send that to her... or I make sure there's more to come for you..." He then knelt down and whispered to her as she laid crying on the floor. "Say... letting you become one of the comfort women to satisfy the needs of the soldiers?"
The poor girl shook her head in fear. "Then make sure she drink it... I'll have you rewarded if you did." He spoke coolly as he put on his robe. "Now get lost." He shot at her. Yue-er, though weak, gathered herself up and ran away from the 6th prince's room.
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"Finally, my patience had not gone to waste." He spoke with much cheerful expressions. While the other, merely gave a small smile. "Why say that my buddy?" Neji laughed. It was good to see his childhood buddy, Deidara, again. Though, he's a few years older compared to Neji, there's some chemistry between them that enable them to get along with each other so well and know each other by heart. Neji bowed to the one who smiled. It was his uncle, the half-brother of his Father, Kakashi. Kakashi was born to a different mother many years later after the birth of Neji's very own Father. Kakashi was only about 10 years older than Neji. However, his wisdom and talents aren't something that any others could cultivate to become as well. Kakashi was born a talent.
Unlike Neji, Kakashi was very weary of Itachi a long time ago. He knew Itachi is one that harbours too many thoughts. His expressions and silence... were things that Kakashi found hard to comprehend and also pretty uncomfortable about. "Yes Neji, something to ask from me?" Kakashi gave his usual casual smile that made his eyes turn into 2 crescent lines. "Yes Uncle... I was wondering if..." Neji began. But before he could continue, Kakashi cut him off with a pissed off tone. "Your Father is not here. Call me by my name... I'm only 10 years older than you are." Neji and Deidara exchanged looks and smiled. "I was wondering if you could let Deidara look after my wife for a few days. I'm going away from the capital for the Turks." Neji explained. "For protection you mean? From your 6th brother?" Kakashi asked casually again as he sipped his tea. "How-how did you know about-about..." Neji stuttered. Neji was astounded and shocked. But then again, his uncle isn't someone whom you can easily lie about with. "I've unintentionally overheard this when I thought of visiting you and Sakura since she's pregnant. The part where your 6th brother and you had it out with each other..." He added as he continued sipping his tea as if it was nobody's business. Deidara raised an eyebrow and slowly into a fury. "WHAT?" He seethed at Neji. "Why didn't you even tell me?" "The reason why is I don't want to let it reach to my Father's ears and to refrain myself from seeing that facial expression of yours." Neji seethed back angrily.
"Don't worry Neji... I know what to do... Be rest-assured... I won't let your Father come to know about this... Just leave everything and go. I give you my word." Kakashi raised his voice as he gave his final say signalling for the both of them to keep it down. "By the way, Neji... You have changed... Sakura is indeed remarkable... to heal you..." Kakashi spoke as he placed his palm on Neji's left hand side of the chest. "Here." He ended his statement with a smile. Neji smiled in return. "Thanks uncle..." He whispered.
"I keep her safe. That's a promise to you as a buddy." Deidara gave a firm grip on Neji's shoulder before he left with his master Kakashi.
END OF CHAPTER 10
It's kind of weird to add Kakashi in like this... but then, couldn't think of anyone else that can play this role better than he does. So, do forgive me. Hope you guys like it. Will try my best to update others as well. Thanks. Reviews of course will be much appreciated.