I have no rights to Naruto.
Enjoy.
-x
-x
It felt like she was being battered by all sides, her sprint from the stables to the castle had her drenched and recovered in mud and leaves carried by the gale force winds. She ignored the concerns of Hidan, Kaemon and Lam, wrenching herself from Hidan's grip after her announcement she had ran through the darkness, her only source of light the dangerous lightning that tore through the skies above.
She felt possessed, an unrelenting force rising in her, driving her to go the castle, to . . . she didn't know where she was supposed to go, she only knew she had to get to the Prayer Chamber, she had to , had to. . .
Her hands slapped against the wall, scraping her palms painfully as she slid, her wet soles slipping slightly from the rain and leaves that littered the corridor from the open door. Slipping she cursed as her hair tangled in her arms and she lost her footing, hitting the ground with a wet slap and loud grunt.
Strong hands picked her up and turning her she looked up at Hidan's concerned face.
"Sakura calm down . . ."
She struggled, trying to pull her arms out of Hidan's strong grip, her breathing harsh as her stomach dropped and her throat constricted painfully, gasping out.
"No . . . I have to . . . I"
Her fingers clenched around his hands as she stilled her struggles, her face pale and withdrawn looked up at Hidan fearfully, her eyes brimming with unshed tears, the anxiety running rampant through her body evident on her face.
"Sakura?" Hidan questioned, inwardly acknowledging his own anxiety and building dread as he held his little Hime.
"Something's terribly wrong Hidan." Her voice was quiet, holding a certainty that made them shiver.
A crash resonated through the castle and as quick as the flashing lightning, Sakura pulled from Hidan's grip and ran down the corridor, Hidan's worried cry lost in the thunder. Lam and Kaemon left to follow after the frantic Hime and Protector.
She barrelled passed anyone in her way, pushing servants, nobles and guards to the side in her rush, not giving a care as she ran through the corridors, her chest tightening she reached the main Prayer Chamber, automatically flinging herself at the large doors, her hands pounding at them, screaming for them to open up.
Arms wrapped around her, pinning her back to Hidan's chest as she kicked out her legs and wriggled to free herself.
"Get the doors open!"
"They won't budge!"
"Then fucking knock them down!"
The words and shouts barely registered with her, but Hidan's growling calmed her, his order quickly followed as what seemed like a swarm of guards fell upon the doors, battering them with their shoulders, others running to get a ram.
It was taking too long. They'd be late. They had to hurry. They had to hurry up.
"Hurry up. Hurry up. Hurry up."
Like a prayer the words fell from her lips, her body sagging against Hidan's, her eyes focused intently on the wood grain of the doors, beseeching them to open up, to let her in.
A loud groan filled the air, crashing thunder following it as finally the Guards kicked and battered the doors in. Held in the cocoon of Hidan's strength Sakura gave a low painful moan as she sat the collapsed and still form lying in the middle of the chamber.
"Daisaishi!"
Screaming she pulled from Hidan, evading grabbing hands to jump through the Guards and over the splintered and fractured wood. The soles of her boots slapped the stone floor before she fell to her knees by Daisaishi's side, frantically turning him over and checking to see if he was alive.
"He's still breathing!"
She exclaimed loudly with relief, Hidan now standing protectively over her quickly barking out.
"Get a healer!"
Kaemon knelt down as Lam ordered the Guards to find out who had been in the chamber and who the last to leave was.
Pulling the elderly priest's head onto her lap Sakura caressed his head in a comforting gesture, frowning as she left a smudge of dirt on him, wiping it away she ignored the tears that threatened, praying to Father that he would be alright.
Her fingers kept on his pulse, counting it as she swept his body for any signs of injury, sighing when he stirred slightly in her lap. He needed to be awake for her to ascertain if he had a stroke or heart attack. She cursed loudly. She had the knowledge but was out of practice. It was so damn hard when not even five years ago she instantly would have been able to diagnose him and heal him.
Biting her lip, she whispered prayers under her breath. She had to rely on Father; she had to be his Daughter. But still her stomach twisted into knots and she felt like it was filled with stones as fear clutched her gut.
" Banphrionsa."
The low mutter shut everyone up. Eyes flying down to the elderly High Priest, his lips barely moving as he whispered Hime in the old language, the language he had grown up with.
"Daisaiahi! Don't move, where are you hurt?"
Sakura gently but demandingly asked, rubbing his shoulder in comfort. She let out a gasp when with sudden strength he grabbed her hand, his eyes flying open and with foam gathering in the corner of his lips, he harshly spat up.
"Seachain!"
"Fealltóir!"
"Tá said anseo! Seachain!"
Her hand rose to wipe the foam gathering in his mouth, his eyes filled with pain as his grip on her hand slacked.
"Don't touch it!"
The shrill command halted Sakura's hand centimetres from Daisaishi's face. Lowering her hand she shook her head in disappointment at herself. She had really forgotten so much. Her eyes flickered to elderly woman and the young apprentice by her side, softly saying.
"Poison."
With quick, practiced movements the Healer gently took Daisaishi's head from Sakura's lap and laid him flat on the ground, nimble fingers carefully opened his mouth, a vial handed to her by man beside her collecting the foam, narrowed eyes scanning the elderly priest.
"Well my Hime?"
It flung her back, back to when Shishou would ask her those same questions, bent over a patient or a file, testing her, teaching her.
Her mind quickly sorted through all the information her eyes were picking up, cataloguing them and putting the correct reactions together.
"Delayed or slow acting poison, orally digested due to the foam, would most likely have been in his breakfast, he never eats in any of the chambers, whiteness around the eyes and fingernails suggests it goes throughout the body, no specific target.
"Good."
The elderly woman nodded in agreement, turning her head slightly as she took a vial from the young man and tipped its contents down Daisaishi's throat.
"Continue Bran."
The young man jerked slightly, his eyes wide before he too listed off sequences and possible poisons, followed by cures and delaying tactics.
Sakura watched and listened with slight envy as Healer and Apprentice worked on the elderly Priest.
" . . . . Nisou would know."
Kaemon's words had Sakura look around in worry.
"Where is Nisou?"
Hidan cursed loudly at the realisation, and grabbing Lam and calling for some Guards, shouted out as he ran out of the chamber.
"Stay here, we'll check on her!"
They pounded out of the hall, Kaemon motioning to some of the Guards and taking them to the side gave them their instructions, the words filtering to Sakura's ears as she knelt on the floor, feeling useless she watched the Healer work, her mind following Hidan and Lam, hoping and praying that they would quickly return with a healthy Nisou.
"I want Guards posted at all entrances and exits, all of them even those we only know."
"The stables will need to be checked."
"The nobles?"
Barely listening Sakura felt her gut clench in cold fear. The sweat and dirt covering her suddenly feeling like it was weighing down on her, gulping as her throat felt like it was filled with fur, her mouth drying out as she whispered.
"Lady Kagome"
Sakura narrowed her eyes in thought, not hearing the Apprentice's concerned "Hime-sama?", Daisaishi, Nisou, Lady Kagome, her trusted people, the ones she couldn't account for.
"Lady Kagome!"
Her cry was subdued but her actions weren't. Bounding to her feet she sidestepped Daisaishi and the Healer, dashing past the Guards she made for the splintered doors hanging on their hinges and onto the corridor.
Horrified at her mad dash and worried about where she was going, Kaemon shouted after her to wait as he and two Guards swiftly followed, separating when they came to a divide in the corridors and running in what they hoped was the right directions.
Sakura ran blindly through the corridors, her chest heaving in exertion, worry and fear making her more out of breath than anything else. Her hear felt like it was about to explode out of her chest, her hair flying wildly behind her back in a dirty silver tangle of knots as she rounded a corner and with a loud thump was jarred to the ground.
"Déjà vu my Lady."
Gasping Sakura took the offered hand and pulled herself up with a gasp, pushing past him.
She turned to Daitaro questioningly when his grip tightened, surprised by the concern in his eyes.
"My Lady, what's wrong, what's happened?"
"I . . . I Lady Kagome, I have to get Lady Kagome." She rushed trying to loosen his iron grip, sighing with relief when he let go. It was one thing to fight off the hold of Hidan, Kaemon, Lam or any of the Guards, but to do so to a noble could have grievous repercussions.
"Let's go."
Surprised at his determination she gave a small smile and a short nod, heading back down the corridor, and breaking into a run when the sense of impending doom and horror filled her very bones.
Thankful that the corridors were mostly empty Sakura raced to Lady Kagome's chambers,, dreading what she would see, praying that she would be alright, praying that Daisaishi would be okay, that the Healer would help him, that Nisou would be okay.
"We can cut through here."
Sakura came to a jerky stop and looking back nodded when she realised Daitaro was holding open one of the servant doors that connected between the corridors and would open up next to Lady Kagome's chambers. A fact that in her haste she had forgotten.
Entering the narrow corridor she swiftly and purposefully strode to the other end. Turning the handle she stopped and frowned, jiggling it again and rattling the door in its frame. Turning around to the approaching Daitaro she spoke.
"It's locked. We'll have to turn back."
Hazel eyes hardened as he neared, his wavy hair shaking along the collar of his matted clothes from the ride as he grinned.
"There's no need."
Sakura with her heart in her throat gave him a puzzled look, sliding her body sideways in the narrow corridor of the servant's corridor as he came to her side and with one hand resting on the wall by her side for balance he reached over and double checked that the door was locked.
"Perfect."
The purr of satisfaction that rumbled from Daitaro sickened Sakura, her body filling with tension and raising nervous emerald eyes she met smirking wild hazel ones.
"Lord Daitaro . . . Urgh."
Her question was cut off with a grunt when suddenly Daitaro wrapped his hands around her neck and squeezed tightly. The narrow corridor prevented her from kicking out or even struggling properly as he pinned her body with his, the smirk on his face evolving into a maniacal grin as he laughed.
"Evil whore, you're going straight where you belong!"
Sakura gagged and gasped for air, Daitaro spitting into her face as he tightened his hands and put pressure on her windpipe. Terrified Sakura tried to beat his head, his shoulders, any where she could reach but the tightening increased, her chest filling with pain as her lungs burned without the valuable air, weak limp coughs breaking from her lips when she couldn't scream anymore, silently as she struggled to breathe, her ears ringing with the pressure she begged him with her eyes to let her go, she screamed inwardly, her hands falling down as she started to sag, started to see pinpricks and then as her vision went black one word went through her mind.
H'DAN!
-x
White consumed her, surrounded her. Judgement.
Sakura didn't feel any of the worry or panic she should have, instead she felt at ease, at home, she felt safe and loved. But at the edges of her mind she was wary, wary of a parents scolding, wary of what her Father would say to her.
"My Daughter."
Her Father's voice as before overwhelmed but his immediate embrace soothed her, welcomed her and lightened her burden. She fell into his arms, wrapping herself in his warmth and acceptance. She laid her head on his chest and basked in his love and attention, amazed by the humming of what seemed to be her very soul.
Slowly he loosened his grip and Sakura sighed as she stood back, her eyes watering as she peeked a look as his ever changing visage before focusing on his chin and murmuring.
"I'm sorry, I . . ."
"You lost sight of what was important. Became trapped and ignored the signs." His words were filled with the wisdom that came from watching and guiding his children for millennia.
Sakura closed her eyes and cursed herself for a fool, her eyes flying open at the resonating chuckle that came from Father, his amusement evident as it shook her very core.
"Daisaishi was correct my Daughter, you are using much of Hidan's vocab."
Sakura could feel the blush on her face, her cheeks heating up at his words before she calmed herself and said.
"The storm . . . . but even before that, I felt sick, my stomach, I was filled with dread, with confusion?"
"You must learn to heed my warnings, you and your Protector both. Both blindsided by your emotions and personal feelings you ignored the truth before your eyes and risk the lives of your friends."
Sakura gasped painfully at his rebuke, his words filled with disappointment and a hint of anger, hurting her more than anything physical, hitting her very core she shrank into herself.
"They'll be okay won't they?"
"I cannot tell you that."
His voice was stern and unwavering, a Father punishing his Daughter as any parent would. Setting a comforting hand on her shoulder he gentled his voice.
"You have much to learn, you must not ignore you're feelings, they will guide you, your Protector will guide you as will your friends. Trust in yourself and in them."
"But . . . I "
"Do not make excuses, not even to yourself!"
The demand in her Father's voice was clear, harsh but fair he wanted the truth, no lines but the truth. The truth that she herself had only just admitted to.
"I liked him, really liked him . . . and then he slept with her, it hurt, it really hurt."
Her quiet confession was met with silence before his wise voice said. "Not even you my Daughter can read minds, how is anyone to know you're feelings unless you tell them. Do not fear what others will think of you, do not fear your own feelings, and do not fear yourself."
Sakura nodded, slightly unsure but determined to do her best.
"This is only the beginning of the storm of my Daughter, you must prepare, you must trust yourself, your Protector and those you hold dear."
His ominous words filled her with anxiety, his lips descending on her forehead for a gentle kiss and just as her vision was filled with piercing, white light, and air filled her lungs in a painful rush, she heard.
"Do not be blind my Daughter."
-x
"H'DAN!"
The scream tore through him, echoes of past failure filling him, giving his feet wings as he seemed to literally fly from the Guards and towards Sakura. His body following a path his mind didn't know, the bond opened fully with her cry filled him with pain, dread, horror and terror.
Eerily he ran blindly with purpose, following the emotions that filled him, shouldering down a door he exploded into a narrow corridor, an unearthly growl tearing from his chest at the sight of the fucking lord strangling his Sakura. His mind barely noted that she was glowing slightly and that for a bare second Jashin's symbol was upon her forehead before he attacked the fucker, tearing his arms from her neck and without thought plunged his Scythe into the fuckers chest, ripping out his heart with his free hand and dropping both organ and lifeless body to the ground, turned to Sakura.
It was the work of seconds and he was kneeling on the ground, lifting the limp body of his Sakura into his arms, brushing the hair from her face, checking her breathing. Growling.
"Don't fucking do this to me Sakura! Not again!"
Frantically he lowered her, pinching her nose and opening her mouth, he sealed it with his lips, filling her lungs with air from his, releasing her lips to check and then breathe for her again, and again and again. He cursed and swore, threatened Jashin himself as he bent down again and with his hand wrapped in her hair, the other pulling her body to him, he sealed her lips with hers, and gave her his breath.
She coughed against his lips, pulling away he shouted in joy.
"Jashin, fucking thank you!"
He cradled her to him as she coughed and spluttered, her hands weakly gripping his shirt as she started to cry, his words barely heard.
"I got you, I got you."
-x
-x
Dia Duit,
Well at least no evil cliffy lol. This may be choppy in places but I was trying to show the panic and frantic pace they were going at.
Thanks to kisukebenihime for the checks and sorry if there are any mistakes.
"Seachain!" – Beware
"Fealltóir!" - Traitor
"Tá said anseo! Seachain!" – They are here. Beware.
Please review and let me know what you thought.
Love,
The Rose and the Dagger x x x