Mega fast update! Thank you to each and every one of you who left feedback for the last chapter. I will do my best to reply to reviews when I find a good slot of time. Bear with me guys.
Two important points in advance of reading: for the carousel music, please visit this link (replacing the dots with symbols), as I came across this instrumental piece which is very close to the kind of melody I had in mind. Listening to it should help to build up the creepy fairground atmosphere when you get to that scene:
wwwdotyoutubedotcom/watch?v=akGdHniy1P0
And finally, regarding the song Sakura plays toward the end of the chapter, I made up my own lyrics, because this site doesn't allow the use of actual song words in stories. But the song I was listening to when writing that part, which is really fitting in tune (and especially in words), can be found here. Feel free to check it out:
wwwdotyoutubedotcom/watch?v=DezBTulgmT4
These links will also be added to my profile.
Disclaimer note: Those music works belong to their respective creators. I am merely sharing for atmosphere building purposes, which I really, really hope is acceptable by this site, and if not, I will be more than happy to remove if informed.
Hope you all enjoy reading this chapter as much as I loved writing it.
Chapter III
~*~
Be still,
O treacherous heart o' mine,
Cantering at the first glimpse of temptation,
Of perfect seduction,
In a form so wrought in sin,
Against which my human folly cannot defend.
The girls had to circle the Festival venue five times before finally securing a parking space. Ino triumphantly declared that they had beaten the guys, for none were in sight at their designated meeting spot, but her friends barely heard her. They were far too distracted by the impressive sight before them. Hinata released a little gasp as they approached the Festival's admission gates, wrought with elegant, gold-painted leaves.
"Whoa," Tenten exclaimed. "This is even bigger than last year!"
"There are s-so many people!" Hinata breathed in awe.
She was right. People of all ages, young and old, populated the area. A great proportion of them were children, who were attending with their families. Some had even brought their pets along to join in the festivities. Pretty paper lanterns and banners were strung beyond the gates, rustling gently in the early spring breeze. The oddly enchanting sound of fairground music drifted through the air, mingled with laughter and chatter. The sound of happiness, thought Sakura. Anticipation had finally hit her, much later than it had registered with everybody else, and she felt little butterflies flutter excitedly within the cage of her stomach. She was suddenly a child all over again, and couldn't wait to discover the attractions on show.
"Tickets!" Ino, who had managed to reserve some for them before they'd even officially gone on sale, distributed a golden, leaf-shaped slip of paper to each of her friends. Sakura felt as though she were holding a pass to a magical wonderland in her hands. The colourful sights, pleasant sounds and delicious smells wafting ahead of them offered the promise of a captivating evening to remember.
Ino's right, Sakura silently admitted to herself. She had been far too worked up lately. She owed it to herself – and everybody else – to relax and unwind a little. She wasn't going to think about anything other than having a good time. No patients. No bizarre conversations with peculiar guys at lunchtime. Just for one evening, she was going to be a care-free eighteen year old.
"Guys incoming," Tenten alerted them, checking over her outfit which consisted of a cute, white polka-dotted yellow halter-neck top and knee length, stone-washed cropped jeans. Her hair, tied up in signature buns, sported matching yellow ribbons.
Ino released an excited little squeal. "Hello hotties," she murmured beneath her breath. Aloud, waving triumphantly as the group of boys, headed by Neji and Shikamaru, drew closer, she called, "Hey slow-pokes! We ladies have been waiting for fifteen minutes already. I told you we'd win!"
Hinata, who was dressed to occasion in a soft lavender cardigan paired with cute, calf-length, cropped white trousers and lavender flats, glanced nervously at her. Surely they had only been standing around for five minutes? But perhaps she was mistaken.
Neji made a point of completely ignoring her and breezed elegantly past them, heading straight toward the gates with Lee and Shino in tow. Tenten gazed longingly after them and Sakura stiffened when Lee suddenly caught sight of her. She'd managed to successfully avoid him at college, but she knew that further evasion was impossible.
"Sakura-san!" he shot over to her in a flash. "You look as radiant as the most youthful of flowers!"
Ino attempted to disguise her amused laughter behind a tactfully timed round of coughing.
"O-oh, that's very kind of you," Sakura replied, feeling awfully embarrassed when Lee continued to stare at her.
"Hey, hey, everyone!" Naruto exclaimed, rushing forward to shove Lee aside and wave his ticket pointedly at the girls. "What're we standing around here for? Let's go!"
They drifted toward the gates and didn't have to wait long to be admitted in by fairground staff clothed in bright green uniforms bearing the same leaf insignias. As they stepped into the park, Sakura gazed around in awe. Stalls of every size and colour lined the branching walk-paths before them. Bright candy, hot food and beverages, stuffed toys and other treats were on sale. Excited children were queuing by the game stands, coins in hand, waiting to have a go at winning the prizes on offer. All manner of performers stood stationed between the stalls, including musicians, clowns, origami and balloon artists, jugglers on cycles and fire-dancers.
"This is gonna be so awesome," Kiba grinned, eyeing a video-game contest stall with a very pretty brunette assistant on standby.
Popular fairground rides were placed at regular intervals around the large expanse of the park. Dainty tea-cup rides, daring mini-rollercoasters, wacky fun and scary horror houses, chaotic bumper-cars, twisting helter-skelter slides, wobbly walkways, soaring flying pandas and chair-o-planes, towering giant wheels and drop-towers, shooting targets and fishing galleries, and Sakura's personal favourite, pretty, rotating carousels. Small tents had also been set up about the area, housing other attractions including face-painting, jewellery and flower making, manicures and fortune-telling. As Sakura looked right toward the lake, she caught a glimpse of elegant swan boats available to hire for twenty-minute slots. Couples of all ages were queuing, holding hands, kissing and embracing. She felt a twinge of wistfulness, which she promptly quelled. So what if love hadn't happened for her yet? She didn't need to get all sentimental over it, even if she was still secretly hoping to be swept off her feet.
Unfortunately for her, Lee had noticed the direction in which she had been staring, and informed her that he'd be honoured to take her on a romantic boat-ride. Sakura politely refused, explaining that she got terrible motion sickness. Ino saved her from any further discomfort by linking her arm through hers and drawing her back.
"Where to first, ladies?" she questioned.
"The fun-house," Tenten exclaimed. "It looks even crazier this time!"
The guys were already dispersing, heading toward different attractions. Ino linked her other arm through Tenten's who in turn linked to Hinata.
"The funhouse it is," Ino smiled.
Sakura couldn't remember the last time she'd had so much fun. They roamed between the attractions and rides, trying out as many as the queue-times allowed, laughing and screaming and posing for photographs with each other and the fairground operators and performers along the way. One of the handsome fire-dancers displayed an open interest in a mortified Hinata, much to the amusement of her friends. Even Sakura silently enjoyed all the flirting that was coming her way from unfamiliar guys – some cuter than others, but none cute enough.
Ino had won an adorable stuffed zebra and Hinata a cute, tawny pony from the lucky dip gallery. Tenten had won a goldfish in a bag, and Sakura, who had yet to win anything, was secretly envious. At least she had eaten candy to her heart's content, she inwardly reasoned, though she wasn't exactly sure how she was going to sleep that night after consuming so much sugar.
"C'mon, we have to try and win more stuff. Let's-" Ino broke off, gasping. "Shoot-For-A-Lady gallery!" She pointed at a ridiculously painted board with a winking, blonde-bombshell who Sakura thought looked an awful lot like an older Ino. "Eeee! There's Shikamaru and Naruto over there! Come on!"
They made their way over to the crammed attraction. Naruto noticed them, and grinned.
"Hey, hey!" he said, "Guess who was just here? Asuma and Kurenai!"
"No way!" Tenten's jaw dropped.
"Oh, puh-lease, everyone knows they're so totally together," Ino dismissed. Then she batted her eyelashes innocently at Shikamaru. "Are you guys thinking of playing this game?"
"Yeah, the gun model is so cool," Naruto exclaimed. Then he hesitated, his blue eyes flickering over to Hinata. "Uh… since you girls are here- Hinata? How about it?"
Now both Ino and Tenten's mouths lowered. Poor Hinata looked like she was ready to faint – from horror or delight, or perhaps both – and could only manage a muffled little gasp in response. Sakura briefly met Naruto's gaze and smiled a small, knowing smile. So he had considered her words, after all.
"Whatever, I'll shoot," Shikamaru sighed, holding up a coin. He was called forward by the stall supervisor straight away.
"Yes sir? Which fine lady will you be shooting for?"
Shikamaru inclined his head toward Ino in response, who, unable to contain her delight, squealed excitedly.
"A fine lady indeed," the staff member winked, loading the gun with fresh pellets.
"Don't get too excited," Shikamaru muttered beneath his breath. "It doesn't mean anything."
But his words did little to dampen Ino's happiness. He took hold of the gun and with a toothpick in mouth, aimed for the moving targets. He managed to hit all nine in succession, smack in the middle. Sakura had never heard Ino cheer so loudly.
"Which prize would the lady like?" the supervisor asked. Ino, of course, pointed to the largest teddy-bear, a pink one holding a giant heart.
Shikamaru rolled his eyes as she was handed the oversized stuffed toy. She latched onto his arm adoringly, informing him that he was the best shooter in the world, which earned an unconvinced snort from Naruto. Shikamaru brushed off the attention, muttering that women were so troublesome. But secretly, he kind of liked the way she was hanging all over him.
"Next, sir?" Naruto stepped up, and jabbed a thumb toward Hinata.
"That's the one!"
Sakura firmly gripped onto Hinata's arm to keep her from toppling over. Tenten did the same on the other side as Naruto took his aim. He hit the targets even faster than Shikamaru had. Sakura gaped at him in surprise. Where had Naruto learnt to shoot like that? Even the stall supervisor was blinking, visibly impressed.
"That's the fastest time yet! What's your name, sir?"
"Naruto," he replied simply, and pointed to the bunny-eared stuffed toy holding a giant flower, almost as large as the bear Ino had selected. "That prize for the lady!"
He was handed the outrageously cute toy, and held it out to Hinata. "Heh. Hope you like it," he said, rubbing the back of his neck and flashing a dazzling, disarming smile at her. Hinata's blush intensified, and she stammered her gratitude, insisting that she couldn't possibly accept such a wonderful gift.
"Oh geez, I'll take it for her," said Tenten smilingly. "Nice shooting there, Naruto."
"Let's go to the Haunted House next," Ino suggested.
"H-haunted h-house?" Hinata stammered.
"Don't worry; Naruto will protect you," Ino winked, causing the dark-haired girl to flush an even more impossible shade of red.
"There's Neji!" Tenten suddenly exclaimed, spotting his familiar head in the crowd. She had been looking for him all evening. "I'll meet you guys there!" She deposited the bunny into Hinata's arms and hurried after the object of her affections.
They headed toward the attraction. Sakura hesitated when they reached the skull emblazoned entrance. She'd never enjoyed it inside and hated the way people jumped out at her from behind corners. Glancing at Ino latching onto Shikamaru and Naruto walking besides a tense Hinata, she knew that she was the odd one out. A quick glance at the sky informed her that sunset was falling upon them. How had the wonderful evening flown by so fast? The spring dance and lighting of lanterns at the central square were due to start at seven forty-five. It had just gone past seven-thirty. The Haunted House attraction would last fifteen minutes at least, and she really didn't want to miss the start of the ceremony.
"You guys go ahead," she told her friends, "I'll save you places at the central square."
"What?" Ino protested, frowning. "But Sakura-"
"It's totally fine," Sakura assured her. "I don't want to miss the start; it's my favourite part of the Festival, and I really want to light a lantern this year. I'll see you there."
"We don't want you to go alone, Sakura-chan," Naruto replied, looking oddly serious.
Sakura smiled. "It's just a two minute walk from here. I'm sure I'll bump into the others there. Have fun!" She winked at Hinata and waved, drifting away before they could object any further. A quick glance back revealed that they were disappearing inside the spooky attraction. Sakura released a sigh of relief. Alone at last.
She made a quick stop by a waffle stall and purchased a hot, sticky caramel-topped treat – even more sugar – and headed contentedly toward the square. People had already assembled, seated upon the circular, wooden benches relaying around the central platform upon which wreathes of flowers were arranged and young women dressed in flowing white-gowns were preparing ribbons and paper doves to distribute to children.
Biting down on her waffle, Sakura peered around, straining to find a familiar face. She couldn't see any of the others. She sat down at the outermost bench, knowing she would be easier to spot if she remained at the fringes. After finishing off her treat and wiping the remnants of sticky caramel off her fingers, she began to engage in one of her favourite activities – people watching.
"What do you make of the festival?" an unfamiliar voice asked from beside her. Startled, Sakura glanced to her right to find a guy about her own age sitting two places away from her. He had softly-curling, sandy-blond hair that fell into his large hazel eyes and was dressed casually in a white T-shirt and light blue, knee-length shorts. His left cheek dimpled when he smiled at her.
He's cute, Sakura thought, all at once feeling extremely self-conscious. Was her hair alright? She hoped it hadn't been too windblown after all the dizzying rides she'd been on. The stranger was attractive, in a boy-band kind of way. Realising that he was still waiting for an answer, Sakura replied, "Oh! It's been wonderful."
"Best one yet, I reckon," the guy replied. Sakura's eyes were suddenly drawn to the elegant, ornamental cage placed on the ground by his feet. Something flapped within – what was that? He noticed her curiosity, and looked down in turn. "Oh, this? I won it at one of the attractions. Don't really know what to do with it though…" his pleasant voice trailed off, and he glanced back at Sakura thoughtfully. Smiling again, he reached down, plucked the cage off the ground, and offered it to her. "You like doves?"
Sakura loved doves. She stared at him, wide-eyed, unable to quite believe that he was truly offering it to her. "R-really?" she asked. "You want me to have it?"
"Sure," the guy replied smoothly. "I don't want it, and you're the prettiest girl I've seen around here all afternoon; it's only right that you have it."
Sakura felt heat creep into her cheeks as she accepted the caged bird. "Thank you so much," she said softly, staring through the bars at the beautiful, pure-white dove within. It seemed so distressed, and she silently promised to set it free the moment she found an appropriate spot.
"I'm Kenji," the guy offered after a moment. "Call me Ken."
"Sakura," she replied, meeting his gaze and smiling. He seemed like a nice guy, certainly a nice enough guy with whom she felt comfortable enough to disclose her name.
Kenji opened his mouth as if to say more, when voices suddenly yelled out to him.
"Hey, Ken! Over here!"
"Get your ass over here, man! We've been looking for you!"
Cringing apologetically at her, Kenji explained, "Sorry; that's my uni crowd."
University? So he was older than her. Sakura silently found herself wondering by just how many years. But his friends were calling to him, and she nodded in understanding. "It's okay. My friends will be here any moment, too."
"Kenji!" Three boys and two girls were standing from the benches three rows ahead of them, waving eagerly.
"Guess I'd better join them before they scream the stage down," he grinned. "Uh - will you still be in this spot after they light the lanterns?"
"I was hoping to light one myself," Sakura admitted.
"Nah, we tried to buy some, but they're all sold out," he informed her. Sakura's shoulders fell in disappointment, even though she knew it was her own fault for failing to acquire one in time. She ought to have arrived much earlier. Well, she supposed she would just have to save her wish for the following year. Or maybe she could wish on the dove she had been so sweetly given, when she released it back into the sky.
"I'll still be here," she beamed up at him as he rose from his place. "Thank you so much again for the beautiful dove."
"Hey, you're totally welcome, Sakura," he replied, looking very pleased. "See you later?"
She nodded, and watched as he moved away to join his friends, disappearing from view as he took a seat beside them. He really was cute. She couldn't wait to tell Ino where she'd gotten the bird from. Then she wondered where in the world her best friend was, and why it was taking her so long to arrive. Had they somehow gotten lost in the creepy Haunted House?
The announcer's voice interrupted her thoughts as he spoke up over the microphone. Sakura turned her attention to the stage, where the Festival's chief supervisor, an elderly, kind looking man, was signalling for quiet.
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls; welcome to Konoha town's annual Spring Dance and Lantern Lighting event. We trust that you have enjoyed today's festivities and the attractions on show. Please remember that this is the final show of the evening and that the admission gates will be locked at 9PM sharp, so please make your way immediately toward the exit following the releasing of the lanterns." He cleared his throat a little, before continuing, "Without further ado, it gives me great pleasure to present the Spring Dance, performed by this year's finest calibre of talent. May your springtime be filled with joy and may divine blessings rain down upon you all!"
He stepped off the platform, and candles burst into existence as the beautiful, enchanting sound of flutes and windpipes filled the air. Sakura sighed as the young women skipped onto the decorated stage like graceful spring-nymphs and began to perform their elegant ribbon dance. It was all so magical, so very lovely. They moved in flawless coordination with one another, each one of them playing their part to perfection. Silence had fallen over the crowd, each and every person in attendance entranced by the display on the stage. At length the dance began to enter its final stages, and Sakura experienced the same nostalgic wistfulness that she always did when it came to an end, knowing that she would have to wait another year before witnessing the spellbinding event again. As the thunderous applause for the dancers died down, one of the pretty young women, with flowers laced through her flowing, autumn-coloured hair, announced that it was time to light the lanterns.
Sakura watched tiny sparks of flame light before her as people kindled their matchsticks and lit their purple, white, orange, pink and red lanterns. In unison, they began singing the spring hymn to an ancient goddess who Ino always remarked nobody even believed in anymore. It didn't matter, Sakura always defended. It was a great tradition that had been going on long before any of them had been born, and it added to the almost sacred atmosphere of the event. The hymn drew to a close and people lowered their heads, making their private wishes. Sakura took the moment of collective silence to make her wishes also.
Please let Mr. Arakawa pull through, somehow.
Please let me be a better, stronger person than I was last year.
And please let there be someone special out there for me, who will love me unconditionally until the end of my days.
She knew the last one was frivolous, silly, a fanciful, left-over notion from childish, girlish fantasies, back when Prince Charming had existed. Rocketing divorce rates were proof of that; it was a rarity to find one's true soul-mate, let alone a lifelong partner. She sighed as the lanterns were released and floated gently and soundlessly up to the darkening sky. For a moment, her heart felt as though it were soaring with them, before she was grounded once again by the movement of the townsfolk around her as they began to stream slowly and steadily out of the square. 20:30PM, her watch informer her when she glanced down, and still no sign of Ino or the others. She rose slowly, clutching worriedly onto the white bird-cage, and looked around. It was difficult to see anybody clearly in the growing dimness. She expected Kenji to make his way back to her at least; perhaps he would be able to help her locate her friends. But ten minutes later she was still alone, and there were hardly any people left in the square, save for clean-up staff and a few families with kids who were reluctant for the day to end.
Sakura dug into her clutch-bag and pulled out her cell. There were no missed calls or texts. She frowned lightly, confused. How strange. Then she noticed the flat bars - her cell had no reception. Probably the result of all the static and radio interference from the machinery around the place, she silently reasoned, which likely accounted for her phone displaying nothing. Perfect, she huffed to herself. Just how was she supposed to contact them now?
The distressed beating of wings against iron bars made her remember the trapped bird. She would just have to head to the place where they'd parked the car and meet Ino and the others there. But first things first; she needed to release her poor feathery friend. She finally trailed away from the square, still keeping half an eye out for anyone she knew whilst seeking a good spot to let the dove fly free.
Trees. She needed a place with trees. Festival attendants were closing up stalls and locking down rides. One of them politely reminded Sakura that the gates were closing to the public in fifteen minutes and that she should make her way over to the exit immediately. She nodded, waited for him to turn around again, before diving down the first path that steered her out of his line of sight.
The stalls lining the area she had wandered into had already been cleared, and no other employees were about. Ahead of her were trees. And just beneath the cluster of tall oaks was something else that caused Sakura to forget all about the anxious dove for a moment. The most beautiful carousel horses she had ever laid eyes upon were dancing up and down along a wide, rotating circular platform. The lights were fully illuminated but there didn't appear to be anybody in sight who was actually operating the ride. Sakura almost laughed aloud in bewilderment. How in the world could they have left the ride on? Had the operator consumed too much sake?
The strangely haunting yet mesmerising melody lured her forward, drawing her closer to the delightful attraction. How had she failed to notice it earlier? A sudden, strong longing tugged at her heart; she hadn't ridden on any of the carousels since they'd arrived. She knew her friends considered it childish; they didn't appreciate the timeless beauty and simplicity of the ride. Gold and bronze, red, emerald, cobalt and silver glinted off the rainbow-coloured lights and a dazzled Sakura felt the urge to mount one of the delicately constructed, graceful horses. Just for a minute. She would ride just for a minute, and then she'd hurry back toward the exit.
"Off you go," she whispered to the dove, lowering the cage to the dusty path and unclasping it, giving it a gentle shake to encourage the bird out. It hopped through the open-door, stumbling a little in its eagerness to escape, before spreading its wings and taking swift flight into the sky. Sakura smiled happily after it. Then, leaving the cage upon the ground, she walked toward the carousel and with one final look around to make sure that she really was alone, she stepped onto the rotating platform and onto an exquisitely crafted, porcelain white horse, decorated with finely-painted flower reigns.
Sakura sighed with pleasure as the familiar, lulling motion of the ride transported her back to carefree, childhood days. She closed her eyes, losing herself in the enchanting tune and rested her right cheek against the cool metal pole, enjoying the gentle sensation of being lifted and lowered in the air as the painted horse moved in time with the overhead crank from which it was suspended. Soon she began humming softly along to the music whilst fondly recalling distant days when her mother had taken her to the fair often - though the memories were fuzzy and she could not reconstruct them too vividly.
She only became conscious of the fact that the ride had been gradually slowing down when the circular platform hissed to a complete stop. Her eyes flew open, and she blinked in surprise, turning her face to discover why the carousel had halted when the music was still playing. What she saw caused her heart to leap into her throat and her lips to part in stunned bewilderment.
Standing with one fingerless glove-clad hand resting pointedly atop the ride's square-shaped control panel was the most striking youth she had ever laid eyes upon.
His tall, fine form was illuminated beneath the carousel roof's interchanging lights. Oh, God, Sakura thought senselessly, staring down at the stranger with wide, startled eyes. He was gorgeous. No. He was beyond gorgeous. He was simply breath-taking. Beautiful, even. His silky hair was black as a raven's wing, spiking wildly and in different directions at the back, framing his face at the sides and falling enticingly into his eyes at the front. Irises the colour of smouldering, steel-flecked charcoal looked up at her beneath lashes so dark and sooty, they almost seemed to weigh his eyelids down. His handsome, aristocratic features boasted an angled jawline and a straight, perfectly sculpted nose. Wilful lips were set in a firm, unyielding line. They looked proud – as though they were more inclined to scowl with disapproval than smile with any form of acceptance. And there was certainly nothing friendly about the way the stranger was looking at her. But Sakura chose not to dwell on that fact, then. She couldn't stop her stupid, mindless staring. She couldn't help herself. He was without doubt the best-looking guy she had ever seen, anywhere.
Something glinted in his left ear – an earring of some kind, she registered distractedly. It further heightened the rebellious air that he was pulling off so effortlessly. He was dressed entirely in black, a simple shirt with sleeves rolled up to the elbows, regular jeans with a silver belt and leather boots. Something about his stance, about the way his head and lean, smoothly muscled body were poised, screamed elegance and grace.
And that was when Sakura's mind, playing catch-up, finally decided to note the precise manner in which he was regarding her. Or glaring, rather. A very irked glare which clearly conveyed that if she did not dismount from the horse at that very moment, he was going to leap up and drag her off the ride himself.
The thought of those hands grabbing her caused her heart to quicken. The stranger hadn't spoken a word to her yet, but the power and piercing intensity of his heavy gaze caused a shiver to race along her spine. She had never held anybody's stare for so long. And she had never even dreamed of eyes like his.
He raised one dark brow at her continued, unashamed gaping, and Sakura felt heat pool rapidly into her cheeks.
"I'msosorry," she blurted in a barely coherent, embarrassed rush, her body spurned into action at last as she slipped clumsily off the horse. He was obviously one of the Festival attendants, a guy around her own age, or maybe a year or two older, who, after changing out of uniform, had come back to check the area one final time, only to discover a strange girl riding on the carousel way after closing time. Good God. No wonder he was irritated. What had she been thinking? Mortified, Sakura edged nervously off the platform, nearly stumbling from it in her eagerness to make a hasty retreat.
The stranger continued to watch her silently, depressing another button which caused the music to switch abruptly off, before slowly retracting his hand from the control panel. She thought she caught a glimpse of a tattoo running along the underside of his arm, but couldn't make out precisely what the ink depicted from her distance. The plunge into silence heightened her anxiety and the tips of Sakura's little fingers began to tingle, the way they always did whenever she felt unnerved and disconcerted. She didn't know exactly what it was about the young man standing before her that caused such a profound sense of uncertainty to whisper through her body. Perhaps it was his unrelenting, cryptic silence. But she had always trusted her instincts before, and now they were positively screaming at her to leave.
"I-I'll go now," she stammered. He was definitely the most nonverbally-intimidating person she had ever encountered. He made Neji Hyuuga's ice-cool demeanour seem almost comical. And he still seemed displeased, as though her apology was nowhere near enough. Perhaps he hadn't heard it over the melody? Sakura could feel his gaze burning into her as she turned away from him and began hurrying down the path toward the park's exit, willing herself to not, under any circumstance, look back over her shoulder again.
Predator-like eyes tracked her movements as she walked away from him. Her body was tense and nervous, and he had read the bewilderment in her features when she had first looked upon him all too clearly. He had made an impression. A faint smirk touched one corner of his lips. Just as he had intended.
She had informed him that she was departing. He did not think so. Now, he knew. Now was the time, the place. He had ensured that none of her friends were around. Nobody would see her. Nobody would hear her scream.
His eyes slipped away from her form to rest upon the dusty path beneath his own feet. He blinked, and at his will the smallest, shallowest of cracks formed on the ground's surface. His gaze travelled up along the path, and with it, so too did the cracks, zigzagging like erratic bolts of lightning, growing in depth until parts of the earth began to fissure. Softly. Silently. So as not to alert her. Not until it was far too late for her to even realise what was happening. When his eyes caught up to her ankles, the ground beneath her would split, and then-
"Sakura!"
His gaze jerked up abruptly, his focus rudely broken, and he stepped swiftly back. At his command the fractures in the ground relapsed and melted from sight, and the lights from the carousel behind him winked out, enveloping his form in darkness. He watched, with narrowed eyes, as two figures ran hurriedly up the path – one, a slender, blond-haired female, and the other a tall, pale-skinned young man holding some manner of book in his hands.
A sketch-book, he discerned a split-second later, and fury flared like a tumultuous tornado within him.
Sakura blinked in surprise as Ino came to a halt before her. Behind her was Sai, who stared at her with wide, black eyes.
"Ino?"
"Where the hell have you been?" her best friend demanded. "We've been looking everywhere for you!" Giving Sakura a quick hug, she added, "We were so worried. We tried calling you a hundred times but we couldn't get through. Naruto's been going crazy. He's refused to let the staff close the gates until we found you."
"I was at the square," Sakura frowned. "I waited for you guys at the back row."
"Eh?" Ino exclaimed, thoroughly baffled. "We came to the square and we sat at the back row, but we couldn't see you anywhere." She then glanced gratefully up at Sai. "We met Sai at the exit. He's the one who suggested looking over here. You're a hero, Sai," she added, smiling flirtatiously at him.
But Sai's gaze was fixed firmly onto Sakura. "Are you alright?" he questioned, looking intently at her as if he expected her be anything other than fine.
"I'm okay," Sakura replied. So Sai had attended the Festival after all? She noticed the sketch-book in his hand, and averted her eyes uncomfortably, reminded of the strange conversation they'd had at lunch. But it seemed, at that moment as though the exchange between them had happened a long time ago, rather than earlier in the afternoon. Then she remembered the carousel, and the guy, and glanced back over her shoulder to find that the lights were switched off and the young man in black had vanished.
Once more, Sakura was overcome by puzzlement. The path, blocked off by the cluster of trees, was essentially a dead end. She hadn't even heard the stranger leave. Which way had he headed?
She turned back to the pair standing before her, and noticed that Sai was also gazing toward the carousel. His expression had changed. He looked- she couldn't quite identify the expression on his face. Her attention was drawn away from him when Ino took her by the arm, and tugged gently. "Let's go! Everybody's waiting."
"Wait-" Sakura tried to turn back to Sai. He was still staring at the darkness of the trees, and was completely unresponsive to her. But Ino steered her firmly away, filling her in on how they'd spent positively ages searching for her, and how she believed that she'd finally struck gold with Shikamaru in the Haunted House, of all places. Her incessant talking derailed Sakura's lines of thought, and as she was strung along, she didn't stop to wonder just why Sai wasn't following them. At the time, distracted by Ino's lively chatter, she simply forgot.
Sai listened to the conversation growing fainter as the two young women walked away. Soon the world became silent again. He released the lightest sigh of relief. Sakura was alright. He wasn't certain precisely what it had been that had spurred him to arrive at the park just as the Festival had been coming to an end. But he'd been drawing idly after returning home from college, and when he'd sat back to regard his work, had found himself staring at a sketch of a carousel.
He'd overheard Naruto telling Shikamaru that the carousel was Sakura's favourite ride. And before Sai had even stopped to consider what the drawing might mean, he'd unchained his bicycle and raced, at blinding speed, to the Festival - only to discover that Sakura was completely unharmed. There was nothing in the darkness ahead of him. Just a stationary, harmless carousel and a bunch of trees. Sai shook his head slightly. He was still learning how to pair emotions with appropriate words and actions. It was difficult, but he knew that he had to find a way to suppress the subconscious paranoia he'd seemingly come to develop over Sakura's safety. Why would she be in any kind of danger? What did a sketch of a flower-field and a fairground ride prove? He had no evidence, other than a misplaced hunch which had compelled him to keep an eye on her over the last few weeks. But he wasn't really needed. Naruto was doing a good enough job on his own – or at least he had been.
Sai's gaze lowered as he pondered Naruto's uncharacteristic slip. It wasn't like him to turn a blind eye to Sakura's whereabouts. Surely he could have located her quite easily if he'd just chosen to-
His train of thought was abruptly and violently derailed when a vice-like grip closed around his throat. Before he could lift his eyes to discover what was happening, he'd been jerked roughly forward, with enough speed to make him stumble. The darkness blurred around him and the next thing he was aware of was his back slamming aggressively against one of the trees with such might that the very air was knocked out of his lungs. He stared, winded, as the invisible force that had assailed him materialised from the shadows, taking physical form.
A heartless, malevolent, frightening gaze. Hair the colour of blackest midnight. An electrifying, unmistakeable essence of danger, so suffocating and overwhelming in its intensity that it was almost a tangible thundercloud, an aura so chilling that it caused the surrounding air's temperature to plummet considerably.
No. Crippled with terror, Sai could only stare back into eyes that had narrowed to form furious slits. Luminous, deep crimson bled into onyx irises, revealing the true extent of the fury that was simmering within.
"You were warned," the voice was like silk-wrapped steel, smooth on the surface, yet icy cold and ruthlessly hard underneath.
"G-great-" Sai's stuttered attempt at speaking was choked off by the crushing increase in pressure upon his windpipe.
"You were warned not to interfere."
Sai's heart pounded sickeningly within him. The death deity. The ruler of the Underworld. Was this the answer to the inexplicable sense of peril he'd been experiencing lately? Was this the reason why he had cycled to the Festival without even sparing his actions a second thought?
Was Sakura's mortal life in danger?
His breath caught sharply in his throat when the face before his drew intimidatingly closer, leaving mere inches of space between them.
"And what are you doing now?" his assailant intoned, before answering his own question with a succinct, emphatic and menacing, "Interfering."
"F-for-g-give me, Great G-God," Sai struggled to articulate. The coldness of the air was chilling him to the bone, making it difficult for him to think, and speak, clearly. "I-I d-did not know-"
In response, the deity stepped back and hauled him forward with one hand, blinding blue-white electrical energy crackling into existence in the palm of his other. In a movement too fast for Sai's mind to comprehend, his legs had been kicked from underneath him and his right arm – his drawing arm - twisted mercilessly behind his back. Forced helplessly onto his knees, Sai's mouth parted in a silent scream of agony as freezing electric energy was sent coursing through the arm that was trapped painfully behind him. It jagged through his body, making him convulse. His vision began to cloud over as he felt his racing heart palpitate irregularly within him.
So this was how it ended. He had been saved from the clutches of death once before by the mercy of another, beneficent god. This time, however, it seemed there would be no escape for him.
But the deity standing over him had other intentions.
"You live on my whim," he hissed, sending another screeching, blindingly painful jolt of electricity through Sai's body. "Speak a word, interfere again, and I will end your existence. Do not forget, messenger."
His arm was released roughly, and Sai collapsed, gasping, onto the ground, his face cold and clammy with perspiration. He heard a violent tearing sound, managed to turn his pounding head enough to find that his fallen sketch-book had been ripped open, and one of the pages torn out.
The picture of the flower-field - the picture he had shown to Sakura – was lying crumpled on the path, burning. Sai watched, trembling, as the unearthly, black flames rapidly devoured the paper, reducing it to nothingness in a matter of seconds. The air around him gradually warmed once more, informing him that he was alone again.
Relief at the knowledge stole away what little strength he had left. Lowering his swimming head to rest against the dusty ground, Sai closed his eyes and fell into the merciful clutches of unconsciousness.
After dropping Hinata and Tenten off at their respective houses, Ino finally pulled up outside Sakura's driveway. Turning down the volume of the pounding stereo player, she released a dramatic sigh.
"What a day. I'm totally beat!"
"Yeah," Sakura agreed, stifling a yawn with the back of her right hand.
Ino smiled at her. "I really think Shika's the one, Sakura. It just feels so- I don't know – right when I'm with him. And after today, I really think that maybe he likes me too."
"Of course he does," Sakura indulged her best friend. "He'd be crazy not to."
"You really think so?" the blonde bit her lower lip hopefully.
Sakura shook her head in amazement. Ino was always so confident and sure of herself. She couldn't quite believe the uncertainty that her friend was exhibiting. It was obvious to Sakura at least, that Shikamaru was certainly unopposed to the idea of getting to know Ino better. He'd even let her hang off his arm. What further evidence did she need?
"What, you think I'm just feeding your ego, here?" Sakura teased.
Ino stuck out her tongue in response. Then she regarded Sakura thoughtfully. "So you really didn't meet anyone at all today? So many guys were staring at you, you know. We're alone now. You know you can be honest with me."
"They were probably staring at this," Sakura grinned, pointing jokingly to her forehead.
"Sakura," Ino frowned, failing to find the gesture funny.
Sakura sighed, and hesitated for a second when, completely unbidden, the image of intense dark eyes flashed vividly through her mind. Shaking her head to dispel it, she thought briefly of Kenji, the nice guy who had given her the caged dove. Was there a point in telling Ino about him? It was unlikely that she would see him again, if he was already in university.
"No," she answered. "Sorry to disappoint you."
Ino pouted unhappily. "You know, I really don't get it."
Sakura glanced at her. "Get what?"
"I don't get how you're still single. It's a total injustice. An outrage. What is wrong with guys these days?"
"It's no big deal, Ino," Sakura said, rolling her eyes at her friend's melodramatic words. "Besides," she pointed out. "You're single too. Although, probably not for long."
Ino chuckled at that. "Stop it; you're making me go red like Hinata!"
Grinning, Sakura nodded toward her front door. "Want to come in for a bit?"
"No," Ino replied. "I need to get back home and soak in a bath, and then try and somehow finish typing up that Literature paper for tomorrow. Good thing I've had so much sugar today. I'm so high I could fly!"
"That's not the only thing you're high on," Sakura replied suggestively, and Ino gasped, hand flying over her heart as she feigned shock.
"Sakura Haruno!" she admonished, before bursting into a fit of girlish giggles. Laughing, Sakura got out the car, grabbed her college bag from the back seat before wishing her best friend a good night. With a final wave, Ino turned on the ignition again, pulled out and drove off into the night.
Sakura let herself into the house, sighing as she closed and locked the door behind her. She had meant to check in at the hospital, but it was far too late for that now. She worriedly hoped Mr. Arakawa was doing okay.
Yawning, she looked around the place. First, a quick shower, and then she'd have a light snack before bed. Her stomach growled in protest. Alright, so maybe she would cook something up instead. She knew she would have to leave the dumplings to the following morning; she'd consumed far too much sugar already. Trudging up the wooden stairs, she stopped by her bedroom, throwing her bag to the floor before grabbing a fresh change of clothes, her bathrobe and a towel. Then she stepped into the bathroom, walked up to the mirror, and regarded her reflection thoughtfully.
Once again, dark eyes drifted through her mind. God. The carousel guy. Why couldn't she get the thought of him out of her head? So what if he'd been drop dead gorgeous? She was even less likely to encounter him again than she was Kenji. But that didn't stop her from wondering what his name might have been.
Mr. Tall, Dark and Sexy, her mind casually supplied. No. That was much too mundane. Mr. Watch-me-melt-ice-with-my-super-hot-stare. Mr. If-you-don't-get-your-butt-off-the-horse-right-now-I'll-move-your-butt-for-you. Sakura giggled as she turned the shower on and began to undress, entertaining a variety of names, ranging from the common to the thoroughly outrageous.
None of them seemed to fit as well as Carousel Guy. So that was the name Sakura assigned to the handsome stranger, who, despite immensely unnerving her with his unfriendly glaring, she sort of lamented that she'd probably never see again.
Oh well, she thought. Maybe she would bump into Kenji again sometime. It wasn't impossible. What had happened to him anyway? Her thoughts scattered as music filled her mind and she was humming to the tune of the carousel before she knew it.
Thirty minutes later, after blow-drying her hair and treating her tired body to generous dollops of deliciously rich cocoa-butter lotion, Sakura headed downstairs to the kitchen and opened the fridge, purposefully refusing to look at the dumplings sitting temptingly before her. What did she fancy apart from those mouth-watering treats? Something warm and preferably healthy. Deciding on a vegetable stir-fry, Sakura grabbed the required ingredients and set them on a plate by the sink. After rinsing the vegetables, she sliced them and switched on one of the cooker's hobs, pouring a little oil into a large wok as she set the correct heat level. Then she walked over to the compact stereo her mother liked to keep in the adjoining lounge and placed the CD she had retrieved from her bedroom into the CD tray. A few seconds later, music began to stream out of the speakers. Smiling, Sakura cranked the volume up and moved back to the kitchen, hips swaying to the tune of one of her favourite songs.
The curtains had not yet been drawn, and one of the small, upper windows was open, allowing deafening music to blare out into the night. The words that streamed through the air drew him closer to the window. Peering curiously through the white net veil, his gaze bypassed the contents of the room immediately before him and locked instantaneously onto her. She was in the kitchen, clothed in a sky blue, baggy top which looked too large for her petite frame and pale yellow shorts that reached halfway down her slender thighs. Her hair was pulled back in a messy bun, but even so casually dressed she was beautiful. His eyes followed the feminine curve of her legs as she danced in time to the music. Her movements were graceful. To him they were bewitching. His jaw clenched as he once again rued his previous, missed opportunity. If it hadn't been for that pathetic, so-called messenger and the air-headed blonde female who always seemed to be glued to Sakura's side, he would have already transported the girl singing within to his abode.
'The world around me is crumbling,
Between my very fingers,
Blurring the boundaries of dreams and reality,
And I no longer comprehend the meaning,
Won't you leave me alone?'
He blinked. The music was strange and foreign to his ears. She enjoyed such brash-toned, unrefined nonsense? It did not even begin to compare to the beautiful instruments and melodies that filled the halls of his twilight palace. But the words were permeating through his ears despite his internal dislike of the tune.
'It is a sin to pine deeply for that which is forbidden. But if you are no longer around, what reason, then, do I have to exist?'
He watched, entranced, as Sakura, leaving her meal to cook unattended for a few minutes, twirled into the lounge like a playful nymph. She picked up what looked to him to be a white, oversized, fluffy monstrosity, and began to perform a spontaneous waltz with it, singing enthusiastically along to the chorus of the song.
'I've tried to run but there's no escaping it,
The deep depths of your ardent love,
I want to drown in you.
So take me away, to that secret place,
And let me be buried in the sanctuary of your arms.'
The sweetness of her voice. The light, so tantalisingly visible, in her face. The feminine charms of her body. They sang out to his senses in a way no form of divine music ever before had. Need washed over him, stronger than ever before, overwhelming enough to drown out all manner of reason. Cresting frustration caused his hands to tighten into fists. It made no manner of sense. And like the words to her ill-chosen song suggested it would be something of a sin, to abduct one who was living to the dwelling place of the dead. But she was a human enchantress who had doomed herself by drawing the attention of an immortal god. It was her fault, all her own. He was not accountable for what he was about to do.
Raising his hands, he slowly unclenching his angry fingers. Pressing his palms briefly together, he closed his eyes, focusing on the creation he had in mind. As he slowly separated his hands again, a swirl of dark purple magic formed between his fingers, and with an elaborate flourish, burst into the shape he willed.
His eyes moved back to Sakura's still dancing form.
'When I stumbled upon that red thread, it wound tightly around me, like your arms, and my fate was sealed.'
He moved soundlessly toward the front door.
Giggling, Sakura settled her favourite cuddly bear back onto the couch.
"Thanks for the dance," she winked at it. Delicious smells were wafting from the direction of the kitchen, informing her that her meal was ready to enjoy. A quick glance at the time revealed that it was approaching ten thirty. She wasn't sure how she was going to drag herself out of bed the following morning. Taking a step toward the kitchen, Sakura then paused at the sound of the doorbell chiming. She wasn't sure how she managed to hear it over the blaring music.
'As tumultuous as the wind,
Is your love for me,
How can I hope to tame it,
When you cause my heart to tremble so?'
"But tell me your wish and I will do my best to grant it," Sakura sang along as she padded over to the front door. Who could it be, calling at this time of the night, she wondered? Peering into the small peep-hole, Sakura frowned lightly when she found nobody standing on the other side.
Unbolting the locks but keeping the security chain attached, Sakura peeked curiously through the partially open space. There didn't seem to be anyone there. The illuminated front yard was silent; the only sign of movement came from the early budding flowers swaying gently in the cool night air.
That's weird, thought Sakura. Then she shrugged it off. Maybe someone had called at the wrong house and realised their mistake right after they'd pressed the bell. She lowered her gaze, ready to close the door again, when her lips parted in surprise. Resting on the top of the four steps that led down the front path was the single stem of a flower. The most beautiful flower she had ever seen, a flower that almost seemed to glow beneath the front lights. But of course that was impossible. She had to be seeing things.
She hesitated, her mother's firm warnings echoing through her mind.
Never open the door when you're home alone, Sakura.
Don't open this door to anyone you don't know.
Stay safe. If you're not sure who it is, don't open the door.
But the flower. She had to look at it. She wanted to know which family it belonged to, and there was no way of finding that out unless she took a closer look.
Alright, she told herself firmly. Unchain the door, grab it, then slam it shut again.
Feeling a little nervous that whoever had left the stalk was still lurking about outside, Sakura slowly unchained the door and poked her head cautiously out, looking left and right and up the front yard. There was nobody in sight. She quickly scooped up the stem and with a final look around, closed the door, locking it securely again. Then she looked down at the flower in her hand, and gasped softly.
The outermost petals were a pale, soft purple colour, gradually blending into a gentle peach in the middle. Astonishingly, the lilac edges were lined with what appeared to be silver. Had someone had them exclusively hand-painted? They must have, for she'd never before seen such an exquisite looking, natural bloom. It looked like a rose, possessed thorns like a rose, yet it wasn't. And the scent – incredible sweetness drifted up to her nose. She had never smelled anything like it.
'It is a sin to pine deeply for that which is forbidden…' the music on the stereo was repeating.
Raising the flower, she inhaled deeply. It smelled so good. Just the sort of feminine scent she loved. Then she found herself smilingly wondering just who could have taken the trouble to deliver it to her. Somebody shy – or else they would have stuck around and given it to her in person.
Wait until Ino heard that she had a secret admirer – if it wasn't somebody playing a prank on her.
It needed to be put it in water. Sakura began to move toward the kitchen once again, knowing that her vegetables were now likely overcooked, when the walls suddenly blurred before her eyes.
"Huh?" she blinked. Her vision thankfully cleared, but when she took another step forward, the walls began to tilt.
She caught her breath, alarmed. What in the world was the matter with her all of a sudden?
He watched intently with widened eyes. The flower was having an immediate effect, causing her to sway unsteadily on her feet. In another moment she had sat down on one of the couches, clutching a hand to her head.
Sleep, he silently willed. Sleep, now, Sakura.
Her eyelids suddenly felt strangely heavy. What was going on? Her thoughts were becoming sluggish, scattered, even as she tried to find the strength to stand again. The music thumping around her was slurring, becoming gibberish, incomprehensible, as Sakura struggled to fight against the peculiar sensation that had befallen her.
She needed to- to call… someone…
The room spun violently again as she toppled sideways onto the couch, lost in a sudden, deep slumber. Her right hand loosened, relinquishing its hold of the bloom. The flower dissolved into the air before it hit the ground.
He slowly released the breath he hadn't even realised he had been holding. Now. He wouldn't waste another minute. Stepping away from the window, he moved swiftly to the door and disappeared straight through it, reappearing effortlessly on the other side.
His heart pounded as he walked forward, every step drawing him closer to where she lay huddled on the sofa. The rising, final crescendo of the chorus pulsated through the room, echoing the escalating storm within him.
'I've tried to run but there's no escaping it,
The deep depths of your ardent love,
I want to drown in you.'
He walked slowly around the couch, his eyes locked onto her deeply slumbering form. Unable to look away. Unable to focus on anything else but how very pure and vulnerable she looked, lying there with sleep flushed cheeks, like a child of spring.
'Take me away, to your place,
Away from the flow of time and space,
Quivering touches and stolen kisses,
Your silence speaks volumes to my soul,
As we lose ourselves in the endless, forbidden deep.
So take me away, to that secret place,
And let me be buried in the sanctuary of your arms,
I don't want anything else but the endless deep,
Of your eyes, as you pull me deeper,
Into the plummeting depths of your love.
Take me away…'
So engrossed and fixated had his attention been on her, that he failed to sense the distinctive aura which had appeared outside the walls of the house until it was right upon the doorstep. He tensed, caught uncharacteristically off-guard, head whipping around to stare in the direction of the luminous essence. That presence. No. It could not be-
Yet it was unmistakable. The sound of keys in the door heralded the person's arrival. In a whisper, he had disappeared. A second later, the front door opened.
Sakura's mother stepped into the house.
Author's note:
Dun dun dun! Somebody was very nearly caught! How annoying to be foiled twice on the same day. Someone's going to be pissed next chapter lol. Was that exciting enough for everyone? xD This ended up being nearly ten thousand words long, which is crazy. I was reluctant to split it again though, because that would have interrupted the flow.
Please let me know your thoughts on this. As promised, Something Tangible will be update next, and then I'll be free to work on this after that's done, so the next update for this might take a while. Thank you for reading everyone.