Amaryllis
Chapter 7
"Lady."
Sakura took a deep breath as she sank deeper into the steaming water. She idly flicked at one of the flower petals drifting along the surface. It was nice of the queen to provide her with a large selection of flowers and oils to accommodate her during her stay. The bath had always been her favorite place to relax and that hadn't changed. Lifting one foot out of the water, she wiggled her toes against the cool tile.
"Lady," she said again. The word slipped out of her mouth, dancing across her lips. She tested the weight of the word against her tongue. Raising one foot out of the water, she arched it before dangling it over the edge of the tub.
"What a silly word," she decided before sliding down into the water to submerge herself completely.
Sometime later, there was a soft knock on the door. Moegi must've been busy, because Haku's voice drifted through.
"A visitor for you, General."
Sakura lifted her face out of the water. Droplets trickled down her chin and shoulders.
"A visitor?" she repeated. The awkward pause alerted her that it was someone other than Sasuke. The door opened a crack. Haku kept his eyes focused on the tiled floor.
"The Queen's Physician," he clarified in a whisper.
Sakura sighed.
"Go fetch refreshments. I'll be right out," she ordered, her hand splashing down into the water. Haku shut the door. The murmur of his voice barely drifted into the bathroom as he spoke to the guest.
Sakura rose. Water trickled noisily down her body. Landing in splashes back into the tub. Sakura wrapped her middle up in a towel and wrung her hair out.
"Do you always barge into your patients' private quarters?" sighed Sakura a few minutes later. She was wrapped up in a fluffy robe. Wet hair falling down the back. She paused in the doorway of the sitting room before she made her way to her bedroom, wet feet slapping against stone. Moegi ran after her to help her put on her slippers. Then Sakura joined Karin in the salon.
"Only for the ones that skip appointments. You were supposed to come see me yesterday," Karin cheerfully scolded her before she reached for her tea.
"I'm not… overly fond of hospitals," admitted Sakura with some hesitation. Karin sucked in her lower lip between her teeth as she scrutinized the other woman. And then she gave a knowing shake of her head.
"Sometimes I forget that you're a soldier," Karin declared. Sakura stared at her.
"Most soldiers don't have fond memories of hospitals. It's different from the nobles. For them, it's a luxury they can afford to like," the doctor explained with a smile that wasn't really a smile.
Karin was tall and thin with a cutting tongue. There tended to be sharpness to her words that bordered on being brusque. But Sakura also recognized that edge as efficiency. The brown rims of Karin's glasses framed her bright gaze and she had a habit of pushing them back up the bridge of her nose when she spoke. The most distinctive thing about Karin was her bright red hair- long and sleek on one side and in choppy layers on the other side. Sakura realized with some surprise that the only other person she had ever met with such red hair was Naruto's mother.
"You're making me blush with your staring, General," teased Karin. Sakura couldn't help but crack a smile.
"Well, as long as you're staring at me, how about you remove your robe and I'll take a look at your back," Karin continued. Her tone lost some of the teasing as she focused on her job.
Pulling the tie loose, Sakura shrugged the robe off her shoulders and turned to present her back to Karin. There was a long moment as Karin simply sat staring at the scar. She mumbled things to herself for a while before she reached out and pressed her thumbs along the sides of the healing gash.
"Does this hurt?" the doctor asked.
"A little."
"Good. The nerves are working properly."
"So, you have the entire court chattering about your tragic history. What's that all about?" queried Karin as she continued poking and prodding along the edges of the scar. Sakura kept her mouth pressed in a tight line. She gathered her robe in the front to cover her chest. She met Moegi's eyes and mouthed the word 'shirt' to the girl. The attendant disappeared.
"If they're already chattering, why bother asking me?" Sakura evaded the question.
"Rumors and vengeance feed nobility. I thought you, of all people, would know that. That's why the oldest, nastiest ones never seem to die," Karin remarked.
"…You're no commoner," Sakura observed.
"You're smart, General," the doctor stated so frankly that Sakura couldn't help but laugh a little.
"Alright, Doctor. Let's just say that my problems begin and end with family. They do say that familial obligation is just another route to misery."
"Oh, I understand. In-laws are the worst. Mine would have my head if not for Her Majesty's protection," Karin cheerfully divulged.
Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Why would that be? You're well-educated. You serve one of the most honorable positions in the queen's service. Why on earth would anyone hate a successful woman- Oh." Sakura stopped herself. She gave Karin a flat look. One the woman returned.
"People just hate to see a woman in power. It insults them, for some reason," sighed Karin. With that, she took her hands off Sakura's back and pulled her robe back up. She watched Sakura tie the robe shut with a sort of pensive expression before she pushed her glasses back up the bridge of her nose. Her ring twinkled with the movement.
"So a physician, as well as a baroness. Congratulations," Sakura finally put the pieces together.
Shisui wore the same ring.
Karin smiled. And then her eyes flickered to the door. "Oh. Looks like the tea is here."
Sunlight peeked into the halls of Whiteriver Keep through narrow windows. It was late in the morning and faint echoes of voices traveled from down the corridor somewhere. The stamp of boots bounced off the stone floors and walls. Hands at his sides, Sasori strode in the direction of the royal meeting chambers.
A letter had arrived in Plumeria a couple weeks ago. Sasori had struggled to quell the urge to toss it into the flames and pretend that the messenger had died at sea. A sneer curled his lips as he glanced around at the dim surroundings. Whoever had thought to build a home out of dark stone clearly had no sense of aesthetics.
"Tasteless," he scoffed before he fixed his gaze back ahead. In the flickering light of the lanterns mounted on the walls, Sasori could see the heavy double doors. The guards on duty moved their spears. Until they realized who it was. They straightened their backs as they parted. They opened the doors for him, revealing a room with a large rectangular table. Seated at the head was the King Regent. He smiled, raising a hand in greeting.
"Ah, Admiral. So good of you to join us," declared Minato without a hint of artifice. He was so transparent. Sasori put his right fist over his heart and bowed, his head inclining just enough the that no one would remark on his lack of manners. The starched fabric of his gloves creaked against the strain of his clenching fingers.
Around table sat the Crown's advisors. There was Countess Inuzuka, the Minister of Defense, who nodded at Sasori as he took a seat at the table. Her son currently served as a Lieutenant General in the kingdom army. She was veteran of many wars herself. The scar on her left cheek was a reminder that not even a knife to the face could take her down.
Beside the Countess was Duke Hyuuga, who didn't even acknowledge Sasori. He simply touched a strand of his silky hair. He descended from some of the oldest blood in the kingdom. His role as Minister of Finance meant that he oversaw the kingdom's treasury, which had grown even larger after the war had ended. Sakura had made certain of that as she plundered the palaces of the late King Orochimaru.
Last was Marquess Shimura, who had served as the Regent's Prime Minister for many years now. He only had one eye. But even that one eye was filled with malice as he stared at Sasori.
"You're late, Admiral. A poor start to things. Especially given that you're filling in for the General," drawled Danzo.
Sasori leaned back in his seat. "Oh, I didn't realize that I was late. I suppose it's because I had to sail on the ocean. And then travel for days on horseback. Just to hear you nag me, Prime Minister," he retorted.
Minato laughed. "Come now, Marquess. Don't be so hard on the boy. He's come a long way just for this meeting."
Sasori bared his teeth at the word 'boy'. "Thank you," he replied.
The meeting was long and pointless. They reviewed points that Danzo had undoubtedly made decisions on before the meeting had even begun. Everyone knew that he was the man truly running the country. All the Regent did was sit there and nod.
"Now, there's the matter of the southern border Your Grace," Danzo moved on.
Sasori's eyebrows rose. This was actually something that he had been thinking on not too long ago. His eyes met Tsume's across the table. She just barely shook her head, as if urging him to stay quiet.
"The attacks from the warlords have become more frequent. Just last month, they assaulted several caravans of merchants traveling well within our borders," Danzo read off a list in his hand.
"Have we continued to send them tribute as always?" Minato questioned.
"Yes, we have, Your Grace. Gold and precious jewels. The same as always," Hiashi reported. He flipped through a few pages of his ledger. Which was purely for show. Everyone knew that the crafty old man knew every single transaction inside and out. The crown didn't spend a single copper coin that the minister didn't know about.
"I advise that we increase the amount. The instability in the area makes it possible that a new warlord has taken over these lands. That could be the cause of this violence against us," Danzo said. The Regent considered this, rubbing his chin. He looked over at Tsume, who sat there, looking neither disinterested nor riveted.
"Countess, what are your recommendations as the Minister of Defense?" Minato inquired.
Tsume tapped her nail against the table. "I dare not touch the General's troops without her permission. If Your Majesty commands, I will send a formal request to the General to have forces sent to the area. I'm certain she will reply favorably for the sake of the kingdom," she replied.
Hiashi and Danzo glared at her. But Tsume simply smiled.
"It's been many years since I've been an active member of the military, Admiral. Is this the protocol?" Tsume then questioned.
Eyes turned to Sasori.
"There certainly must be… order… when we work. The Regent would do well to heed Countess Inuzuka's counsel," was all Sasori said. He kept his mouth shut for the rest of the meeting. For fear that words would escape his mouth that he could never take back.
After all the agendas had been addressed, the Regent adjourned the meeting. Sasori escaped the dreary chambers as quickly as possible. He felt Tsume tap his shoulder with the back of her hand as he passed. He climbed the stairs- two at a time. And then he slipped through several side passages until he made his way to the outer walls that guarded the castle. Soldiers were familiar with the way here. Especially those that patrolled the area. It was cold enough here that people rarely came out for a pleasant stroll. And windy enough that the wind would carry secrets away.
Sasori stopped to take a deep breath and grimace. He shook his head a little, as if trying to rattle the memory of that meeting out of his skull.
A little ways down, he spotted a few people waiting for him in the shade of one of the castle's towers.
Kiba straddled the wall, one leg brazenly swinging over the edge. Shino stood with his back to him, keeping a lookout, his lips folded in a tight line. Shikamaru was the last man standing with him, a yawn warping his mouth.
Sasori took several steps toward them. Kiba half-turned in his direction, greeting him with a smirk.
"It's rare for you to come to Whiteriver, Admiral," remarked Kiba.
Eyes narrowing, Sasori looked down at the moat and the long drawbridge laying across it.
"The Regent requested a council meeting," he explained.
"It's worrying that the Regent is calling his council in the General's absence," Shino observed. He rarely spoke. But when he did, he made his words count. He adjusted his tinted glasses on the high bridge of his nose.
"I highly doubt it was his doing," Shikamaru retorted.
"You're right. The Aristocratic Faction pushed him," Sasori confirmed. Any fool could see that it was the nobles who were in charge of that meeting.
Their conversation paused as they watched a stooped man bound with bandages leave the confines of the castle. The way he tapped his cane against the stone gave him away immediately. Sasori's eyes narrowed.
"I trust Marquess Shimura least of all," Shikamaru added in a low voice.
The old man had been the Regent's closest advisor for years. The late queen had wisely kept Lord Danzo at a safe distance, including him only enough to keep from taking offense. It had been a wise decision. One that the regent was unable to see.
"The Marquess may be the one missing an eye but the Regent is the one that's blind," scoffed Sasori.
"Ah. Poetry. It wouldn't be a talk with the Admiral without some prose," Kiba remarked, chuckling at his own joke. Sasori glanced at him. Like he was considering whether or not to push him right off the rampart. But then his face smoothed out a little.
"Thank the goddess that your mother was at the meeting. She seems to be speaking some sense into that man," Sasori informed them. He stopped talking then because he glowered down at the figures exiting the castle gates. The drawbridge drew back up with a slow, rattling groan. Only when the heavy iron gates slammed back down did Sasori get to his feet.
"The southern border," Sasori suddenly said.
Shikamaru sighed. "The warlords?" he asked, touching his fingers to his temple.
"The Duke claims that the attacks are increasing his violence and frequency. He advised the Regent to send more money to pacify them," Sasori reported. And then he glanced down at his hand, at the gold bangles on his wrist. He rattled them a little with a shake of his wrist to untangle them.
Kiba clucked his tongue. "Ever since the coup, that entire territory has been a madhouse. I don't understand why we don't just cross the border. We could subdue those warlords in… what do you say, Aburame? Three years?" Kiba turned to look at his fellow Lieutenant General.
Shino's glasses glinted in the sunlight.
"Less. If the General leads the charge herself. Far less," was all he said.
"It would be a bloodbath. On both sides. Just because they're called warlords doesn't mean that they're barbarians. They were formerly vassals of the king of Wave Country," Shikamaru reminded the both of them.
Kiba scoffed. "You call them vassals? They murdered the entire royal family. Now that place is just territories lumped together."
"So are we. That's what all kingdoms are," Shikamaru answered.
Kiba's smirk disappeared as he contemplated that.
"Count Yamanaka wasn't at the meeting?" Shikamaru then asked, turning back to Sasori.
Sasori shook his head. "It was only the official council members."
Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "He might as well be. He sticks his nose into everything these days."
They were quiet for a moment. Surprisingly, Shino was the one to break the silence.
"The General is undoubtedly forging ties in the north. She will want to do the same in the south."
Heads swiveled toward him.
"Are you suggesting that the General befriend these warlords?" laughed Kiba.
"No. Like Nara said, the warlords are just nobles without a king. They'll have someone working for them. Likely hired swords," Shino spelled out for them.
Shikamaru rubbed his chin. "Hm… we could buy out their contracts. Have them turn on their employers. And it would go against what the Regent and his council have decided."
As Shino spoke, a smile appeared on Sasori's face. It only widened when Shikamaru added on to the proposal. "Since when did you serve the Regent, Lieutenant Generals?" Sasori challenged. Three sets of eyes flew to him.
Kiba clenched his jaw. "Since never, Admiral," he spat.
"Excellent," declared Sasori. And then, with a nod, he took off from their meeting. The three men probably had a lot to discuss.
Sasori slipped back into the confines of the castle. He had spent enough time to know his way around fairly well.
Sakura had spent a lot of time here as a child. Even though she had made an effort to go home to Plumeria during the colder weather, the leftover months were spent in this place- a damp stack of stones that always smelled vaguely of moisture and moss. Sasori had visited frequently, but he could imagine that it was a lonely place to be. Thankfully, his time at the military academy meant that he was right in the city. He snuck out on his free days to keep her company. Though the marketplace was nowhere near as exciting, and the ocean was far away, they had been together.
As Sasori mused over his memories, he didn't realize that his feet had found a familiar path. Only when he was standing outside of Sakura's room did he understand where he was. One of the servant girls walking past looked ready to ask him why he was skulking around here until another girl grabbed her by the arm and ushered her away. Most of the castle staff recognized him by now. And if not, the sword in his belt was usually message enough for them to leave him alone.
Sakura had left the castle in May. It was now the beginning of August. And as Sasori stood outside her door, he wondered why he half-expected her to poke her head out and sigh as she begged him to keep her from dying of boredom.
And on some stranger impulse, Sasori grasped the metal knob and twisted it. The heavy door creaked inwards. Sasori immediately smelled a mustiness that betrayed months of lazy cleaning. Or perhaps it had not even been cleaned at all. Clicking his tongue, Sasori peered inside. It was dark as all the curtains were drawn. But his first step into the room connected with something on the floor that clearly did not belong there.
Eyes widening, Sasori burst into the bedroom and strode across the floor to rip the curtains open. As sunlight streamed into the dusty room, Sasori struggled to take in all the details at once as the dust swirled around in lovely patterns.
The dresser was in disarray with all the drawers yanked out and resting in skewed angles. The armoire doors were flung open. The few clothes Sakura had left behind were strewn across the ground. Even the bookcase was completely upended. One corner was splintered, as if someone had smashed it out of frustration. The cushions and pillows were split down the middle and all the feathers yanked out. Desk drawers were lying on the floor, thrown and rifled through.
At the sound of Sasori's shout, the guards were quick to come.
"What is the point of having you fools on patrol in every damn hall if none of you are intelligent enough to notice this?" he snarled. Sasori was met with bewildered stares until he pointed into the room. There were gawks. One gave a garbled attempt at an excuse. The back of Sasori's hand connected with his face, sending him sprawling. He lay cowering on the ground. Sasori very nearly spat on him. While these guards had received some training at the Academy, they were ultimately the Regent's personal troops. He couldn't really discipline them the way he would treat one of the kingdom's soldiers.
"Get out of my sight," Sasori hissed.
The one of the floor scrambled backwards on his hands and feet. His fellow guards grabbed him by the shoulders, dragging him out of the doorway.
Sasori strode across the room. He ran his hands along the inside of Sakura's gutted desk. He could feel gouge marks in the wood. And when his fingers found the hidden compartment, he let out a sigh of relief. The wood was splintered and marked there, too. As if the intruder had found it empty and taken out his frustrations on the desk again and again.
Still, he would have to write to her. To make certain that there had been nothing to steal from there.
Far away, across the forests and up a mountain, Sakura woke drenched in sweat.
As she bolted up, she groped for a sword at her waist that wasn't there. Gasping for air, Sakura sat completely bewildered by her own panic for a moment before memories of her nightmare slammed into her. Shivering, she listened to the sounds of her own panicked gasps as she struggled to calm down.
But the dream had been so real. And the familiar sound of a sword whistling through the air rang in her ears. Staring into the darkness, she focused on the faint outline of her own legs twisted into the sheets until she could breathe normally again.
Sakura glanced over at the nightstand. At this time, she could call for Haku and Moegi to bring her a glass of wine to settle her nerves. But when Sakura tilted her head to look out the window, she could see the moon floating high in the sky. It was late. And it would be cruel to wake her two diligent attendants for such a trivial matter.
Sliding off the bed, she decided to take a walk instead. She had decided to go to bed early to get some rest and apparently the universe was conspiring against the very idea.
Sakura pulled her cloak over her nightgown. She strapped her dagger to her waist, just in case. And then she headed out into the cool night.
Fingertips trailing along the palace walls, Sakura followed the path she took during the day. It was completely quiet in the palace so there weren't many places she could go. The kitchen fires burned low, smoke barely rising from the tall chimneys. Even the guards seemed more at ease after a warm day had settled into a much cooler if slightly damp night. They still saluted at her as she passed, but their conversations murmured low and easy after her.
Sakura soon found herself at the entrance of the Queen's garden. The neat rows of hedges and the archway made of twisting vines were haunting in the dark. But it didn't frighten her. It reminded Sakura of cool nights spent camping in the woods. Of course it was true that it could be dangerous out in the wilderness. But the soft swell of songbirds chirping out their evening songs as well as the cool wetness of grass under a tree were all things she could remember.
The guards on duty greeted her.
"Is everything alright, General? Do you need an escort?" one of them offered.
Sakura shook her head. "Thank you, but I just need to clear my head," she assured them. They bowed before they stepped back on their usual patrol.
The stone path was illuminated by tall lanterns along with a scattered clumps of fireflies. Hands in her pockets, she followed the curving lines of flat rocks buried in the manicured grass. She wandered around and around, just letting the chorus of the insects fill the empty spaces in her head.
As she rounded one of the hedges, she spotted a light in the otherwise darkened windows of the castle. On instinct, Sakura took a step back. She didn't know who would also be awake at such an hour. When she peered out past the roses, she recognized the face in the window.
Sakura stepped into the light of one of the lanterns. She raised her hand in greeting. It took several moments. She could tell when he recognized her because his hand pressed up against the window. She motioned for him to come down. He gave a furtive glance around. And then he held up a pointer finger before he disappeared.
She took a seat inside a wooden gazebo. It was flanked by two wooden posts driven into the ground. On top of them were glass boxes that served as lanterns. The little yellow flames glowed on bravely in the dark. Vines crept up the sides and top of the gazebo. But the flowers were closed, as if they were sleeping. It seemed like the whole world was sleeping so peacefully except for her.
Something connected with a stray pebble, sending it skittering noisily into other stones. Her head turned toward the sound. She smiled.
Well, for her and for one other person.
"I hope you didn't run," Sakura greeted him.
"The poor servants would find me passed out on the floor. I walked, General," he replied. And then he added, "And you wouldn't have been around to rescue me first."
She laughed as he took a seat next to her. His heavy dressing gown brushed against the grass as he moved. His matching slippers peeked out from beneath the garment. They were both dark blue with silver stitching. It almost looked like the night sky.
"I know why I'm not sleeping. But why are you not sleeping?" Sakura asked.
"My medicine makes me drowsy during the day. I wonder why the physician doesn't just give it to me at night," Itachi sighed. And then she could feel him looking at her.
"You look troubled," he observed in a softer voice.
"Do I? Are you observant or am I just a bad actress?" she wondered with a smile quirking her mouth. He didn't seem to know how to answer her.
They both stared out at the nearby pond. Water lilies drifting on the still surface. The long branches of a willow tree skimmed the edges of the water. It took Sakura a moment to realize that there was no high-pitched buzzing that she had come to associate with bodies of water in this part of the world.
"There are no mosquitoes," she observed.
Only a few fireflies fluttered lazily about. And they were easily scattered with a sweep of her hand.
"The fish," Itachi said.
"Pardon?"
"There are fish in the pond. They eat all the eggs that the mosquitoes lay," clarified Itachi.
"Oh," she simply said. She hadn't actually expected an explanation. Fingers lacing together in her lap, Sakura leaned forward to look closer at the pond's shimmering waters. But it was late and it seemed even the fish were sleeping.
"I know why I'm not sleeping. But why are you not sleeping, General?" Itachi asked, turning her own words against her.
Sakura's eyes widened. She laughed again. She found herself doing that a lot around him. Hands clasped, she gazed out at the water, following the lazy pattern of fireflies dancing in the dark.
"Bad dreams?" he guessed.
"… Dreams imply that they were never reality," she replied.
"So they're memories."
Sakura closed her eyes. Clenched her hands together as she felt the sticky heat of blood dripping down her fingers, her wrists. When she opened her eyes, she found her hands dry and clean.
"Yes." She exhaled long and hard.
"I don't know if I'll understand, General. But I can at least listen," he offered.
Maybe it was the darkness. Or the cool stone. But it felt like maybe it would be alright to unload just a little of the memories swirling inside of her skull.
"We went to war a week after I graduated from the military academy. The General of the Armies at that time was a man named Hiruzen Sarutobi," Sakura began. Then, in a whispered afterthought, she added, "He was a great man."
And then she smiled as she envisioned the hush that fell over everyone as Hiruzen entered the room. Everyone giving the General respect as he strode through. A simple nod from him felt the acknowledgement of the whole world.
"I was already a sergeant when the war began. The Regent's ministers were hoping I would be killed quickly on the front lines. But I kept living. I still don't understand why," she recalled.
Even as the words left her mouth, she knew they were a lie. She lived because she was afraid of dying. She stabbed and slashed because she was terrified of how she would become nothing. A princess who failed to become a queen. A daughter who had failed her royal parents in every conceivable way.
When she looked over, it shouldn't have surprised her that Itachi was watching her. Because she was speaking. And he was listening. It was the polite thing to do. So maybe it was the look in his eyes that startled her.
"I… no. I know why I didn't die. It was because I was so good at killing," she confessed.
"Leader after leader died. I became General. And I was very good at it. I ended the war in a year. And when I came home, I was a hero," she recalled. Could hear the shrieks as entire towns burned. Hear the last choked gurgles on the lips of soldiers as life gushed out of their wounds. And the screams followed her everywhere she went. Like her feet should have left blood and not prints in the soil.
She hadn't realized her hands were shaking until she felt Itachi grasp one. It was improper. She should have pulled away. But she didn't want to.
"I did the right thing. Everyone was so proud. And I should be proud too…" Sakura trailed off. Looking down at their hands.
"So… the memories of your success are… nightmares now?" Itachi inferred.
It was odd. How he was able to organize such complicated thoughts into such a simple sentence. Sakura didn't say anything. She held out her free hand. Watched a firefly buzz over it. It touched briefly against her palm. Then it took flight again, heading off in a dizzying pattern that it seemed to understand. She didn't.
It was a while before either of them spoke.
"That's… very sad," commented Itachi. Sakura looked over at him as she waited for him to clarify.
He looked into her eyes as he said, "You sacrificed so much for your kingdom. And you can't even be proud."
Sakura pulled her hand from his, scoffing. "Proud," she repeated. The word tasted like metal on her tongue. "For a murderer to take pride. How ridiculous."
"It's sad," he said again. "You're a hero. You saved your people. Even when they don't understand how much you did for them."
Her smile faded. He flinched just a little when she pinned him with a stare. But he didn't look away.
"Do you understand, Prince?" she challenged.
"….No. I don't. Because I'm not you," he answered.
And that caught her off guard. Everyone claimed to understand. That was how they tried to comfort her. They presumed to know how she felt.
"You're a hero," he insisted.
"I'm a murderer."
"You can be both. One does not take away from the other."
She sneered. "You're full of philosophy tonight, Prince. I detest philosophy."
He didn't sound insulted like he should have been. His smile was gentle. "Philosophy is all I have, General."
The guards clanked passed by. They didn't seem to notice the two of them tucked underneath the flowers and vines. Still, they fell silent until the shadows of the guards disappeared completely.
"I want to understand you better, General," he added, his voice barely above a whisper.
Sakura let out a long sigh. She looked down at his hand resting on the bench. His fingers were delicate and long. The roughest thing that they had probably encountered were the pages of a book. She took it, raised it to her mouth, and placed a kiss on the back of it. When she placed it back down, she could see that it was shaking now.
She tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. Glanced at him in the darkness. His eyes were enormous.
"Good night, Prince. Pleasant dreams," she murmured. She got to her feet, gathering her cloak around herself. And then she headed back up the path towards the palace. A faint "good night" followed after her.
Sakura headed back up to her room and settled in bed. And though she was determined to stay awake for as long as possible to stave off the nightmares again, she opened her eyes to find that it was already morning. Pushing the curtains aside, she saw the clock tower in the distance to confirm the time. Before she even pulled the cord to summon them, Moegi and Haku were already there with breakfast and clean clothes.
"Did you sleep well, General?" asked Moegi with her usual cheer. Sakura considered this question for a moment before she answered.
"I suppose I did," she replied with some amount of surprise.
As Sakura sat enjoying a cup of tea along with a piece of bread, there was a soft knock on the door. Moegi moved to the door. She cracked it open with caution. There was a high, feminine voice on the other side. As Moegi whispered to her, Haku placed Sakura's polished boots on the floor beside the bed. After a while, Moegi shut the door and reentered with an envelope in her hand.
Haku went to return Sakura's plates to the kitchen while Moegi helped her dress. By now, Moegi had adjusted to helping Sakura with lapels and boot laces instead of petticoats and corset strings. She stood inserting cufflinks into Sakura's sleeves while Sakura opened the envelope with her free hand.
It was from Naruto, inviting her to lunch. Just the two of them. Out on the terrace. Moegi peered at the message with curious eyes.
"What does it say, General?"
"Let Prince Naruto know that I will see him at noon for lunch," Sakura said. She handed Moegi the envelope before pulling on her gloves.
Sakura didn't exactly know what prompted her to accept Naruto's invitation. Maybe someone from home had urged him to try again. If his father was a puppet, what was there to stop him from being used as one as well?
It wouldn't be the first time that he had tried to make plans that she rejected with no better reason other than she didn't feel like seeing him. But perhaps she was just in a more forgiving mood after a good night's rest. Pondering this, Sakura met Sasuke in the stables and they mounted their horses to dash off through the woods. Laughing and exchanging stories, they enjoyed the sweet smell of dew on the grass and trees.
The skies were clear and they certainly promised a pleasant day. However, just as Sakura exited the bathroom and stood dressing in her bedroom, she saw dark clouds gathering overhead. Rolling her eyes, Sakura still pulled on her shirt and pants. As she sat on the edge of the bed lacing up her boots, she listened to the soft tap of a few raindrops against the window.
"It seems like it's going to rain, General. Do you really think it wise to go on with your lunch plans?" asked Moegi. Haku held out Sakura's dark green cloak. Sakura shook her head at both of them.
"What harm can a little rain do?" she said as she headed off to the terrace.
By the time Sakura was settled in the chair across from Naruto, the few drops of rain had turned into a downpour.
"Well," she simply said as she watched the fat droplets of water splash off the stone. Fortunately, they were shielded by one of the balconies on the second story. Naruto grinned in a pained sort of way.
"Nothing I ever plan ever goes right," he said only half-jokingly. Sakura's expression softened. Self-deprecation didn't suit him.
"I know," answered Sakura. Naruto's head immediately swiveled around to look at her. She kept her gaze fixated on the rain beating down on the grass.
"At least you try," she said.
Sakura could feel Naruto staring at her but she let the moment slide by.
"Should we… leave?" he wondered.
Sakura unfolded her napkin with a snap. Draped it across her lap. When she moved, so did the waiting servants. They began setting out the food and tea.
"I don't see why not. Has the rain stolen your appetite?" she asked.
Naruto gaped at her. And then he scrambled to find his own napkin. Found it was already tucked into his collar. "N-no! Let's eat!" he exclaimed, his face so bright that it almost hurt to look at.
When they fell silent again, Naruto squirmed. She could tell that he wasn't used to silent meals. His parents doted on him. Encouraged him to share about his day without end. Perhaps she would have been that way if her parents were still alive too.
"Um."
"Yes?" she asked. His face promptly turned the color of a tomato. He stole a glance at her.
"Your uniform…. you're always wearing it when I see you. Even when you're not on duty."
"Hm. Does it not suit me?" she pretended not to understand. She sliced into the pheasant. Steam curled into the humid air.
"No! I just… do you ever get to rest? I've seen other officers out of uniform. But… not you, really."
Sakura arched an eyebrow. She hadn't expected an observation like that from what she considered her most dense cousin. She took a sip of her tea as she tried to decide how honest to be with him.
Naruto ate, staring down at his plate.
"I don't have the luxury of free time," she finally said. Naruto's chin jerked up. His eyes widened. She wasn't smiling, but she wasn't frowning either.
"The second I let my guard down, there are people who will swoop in to steal everything from me. Not that I have much left," she elaborated.
Naruto's eyes drifted back down to his food. He had severed the breastbone from the bird. Bits of meat clung to the blackened bone.
"You're smart, you're pretty, you work really hard. Why would someone try to steal from you?" he wondered. "Is there anything that can be done to stop that?" he then asked. The directness of his question startled her. In a way, she admired that naive belief. That good people deserved good, that bad people should be stopped. That there was always a solution for everything. It was almost endearing.
"That would be nice if there was. Let me know if you ever come up with an answer to that question," she replied. And then, for a moment, she smiled at him. Like when they were children.
Naruto smiled too.
My Dearest Sakura,
I hope this letter finds you in high spirits. I write this in my room on the night of your parents' memorial service. It was a lovely affair, I assure you. Classy and respectful with just a hint of that sadness that you would have brought had you been present. Count Hatake and Count Maito both attended to pay their respects. I have informed them of the details of your stay at Goliaf. Sasori stayed for the event but departed shortly after dinner. He mentioned something about a royal summons, which concerns me quite a bit.
Now, I am aware that each year, on this anniversary, I am waxing poetic about my beautiful memories of your parents. And who am I to break such a tradition? I hope that the following words will be of some comfort to you.
Your mother was always my hero and my closest friend. I do feel somewhat sorry for my late husband, as he was an affectionate and loyal man. And that is not to say that I did not love him. I loved him deeply. But my sister there first. And most importantly, she was my queen. Seeing you grow more and more each year has always been the greatest pleasure to me as you have always reminded me of her. However, as of late, I feel that you are even surpassing her in many of the things that she already did so well.
Take care of yourself, Sakura, I know that you will be able to overcome any obstacle with wisdom and with are strong. The blood of our family runs deepest in you. It will not fail you.
It is difficult to believe that it will very likely be August by the time this correspondence reaches you. We, at home, all eagerly await the day of your return.
Lovingly,
Your Aunt Kurenai
After receiving the letter from her aunt, Sakura sat in her chair for a long time before she could decide what to do. She penned a response to Kurenai's words of comfort. She thanked her aunt for all of her guidance and love. She added a few jokes to put the older woman at ease that all was well with her.
Sakura was still careful not to write anything that could be used against her in the event that the letter was intercepted. She mentioned her homesickness. Then her hand paused. She decided against adding anything else.
She signed her name in looping letters. She folded the paper and tucked it into an envelope. She heated the stick of red wax she always left with her stationary. As the wax warmed, it dripped onto the envelope flap. Sakura waited, fingers tapping. When the wax began to cool, she exhaled over the surface of her ring and stamped the symbol of the rose into the seal.
The chair creaked when Sakura leaned back. She glanced outside again. The sky was still grey, but it had stopped raining for the first time in days. It would be easier to summon one of her attendants to send the letter. Perhaps Haku. It seemed like her letters went out a little more quickly when she entrusted them to the boy. Moegi was likely busier with kitchen duties, and waited until the end of the day to send them.
But then again, she could use the fresh air. And walking would be a better distraction than simply sitting in her room.
The palace was quiet. Most of the men had left on a hunting trip with Prince Sasuke and the king early that morning. Of course, they had extended an invitation to Saura as well. But she had politely declined.
"I don't believe in hunting for sport," she had explained. Just the thought of watching dogs rip a wild fox apart while the nobles chugged wine and made crass jokes made her feel sick. Sasuke, who had grown up on the sport, seemed to have trouble understanding. Still, he respected her decision and instead promised to have dinner with her upon his return. He had boasted promises of venison for dinner. Sakura admired his optimism but doubted that would be on the menu that evening.
So with the castle largely emptied, Sakura was able to walk the big halls in solitude.
One of the messengers she had employed sat gossiping in the stables. Where he usually was. He sprang to his feet when she approached. As did all the stable boys. She was a familiar face by now.
"This one needs to reach Plumeria. Are you available?" Sakura asked, holding up the envelope.
The messenger accepted it with both hands. "Of course, General. I'll ready my things right away," he replied. And he was off before she had to say anything else. He was the third son of some minor noble. Destined for nothingness. This sort of job was a rare opportunity for him to make money and to meet many different people. It was no wonder he took it so seriously.
Sakura lingered for a little while longer. But on her way back inside, she spotted the pergola. It was a shaded walkway that linked the queen's gardens to her even-more-treasured greenhouses. On top of the lattice grew wisteria that blocked the sunlight from reaching the delicate skin of nobles who preferred to remain as pale as possible.
And under the shade of the pergola, she noticed a foot peeking out. She decided to take a detour. As she approached, she recognized Itachi sitting in the shade with a book in his lap.
"Feeling well today?" she asked as she stepped across the stone toward him.
Itachi jolted.
"Good afternoon," he greeted her. His cheeks slowly colored. That didn't surprise her. Given how their last encounter had ended. She leaned against the outside beam, waiting for him to speak. It took several seconds. But Itachi finally managed to find the words.
"I'm happy to see you, General."
"Sakura," she corrected him once again.
He chuckled. "Alright. Sakura. Actually, I've wanted to ask you something about my reading." He indicated the open space on the other side of the bench.
"Of course," she said as she moved into the shade to sit.
"Where is your family originally from? All the books just say that your family has ruled over the Southern Tea Isle for so long that your origins rarely come into question," he queried. To prove his point, he opened up the book to a certain page and pointed to the passage. But Sakura didn't need to read to know that he was right. The origins of the Haruno family weren't even known that well by the people of the Forest Kingdom.
Sakura crossed one leg over the other, one elbow on her leg.
"Well, we actually came from the desert. There's a vast, dry land that we call the Land of Wind. It lies across the ocean. It's much different there. There are cities ruled by princes, but no kings. My ancestors crossed over first on their camels and then on their ships for months in order to reach the isle," explained Sakura.
Itachi's eyebrows rose.
"Your family was originally from The Wastes? I always thought that they were known for their dark skin and curly hair," he said. Sakura could almost see him rustling through the pages inside his head.
The corner of Sakura's mouth lifted.
"Is that what they call it here? The Wastes?" she repeated with a hint of wonder. "I like it."
Many years ago, when Sasori had just turned 12, he received his first boat from his mother. For its maiden voyage he, along with Sakura and a few others, had journeyed across the Great Salt Ocean to visit their ancestral lands.
Sakura, barely 9 at the time, had wondered at the endless expanse of blue that surrounded them. Sasori followed the crew around, observing their work and posing the occasional question. At night, they shared a cabin. And Sakura would always crawl down from her top bunk to curl up in the blankets with her cousin. Foreheads pressed together, they whispered their secrets and listened to the creak of the wooden ship over the water.
After nearly two months of travel, they arrived a port city, where a guide had been arranged to wait for them. But they found no one. Even after two days of asking around, no one could direct them to any such man. So, mounting their camels, they headed out in the direction of their uncle's palace in the desert.
At first, the Arids did not seem so bad.
The Arids, as local people referred to the desert, was indescribably dry. Just one gust of the hot wind was enough to suck the moisture straight off the tongue. Initially, just the heat of the sun beating down on them was difficult. But they covered their heads and they had filled up plenty of waterskins in town. The party exchanged stories as it crossed tall dunes of sand. By lunchtime, the city had long ceased to be visible in the distance and sweat poured down the back of Sakura's neck. There was no place to take shelter from the unforgiving sun. Not even a rock.
Late into the afternoon, a wall of rock appeared to the north. Lost, and with nothing else to follow, they urged their weary camels in that direction. There were no stories being told now. They were too tired to form more than a few words at a time.
The sandstorm whipped up so suddenly that they didn't even notice until they were trapped in a chaotic whirl of stinging sand and hot wind. Coughing and tearing, everyone struggled to cover their faces. The panicked camels groaned and heaved their passengers off as they too sought shelter. Tumbling into the burning sand, Sakura retched against the dry powder clogging her mouth and nose.
Just when she felt like she might die in the desert, a hand closed around her wrist. In fact, several hands pulled her to her feet, hauling her over the shifting sands. A touch of cool water on her lips pulled Sakura back from the haze. Coughing and tearing, she gulped down the drink. As soon as she could gulp down clean air, Sakura succumbed to unconsciousness.
A little while later, Sakura found herself resurfacing. And the first thing she noticed were soft voices.
"Here we are. I guess these are our visitors," a man's voice declared above her.
"I'll have that drunkard's head. Leaving these young ones on their own," a woman remarked.
"I can't tell which is which," another complained. Sakura grumbled as she felt something cold and wet against the top of her head.
"Ah. I see pink. This is the little princess," the first voice stated.
"Then this one must be Princess Chiyo's other grandchild," the second guessed.
"He's tall for his age. Isn't he about the same age as your first son?"
"I believe so."
The quiet conversation was interrupted by Sakura's sudden coughing fit. Someone lifted more water to Sakura's lips. She drank, water dribbling down her chin in her blind haste. There was a chuckle.
"Looks like she'll be just fine. Have the men gathered all of the camel?"
"Yuura just brought them in. He says that they didn't seem to have lost any of their cargo. Looks like the little ones know their knots."
Curiosity triumphed over weariness. Sakura cracked her eyes open to see the vague shapes of the two men chatting amiably. Still squinting, she inched her hand over until her fingers made contact with Sasori's skin. After a moment, his hand flipped over and gently closed around hers. He was awake too. They lay listening for a while until Sasori stirred a little before he slowly sat up.
"Hello, Uncle," he said in a scratchy sigh.
The Haruno family, though descended from their distant desert kin, had also made it a habit to periodically remarry back into them. Sasori and Sakura's maternal grandmother, for example, had been the youngest daughter of a prince. And Sasori's father, though not particularly high on the social hierarchy, had been a lord's son who had traveled from the Arids to Plumeria as a scholar.
Technically, most men in the Haruno lands could be called "Uncle". And that was precisely what was done.
Sakura and Sasori had spent many months there with their desert cousins. Their Great-Uncle owned a palace located in an oasis. And despite the barren landscape, there was always an abundance of meats and fruits to feast on. They immersed themselves in the culture of their ancestors, marveling at the similarities and the differences from their own traditions. And while they enjoyed themselves, at night, breathing in the cold, fresh air, they both longed for the perfume of flowers outside their bedroom windows.
When they returned home a year later, laden with gifts from their relatives, the first thing Sakura did was dive off the side of the ship and into the bay. The crew laughed at what they assumed were the young lady's antics, but Sasori understood. He dove in after her, reveling in the cool abundance of water. There was water everywhere. And greenery exploded in every area. Bright flowers spread their fragrant petals toward the sun. And the smells of food cooking in the market all mixed with the saltwater to create a smell that could only be described as "home".
Whenever Sakura thought back to her six months in the Arids, she couldn't even begin to put into words her relief at standing on the ship's bow and watching as the beloved palms of her homeland rose up from the horizon.
As she recounted this journey to Itachi, Sakura felt a pang of sudden and intense longing for her home. It must have shown in her expression because she suddenly heard Itachi put his book down. The bench creaked faintly as he scooted over to sit closer to her. Together they stared out into the garden. When Sakura brushed her fingers against Itachi's, he turned pink and cleared his throat needlessly again. But neither of them seemed willing to move their hands away.
"I'd love to see that someday."
"I'd love to show it to you."
"Sasori."
Sasori bolted upright. His head whipped around. Instead of the wooden panels of his cabin in his ship, Sasori found smooth white walls. The rich fragrance of rugosa roses assaulted his senses.
"What are you doing?" Kankuro demanded. He stood at the foot of the bed with his arms folded over his chest. Kankuro was perpetually some shade of sun-kissed bronze. If he wasn't in the palace shadowing his father, he was out on the beach enjoying the sun and the waves. His headscarf was a muted shade of light green today. It wrapped around his short brown hair at an angle, tying to his right with the loose ends brushing his shoulder. In his half-sleeping daze, Sasori idly realized that the color of the fabric was remarkably close to the color of Sakura's eyes.
And then, it occurred to Sasori that the reason this room felt so familiar was that it was Sakura's.
He looked down. He was lying on a soft feather bed. The soft tassels of the throw blanket under him conjured old memories. Rubbing at his eyes, he twisted to look behind him, half-expecting Sakura to be curled up on the mattress beside him like she always was whenever they fell asleep after talking long into the night.
"You must have been completely drunk last night to wander in here. I didn't even know you were back until Temari saw your ship this morning at the docks. And then the guards said you were here," commented Kankuro as he moved his fists to his hips.
"Why am I in Sakura's room?" wondered Sasori with a groan as he squinted at the sunlight. Kankuro rolled his eyes. There was a layer of black kohl around them. Kankuro claimed that it was originally to help protect his eyes from the desert sand. Temari whispered that it was to make him feel pretty. But all that mattered in that moment was that if Kankuro was up and dressed, then that meant that it was late in the morning.
"That's what I was wondering. Do you remember? Ah, whatever. Get cleaned up and come eat," sighed Kankuro before he left.
And as Sasori sat trying to make sense of his disheveled state, he heard his pocket crinkle. Scowling, he reached into his breast pocket to find a crumpled letter. As he read it over, he suddenly remembered what had prompted him to head straight for a pub to celebrate with his crew.
I'm coming home as soon as the season is over.
Sasori washed up and changed into clean clothes before he headed to meet his cousins.
Gaara, who just returned from a week-long inspection of the island, looked exhausted. Still, he smiled at Sasori and pushed an empty cup over to him. A servant stepped forward to fill it with tea. And then, she gave Gaara a pitying look as she filled his cup as well. He nodded his thanks.
Gaara took his trips to inspect the island very seriously. He scrutinized the various crops and products that the island used to generate income. He asked people about their working conditions and offered help whenever he could. His patience and gentle nature made it easy for others to open up to him. Somehow, he seemed genuinely confused when his siblings joked about his popularity.
"So that buffoon Count Maito was back yesterday," Kankuro announced with glee as soon as Sasori settled in his place at the round table.
Count Maito was one of the two lords who oversaw the island. He had taken an arrow for Sakura when she was just a baby. To show her gratitude, the late Queen had elevated him to the rank of Count, which had caused an uproar in the Queen's Council on the mainland. After all, Gai was just an islander.
"He's the last direct son of the island's chieftains. I'd say that's noble blood," Tsunade had replied to the criticism.
"Please, Your Majesty. I beg you to reconsider," Marquess Shimura had pleaded.
And Tsunade, lowering her spectacles had said: "You may beg. But I am in charge. Not you, Marquess."
It was a story that all of them wheedled Kurenai to retell every once in a while. It was one of Sakura's favorite stories about her mother.
Across the table, Sasori outright rolled his eyes. He grabbed a banana and began peeling the soft skin away.
"What does he want this time?" Temari sighed when no one else asked.
"He just wanted to bring the first crop of guava for us to taste. But that man is so…" Kankuro searched for the right word.
Gaara made a very serious face as he tried to think of a word to help his brother. "Irritating," he supplied as he looked up at them.
His siblings burst into laughter at the grave expression on his face.
"Am I wrong?" Gaara wondered. That only made them laugh louder. Sasori chuckled too, despite the headache pounding at his temples.
Sasori looked down at the banana after he took a bite. It was sweet. It almost tasted like a berry.
"These are excellent. Did Count Maito bring these too?" he queried.
Temari picked up a banana too. Shaking her head, she gestured to her youngest brother with it. "Gaara brought it back from the Caldera."
The Caldera was the second biggest city on the island. It sat to the north, inside the depression left behind by a volcano that had once spewed fire and boiling stone. It had been centuries since the volcano had woken, but the islanders refused to step foot on that land. The memory of the molten destruction lived on in the stories they passed down from parent to child. Instead, it had become a city for the people who had come to the island from afar. There were those who had left the mainland to escape the cold weather. Others had come from across the Great Salt Ocean from distant nations to the east.
The Hatake family had been good stewards of the land for three generations now. The young Count Hatake had taken over for his late father about six years ago. According to the people who farmed the hills under him, the young Count Hatake was reclusive but fair. He never showed his bare face in public, which had initially generated some strange rumors. Now, everyone accepted it as a small quirk in an otherwise good lord.
"Count Maito's son is still searching for a wife, apparently. Many of the young ladies from the mainland have turned their nose up at him," Temari then shared.
"Can you imagine that?" drawled Sasori in response.
"Is it his face?" Temari conjectured, earning a roaring laugh from Kankuro. Gaara looked like he might laugh until he caught Sasori's look of disgust.
"No. It's a question of pedigree. They don't believe him to be of real noble stock," Sasori replied.
"His family has a title and land. What more do these women want?" Temari scoffed.
"Maybe the sons of noble families have penises that curve in a different direction," Kankuro joked, earning three dirty looks and one kick under the table.
"I'd punch you, cousin. But I'm still too hungover to bother," sighed Sasori as he stabbed idly at his breakfast with his fork.
"Speaking of marriage, when will you finally allow Lady Sakura to marry? There must be no shortage of suitors lining up to have her hand," Kankuro teased.
"She doesn't seem all that interested in marrying anyone right now. There's no need to push her," protested Temari while wrinkling her nose, "She's like me."
Kankuro chortled.
"The main difference there is that Lady Sakura is lovely and you're more on the behemoth end of the spectrum," Kankuro answered. Gaara and Sasori moved to grab their teacups before Temari pounced, knocking the table over. As Temari attempted to throttle one of their brother, Gaara calmly took another sip of his tea.
"Should I ask her then?" Sasori inquired as he glanced at Gaara. After some thought, Gaara raised and lowered his thin shoulders in a shrug.
"Lady Sakura once said that part of being a wise leader is to know the value of not taking sides in pointless arguments," Gaara slowly responded. Sasori cracked a smile.
"She was referring to something like this I suppose," Sasori said. They dodged as Kankuro's foot flailed past them.
Sasori lifted his teacup to his mouth. Then lowered it. "Oh, don't scratch the floor, Cousin. It'll leave a mark."