Amaryllis
Chapter 8
"The Haruno family has been busy lately," Danzo uttered as he stared over at the Regent. Minato stood with his back to him, staring down at the courtyard. There were soldiers running through drills. The Minister of Defense had suggested that officers from the Academy run the castle guards through some exercises.
"To keep them on their toes," the Countess had suggested with an odd smile. And Minato had agreed.
He watched as one of the officers jabbed his spear upwards. It sent the guard's weapon flying. And sending the guard himself sprawling. The officer offered a hand to help the other man to his feet.
"Well, the Haruno's are always doing something. That's how they make so much money," answered Minato.
Danzo cleared his throat. Minato turned away from the window. Forehead wrinkling, he looked at his closest advisor with confusion written across his face.
"Actually, Your Grace, what I meant is that I've heard reports that Princess Sakura has grown very close to the Uchiha family. It's possible that they are looking to create a union between the families," Danzo clarified. Minato looked no less confused.
"Well, she is of marriageable age. And if she and the boy like each other, I don't see how that would not be a prosperous union," the Regent slowly said.
"Yes, Your Grace. It would certainly be a prosperous union for the Haruno family," answered Danzo very deliberately. Minato frowned harder.
"Only for the Haruno's? What are you getting at, Danzo?" he asked as he finally caught on.
"Well, Your Grace, the Southern Tea Isle has always been defiant. Declaring autonomy, deciding its own taxes. And the Haruno family has always held it, meaning that as long as the isle has been resistant to the Crown, the Haruno family has been in control," Danzo spelled out.
"Are you suggesting that if my niece were to marry, she would immediately begin to conspire against her own country?" the Regent laughed. Danzo, however, was not smiling.
"I am only urging caution, Your Grace. This is a very precarious position that you occupy. It would be wise for you to watch which hands join," warned Danzo with a slight edge to his tone. But when Minato turned his head to look at him, Danzo's face had settled back into the calm lines of neutrality.
"Nonsense, Danzo. We're family. There's nothing to fear," he assured the older man. When he turned his attention back to the courtyard, one of the officers from the Academy was saying something with a sneer. There was blood dripping down the officer's wrist. But it was the castle guard who lay on the ground, his throat exposed to the point of the spear.
"Sasori, I've been searching for you for forever!" complained Temari as she spotted red bobbing along in the water. Her sandals tapped against the creaking wood. Coming to a stop, she crouched on the edge of the path to peer over the edge. Her honey-colored hair hung around her in loose waves, out of the usual cluster of three ties.
Sasori's sullen frown made her cringe.
Sasori lay sprawled out in the bottom of one of the little boats. He had tied a rope to one of the thick posts supporting the walkway. One leg hanging over the edge of the boat, he barely raised his eyebrows to acknowledge his cousin before he resumed staring off at nothing.
"Are you sulking?" she demanded as she sat on the walkway. She could already sense a long talk coming and preferred not to cramp her neck leaning over to look at him the entire time. As she waited, she plucked at the hem of her skirt where it rested against her thigh. The deep purple fabric was slightly wrinkled. When she pulled at the edge, it refused to smooth out. She huffed and left it alone.
Temari stood out from any crowd. She was tall- taller than most of the other women on the island. And her body was toned and roasted to a warm shade of golden brown from countless hours training in the sun. The firm lines of her broad shoulders did not detract from her curves, however. Temari was very much a woman- and an attractive one at that. The men that first visited Sami always seemed torn between terror and arousal at the sight of the woman standing next to Sakura. Especially the way she leaned against a spear that was even taller than her.
When the lapping waters began to wet at her sandals, Temari yanked them off and tossed them aside. Leaning back on her palms, she soaked in the warm sun as it rose up to the middle of the sky. It was late in the morning and so the brilliant star had yet to completely chase away the cool air leftover from the night.
The drone of the waves washing in and out of the bay flowed over them. And swathed in the shadows of the walkway, Sasori inhaled and exhaled to the beat of the moving waters. Small slivers of sunlight dotted his body as rays escaped through the gaps in the wooden boards above.
Sasori lay on his back for a long time as he contemplated the lines of planks above him. He could see Temari's shadow as she sat waiting for him.
"What exactly do you think war is, Temari?" he inquired. Temari turned the concept over in her mind, running a hand through her gold hair. The tide was coming in but the waters were still low enough that only the soles of her feet skimmed the ripples. The stack of gold bangles on her right foot jangled softly at the motion of her swinging legs.
"War is conquest. It's a fight between mad dogs for land and for influence," she replied. The upward curl of Sasori's lips couldn't be called a smile. Sasori dipped his hand over the side of the boat, letting his fingertips drag against the cool waters.
"When you think of war, then, do you think of burly men in armor running at each other with clubs? Is it about drinking wine out of skulls of the defeated and ripping out their teeth for trophy necklaces?" questioned Sasori. As he spoke, he let his eyes drift shut.
"Well, I know for a fact that that's not you westerners do," she retorted. Sasori chuckled.
"Quite right. The navy is all about cleanliness and order- which, by the way, suits me quite well. But more than that, war is about control. It's about who has possession of which resources. Who is able to call themselves a victor in history books? This is why, since the reasoning behind war has evolved, Temari, the nature of it must evolve as well," explained Sasori.
"Does this have to do with Lady Sakura?"
It wasn't much of a question. Most things in Sasori's life had to do with Lady Sakura.
After first arriving home from the war, Sakura had initially been a rare sight. Meeting with her then advisors and then taking long trips surveying the island and meeting with locals had eaten up all of her time. Only several days after arriving had Sakura finally had time to settle into her apartment to rest.
Days after Sakura's return home, the island had thrown a party to celebrate. The Duchess was home. The people caught pigs and climbed palm trees to knock down ripe coconuts. They roasted clams and small crustaceans in deep pits dug into the sand and covered with banana leaves. Fat fish with glistening white meat were served with chunks of sweet fruit. Cups were filled to the brim with fruit and wine.
The fragrance of foods and flowers mingled all through the day until the feast began at sundown. The performers began to sing and dance as they beat against drums and whistled through flutes.
Sasori even remembered what Sakura had been wearing that night. He sat to her left, head fuzzy with fruity wine when she had first arrived wearing a long red dress that draped across her body. She was still thin from her months living on soldiers' rations. The jut of her straight collarbones looked painful to him. But she arrived, smelling like her favorite perfume of roses and bent over to kiss his mother's cheek before settling in the spot reserved for her at the middle of the table.
When she turned her head to look at him, her dangling gold earrings tinkled musically. Her hair was short, barely brushing her shoulders. There was a single plumeria tucked behind her left ear. The waxy white petals seemed to glow in the low light.
She almost smiled as he motioned for someone to pour her some of the sweet beverage made from squeezed berries and grapes. The mark her lipstick made on the edges of the glass were burned into his memory.
As the night went on, the music grew louder and people even left their spots to dance. The only sources of light was the large bonfire built in the middle of the festivities, along with the glass jars of fireflies set up at each table. Sasori turned his head to the side to glance at Sakura. And he just managed to catch a glimpse of a single tear rolling off her chin as she watched the people dance.
Sasori found her hand under the table. He squeezed it, feeling the sand well up and dig in under his fingernails.
"The war is over," she whispered, her eyes never drifting to him. She sniffed once.
"The war is over. That's why they celebrate. But it's not over for me," Sakura said.
Envy colored her tone the darkest green. She pulled her hand out from underneath Sasori's. The sand under his palm felt cold.
"Your war is my war," Sasori responded without quite understanding what she meant.
It didn't dawn on him until many weeks later, as they opened a letter from the capital, just what Sakura had meant. It was a routine summons requesting that the King Regent's Council meet. But no words fell from Sakura's lips as she saw how the letter had been signed.
Minato seemed to have forgotten that the word "regent" belonged in his title.
Most sincerely,
His Majesty, Minato Namikaze of the Forest Kingdom
Sakura remained tight-lipped as she stared down at the words. And Sasori realized that there had been no trace of surprise in her gaze. Just resignation. That terrified him more than anything else.
He remembered, so vividly, pressing his forehead to hers. The anger making his blood boil as he hissed: "I will cleave his traitorous head from his shoulders. I will dye you a gown made from the blood I spill from that usurper. Your war shall be my war."
And that was the first real smile he had seen from her since she had come home.
"Thank you."
A few days later, a letter arrived at Sami. The messenger gave it to Sasori. His cousins leaned over his shoulders to get a look.
"What's that?" asked Temari.
"It's from the mainland. Strange seal," noted Kankuro.
They fell silent as they read through the contents of the paper. Gaara gasped it first:
"Lady Sakura's been poisoned?"
Blood dribbled from Sakura's lips as she took her second sip of soup. At first, she thought she had drooled. An apology spilled from her as she lifted her napkin. But so did more blood. Dripping onto the fine tablecloth. The front of her shirt.
"Oh… I seem to… Oh," she fumbled to say.
There was a crash as Sasuke noticed. His glass tumbled over as shoved the tureen of soup away from her.
"Guards!" he shouted. And then his frantic gaze turned to his parents. His older brother and Prince Naruto, too.
"Don't eat that!" he then snapped.
"Now, now. No need to panic," Sakura said in a voice that didn't match the blood coating her lips and teeth.
"General!" Haku gasped, rushing forward.
Everyone was talking at once as Sakura reached up and removed her left earring. The pink tourmaline sparkled in the afternoon light. She snapped the crystal free from the wire. And then she lifted it to her lips to drink the clear liquid inside.
In the same, calm motions, Sakura wiped her mouth and chin with her napkin.
"Your Majesty, I think I might require the assistance of your physician again," Sakura requested. Hand pressed to her mouth in horror, all Mikoto could do was nod.
Sakura then tilted her head over her shoulder, one hand reaching. Haku grasped her hand, not seeming to mind the blood that got on his.
"Run ahead and inform the doctor," she instructed.
"Will you be alright to move by yourself, General?" Haku worried.
"I'll take her. Go," Sasuke interrupted. Haku grabbed his skirts and broke into a run. Knocking into a guard as he hurried out the door.
"I'm terribly sorry to ruin lunch like this. But if you'll excuse me," Sakura then said to the others seated at the table. As she got to her feet, so did everyone else. Including the king and queen. Her knees buckled. Naruto rushed to her side. As he tried to help her, Sakura smacked his hands away.
"Do not touch me!" she snapped. Her breath ragged.
When Naruto's pleading gaze turned to Sasuke, Sasuke nodded at him.
"Put your arm around me. Can you walk?" Sasuke said. When he took Sakura's hand, she didn't yell at him. She let him guide her away from the blood-spattered tablecloth.
Itachi's hands clenched. He stared after the two figures. And then he tossed his napkin aside.
"Please excuse me, Father, Mother," Itachi whispered before he followed after them.
"Itachi? What are you doing?" came his father's voice, sharp with surprise. Itachi didn't answer as he strode to catch up with them. He took Sakura's other hand. Both people started. But Sakura didn't resist when he draped her other arm over his shoulder.
Haku met them on the stairs. Huffing and puffing. Hair glistening with sweat. "The doctor says she'll come to your room, General. Not to bother going all the way up to the infirmary," he relayed. And then he pushed Itachi out the way to support Sakura. Completely ignoring manners. And ignoring the way that Sasuke glared at the rudeness directed towards his brother.
"We're almost there, General," Haku urged as he helped Sakura move forward.
The physician was already at Sakura's apartment when they arrived. She waited for Haku to escort Sakura inside. And then she held up a hand when the brothers tried to follow after her.
"This won't be a pretty affair, Princes. And I doubt you'll be of much help," Karin said.
Moegi ran under her arm, carrying several lumps of coal in her apron.
With a smile, Karin slammed the door in both the princes' faces.
She emerged a couple hours later, her hands stained black. She started when she spotted Sasuke standing at the window. Itachi stood right by the door, his hands clenched together.
"You're both still here? She's fine. Go. She needs to rest," the doctor ordered.
The brothers exchanged looks.
"If you're that concerned, come visit tomorrow. Right now, what the general needs is sleep. You two lumbering in there certainly won't help her," Karin went on to scold.
Under the strength of the physician's glare, both princes had no choice but to retreat.
Itachi returned the following morning. Perhaps a little earlier than was polite, but he had spent all night staring at the canopy of his bed. Anxiety gnawing at his gut like some sort of rat digging in garbage.
He hesitated. And then knocked.
"Doctor? You're early," Moegi greeted as she opened the door. And then she froze. Halfway out the door. Just staring up at the prince.
"Moegi, who it is?" asked Haku as he exited the bathroom, a basin in his hands and a towel draped over his shoulder.
"Your Highness!" Haku exclaimed. He frantically motioned for Itachi to enter, nearly sloshing water onto the floor. When Itachi stepped into the foyer, Haku then motioned wildly at Moegi. It took her a second, but she pulled the door shut, locking it behind Itachi.
"Oh…. hello, Your Highness," Moegi finally managed to say.
"Good morning," responded Itachi with just as much awkwardness.
Haku intervened. "What a pleasant surprise, Prince Itachi. What can we assist you with?"
Itachi's eyes rested on the doors past Haku.
"The General…" he simply said before his gaze flickered back to Haku's face.
Haku grimaced.
"Yes. Of course."
"Is she very ill?" asked Itachi.
"She's much better, your Highness. There was some talk about needing to bleed her if her condition worsened, but it seems that won't be necessary," Haku admitted with a nervous look at the door.
Itachi gestured toward the same door.
"Would you ask if she would see me?"
Haku and Moegi exchanged nervous glances. Moegi jerked her chin. Haku approached the double door. He knocked before he peered inside.
Sakura lay in bed, her long hair curling around her head and across the pillows. Eyes slowly cracking open, she rubbed her palm against her cheek. The whites of her eyes were bloodshot.
"Yes?" Sakura asked. She had already heard the voices murmuring outside her door.
"…Are you in the mood for a visitor, General?"
Letting out a tired sigh, Sakura turned onto her side and blinked several times. Her hand rose to pull her bangs out of her eyes.
"It depends. Is it a pleasant visitor or someone that will make me wish that awful soup had finished me off?" queried Sakura in return. And when the servant looked confused, Sakura gestured for him to enter. Smiling, Haku pushed the door open. He pretended to busy himself straightening Sakura's blankets and adjusting the curtains.
Itachi stepped across the threshold and lingered in the doorway.
"…Hello," he finally said. He crossed his arms behind his back so Sakura wouldn't see his hands fidgeting. Moegi, still in the foyer, noticed, and tried her best not to laugh.
"Hello," responded Sakura. "I'm sorry. That probably wasn't a pleasant sight yesterday."
"Well… you don't have to apologize for that. It wasn't… You…" Itachi trailed off, thinking. Sakura waited.
"You were so calm," he noted.
And in the doorway, there was movement as Moegi continued folding sheets and towels as she had been all this time. Sakura flinched, pressing her fingers to her temple.
"General?" Haku was already at her elbow.
"Moegi, my dear," Sakura called. Moegi set her things down and appeared in the doorway behind Itachi.
"Yes, General?"
"Some hot water. I think I'll need some moon tea for this headache," she ordered.
"Right away, General," Moegi said with a bow. And she hurried out, shoes tapping.
Haku started, as if someone had pinched him. "Oh, my apologies, Your Highness!" he gasped as he pulled a chair up for Itachi. He bowed low. Waiting.
"Please have a seat. You're going to give poor Haku a heart attack," Sakura requested. Itachi lowered himself in the chair.
"And in response to your observation, I've been poisoned more times than I can count. You start to pick up on the taste after a while," she replied.
Itachi looked horrified. But she went on. "Arsenic is sweet. Cyanide is bitter." And then she tilted her head, pointing so that he could see her right earring. The left one was gone.
"The left contains an antidote for arsenic. The right is for cyanide. Surviving poisonings is practically a family tradition." Sasori would have laughed at that, Sakura thought as the words left her mouth. Itachi didn't.
"That's… horrible," was all he could say.
"Oh, it's not so bad. I'm alive, aren't I?" she replied. And then she smiled. "And you've come to visit me. That's not so bad either."
"I did."
"Thank you. I appreciate that," she told him.
She could see his shoulders relax a little. Steering the conversation in a more mundane route had been the right decision.
"I suppose that I should have brought flowers again. My apologies," Itachi commented.
"Yes, you could have ripped some roses from a vase on your way here. I must say that I'm a little disappointed, Prince," she responded.
They even laughed a little.
He stayed for a little longer than was conventionally polite. And he only left when the physician bustled in.
"The patient needs rest. On your way, Prince," she shooed him out with sweeps of her hands.
Over Karin's shoulder, Sakura sighed. And then she nodded.
'Tomorrow,' she mouthed.
Itachi took his leave without too much fuss.
Karin's examination didn't take long. "Whatever that antidote was, it works well. You're quite alright considering how much poison was in that bowl," the doctor noted. She turned away to find her glasses.
"Bowl?" Sakura repeated. Her eyes narrowed.
"Yes. We did as you instructed. When we placed silver in the soup itself, there was no reaction. It did not react in the other bowls. It was only in yours, General," Karin went on. "Quite an interesting practice. I'd never heard of it before. We should start serving all of our food on silver. It would make my job easier."
Sakura composed her expression as she doctor turned back to her.
"How strange," was all Sakura said.
After the doctor left, Moegi began gathering used linens in a basket. Haku lifted the tray that Moegi had brought with a teapot and cups. There was an extra cup that had gone unused. She had probably expected Itachi to stay a little longer.
"Is anything else you need, General?" asked Moegi.
"Haku," Sakura called out.
Moegi hesitated. And then she bowed before she headed downstairs on her own. Haku re-entered the room, the tray held against his hip the way all the serving girls did. He set it down on the empty chair. He closed the door behind him. Hands folded in front of the starched white apron, he stood waiting for Sakura to speak.
Sakura sat propped up against her pillows, eyes tracing the floral pattern on the comforter as she gathered her thoughts. It was a long moment before she spoke.
"You are a boy, Haku," she finally said.
"Yes, we both know that, General!" he answered, a flush already rising to his cheeks. Sakura took another pause to reword her thoughts. Perhaps there was no need to be so subtle.
"You've been able to pass yourself off as a girl for a while now. But it won't stay that way forever. Your voice will drop. You will begin to grown a mustache. What will you do then?" she queried.
At this, the blush receded from Haku's face. He grew even paler than normal as he considered this.
"Well… um… I was considering taking a job in the city? I have a friend who works-"
"In the city?" Sakura repeated, "Usually, that means a brothel of some sort." She turned her head to look out the window. She had seen it happen a million times by now. Wars tore husbands from their families. Left without a man to provide, so many turned to selling their bodies. She hated whorehouses for the overbearing fragrance of perfume and smoke. But she hated what it meant when she saw those faces in the windows. Their youth always startled her.
Haku's gaze dropped to the rounded front of his shoes.
"How would you feel about coming home with me? I will be leaving Goliaf soon. Of course, you will never be able to come back to the Mountain Kingdom. But that must be better than being stuck in a whorehouse for the rest of your life," offered Sakura without turning to look at him.
Haku's head jerked up. Dark eyes glittering, he stared at Sakura's back.
"Truly, General? I can leave with you?" he demanded.
A smile stretched Sakura's mouth.
"I wouldn't be asking if I didn't mean it," she assured him.
"And… Moegi as well?"
"No. It seems cruel to take her from her parents, don't you think?" answered Sakura.
She started as she felt Haku take her hands. "Thank you, General," Haku exclaimed, pressing them to his forehead. It wasn't a gesture she had ever seen anyone in the castle use. But she accepted it.
Amid the busy times spent writing to her relatives and to merchants to arrange passage back home at the end of the summer, Sakura occasionally indulged in a break. Part of her knew that she would miss the cool greenery of the mountain. Of course the sight of the ocean was synonymous with home. But having a castle in the cool calm of the mountains wasn't a bad alternative, she decided.
Sakura enjoyed morning rides on horseback. She had lunch on the terrace with Naruto, whether it rained or not. And then she had tea on the library balcony with Itachi. Sakura sparred with Sasuke, her mobility and speed returning as the skin on her back finally healed all the way.
King Fugaku, after personally visiting her to offer his apology for the poisoning, employed two poison testers at every meal. And while Sakura privately worried how much these men were being paid for such a dangerous task, neither of them had died and so it gave them all some peace of mind.
Sakura wrote once more to Sasori before she began to pack for her departure. She omitted the details of her recent poisoning. He would figure it out once he saw that she was missing an earring. And also because she began to suspect that she was not the intended target for the poisoning. Partly because Itachi had come last-minute to join them for the meal. And partly because she had arrived late, leaving her with nowhere to sit but beside Naruto. She wasn't certain who, then, was the true target. That was something she could discuss with her family in person.
Sakura spelled this out to a very pale-faced Sasuke. He had been nothing but mortified since the incident.
"I can't even begin to express how much we apologize for this. Even once is inexcusable. But for you to be put in harm's way twice? We want you to know that everything is being done to find out who is behind this," insisted Sasuke. And she hated that. How he sounded like an other noble she had dealt with before.
"Is your father worried that I'll declare war?" Sakura guessed.
Sasuke suddenly went very still. Sakura sighed. "That won't do, Prince. You have to get better at lying," Sakura scolded him.
"Your castle's security is, indeed, partly to blame. But I'm quite used to people trying to take my life. Rest assured, I won't allow their clumsy meddling to stoke war. My country is certainly in no condition to be crossing blades," she then declared. "Besides, I'm beginning to think that maybe my idiot cousin is the one with the target on his back."
Naruto acted like he had been the one to pour the poison into her spoon. And Sakura did her best to express her irritation at his ceaseless gibbering while also insisting that it wasn't his fault.
"Why target him? You have the most legitimate claim for the throne. Eliminating you would throw the kingdom into utter chaos. But assassinating Prince Naruto would simply clear the way for you," Sasuke slowly stated.
"Meaning, that either someone is trying their best to help me or their very best to trick me."
"Wouldn't you prefer the former rather than the latter?"
"Absolutely not. I have no use for pawns that operate without orders," she scoffed.
A few days later, over breakfast, as Naruto told a ridiculous story about how he had once tried to ride a deer as a child, an idea seemed to light up his eyes. Hands slapping down on the table, he whirled to face Sakura. She eyed him warily over the rim of her teacup. When she stole a glance at Sasuke, he simply shrugged.
"Say, Sakura, you're going back to Plumeria soon, right?" began Naruto.
She slowly nodded.
"Well, I was just thinking that it's a shame that even though it's where you live, I've never been there before."
And before she could stop him, he blurted out the horrifying words, "So how about Sasuke and I come along when you go back? You could give us the grand tour of the place!"
What was even more horrifying was that she could see Sasuke's face also lighting up with interest at the prospect.
Sakura scrambled to come up with some sort of reason why that would be unwise. And then, she just barely managed to grab hold of a somewhat plausible excuse.
"Well, that sounds lovely, but it would be unfair for me to take along one brother and not the other. And in his condition, I don't think travel would be a wise idea," said Sakura with barely concealed glee.
"I don't see why not. The physician says that the ocean air would be good for him. And a little travel is good for a young man," said Mikoto. And so while King Fugaku did not seem overjoyed at the idea, he also nodded his assent to the plan. Sakura held back her scream of frustration as she dug her fork into her food.
On the third week of August, the party (which was much larger than anticipated) set out from the palace. They rode down the mountain, along the twisting main roads leading southeast until they reached a large port city where Sakura had arranged for a ship to take them to the island. She had sent word ahead that they would need more supplies. She hoped that the messenger arrived in time. The journey took four days due to the rough terrain. Sakura worried that her companions would moan about motion-sickness. While Naruto looked a little green, he didn't complain. And neither did the brothers.
Their carriages were heavy with various trunks. Some contained their possessions, but others were laden with gifts from the Mountain Kingdom. Sakura doubted that she truly needed all this gold, but it was a nice gesture. She had requested one gift, in particular. And this gift sat with her in her carriage.
"Do you feel alright?" Sakura asked. Haku turned away from the window, beaming.
"Yes! I haven't left that castle in forever!" he laughed.
The city of Whitewave sat in Inuzuka lands, which lay on the northern border of the kingdom. Countess Inuzuka was away on business, but one of her vassals greeted Sakura at the gates of the prosperous city.
"Greetings, General. We are honored by your presence."
Sakura nodded.
Many years ago, Countess Inuzuka had built a small manor for Sakura as a birthday gift. It was practical, given how often Sakura used the port to travel back and forth from the island. The servants at the manor had already received word of her arrival. The steward and the modest staff were waiting when their carriages pulled up to the building.
"Good afternoon, General. We are overjoyed for your return," the steward uttered.
"Zetsu, please see my guests to their rooms to rest before supper. We leave in the morning," Sakura ordered. Servants moved forward to accept Sakura's cloak. Others moved to address the guests and guide them to their quarters.
Dinner was simple, but filling. The manor was empty most of the year, but it was well-stocked with plenty of food and tea. Sasori often dropped by here on his travels. He preferred it to spending the night at a tavern, especially since, he claimed, they had no idea how often they washed the sheets.
In the morning, they traveled to the docks. But the ship that Sakura expected wasn't there. Instead, there was a familiar vessel. The white sails bore a desert rose in the middle. An obvious giveaway for who the ship belonged to. Hands on her hips, Sakura gave a shake of her head.
"I should have expected this," she muttered as she saw the tall figure step off the ship. He threw his arms around her with just the force she expected. He nearly lifted her off her feet as he squeezed.
"Time to go home, darling," he greeted her.
"Yes, yes. I could have come home very well on my own," she said. Sasori's eyes narrowed as he caught the glitter of just one earring.
"Evidently not," he said with a pointed stare.
"No matter. Until we're home, I'm sticking to you like glue. I'll trail you until you're positively sick of me," declared Sasori, leaving absolutely no room for argument.
And then he turned to the rest of the group. His gaze lingered on Haku. But he caught the look Sakura gave him and refrained from asking the nervous servant any questions.
"Well… this is quite a gathering. Well, we've had time to stock up. Unless there are any objections, shall we set off?" Sasori said with a clap of his hands.
"Please. Get me off this goddamn continent," sighed Sakura, stepping onto the ship first. When she motioned with her hand, Haku ran after her.
The journey over water was smooth. Years of experience on the sea made Sasori an ideal captain. And it was just before the storm season started so the waters were still placid and predictable. The party spent the days trading stories and simply admiring the beauty of the open water. Naruto and the Uchiha brothers seemed to struggle a bit with seasickness, but even that didn't seem to be enough to dampen their mood.
At first, Sakura worried that the rocking waves would be enough to exacerbate Itachi's condition. But the sea wind seemed to put some color in his cheeks and when the nausea faded, he seemed more lively than before. He seemed to feel that she was keeping an eye on him. Whenever their eyes met at the dinner table, they struggled to hide their smiles.
Sakura stayed up late at night, keeping Sasori company as they listened to the lapping waters against the side of the ship. They took swigs from a canteen filled with something distinctly alcoholic that made them grimace at the foul taste.
"Excited to be home, sweetheart?" he asked.
"Relieved, more like," she corrected him.
After several days, they spotted a smudge in the distance. And when Sakura's eyes met Sasori's, they both knew that it was really excitement and not relief dancing in her expression.
On the second day of September, the ship finally reached the clear waters of Plumeria's bay. There was a flurry of activity as the ship's crew pulled and tied ropes. The anchor scraped against the deep sands with a thud. Sasuke leaned against the side of the ship with Sakura, watching as the vessel slowly came to a rocking halt atop the waves.
"Welcome, everyone, to Plumeria," Sasori announced as he stepped off the ramp and then swept a needlessly complicated bow before offering his hand to Sakura. Rolling her eyes, she took his hand and let him help her down. Hand squeezing his, Sakura stared around at the port. The sight of the clear, sparkling waters, and the ships bobbing filled her with nostalgia. The sky was aquamarine with just a few wispy clouds floating high up. Everything was as it should be.
"Well, if it isn't the Duchess. Finally come home, eh?"
Sakura turned her head to find two old fishermen greeting her. They sat in their boat, running their net through their fingers as they checked for tangles and rips.
"Morning, gentlemen. Good weather," greeted Sakura in return. She turned her head to the sun, soaking in its warmth. The old men copied her, lifting their hands to shield their eyes from the light. Squinting, they looked back to her. Their smiles widened.
"Ah! There he is!" they cackled.
Sakura felt the weight of something settle over her shoulders. It was Sasori's cloak. His hands grasped her shoulders.
"There's the Duchess' shadow. It's the both of you this time. How long has it been?" one of the men wondered.
"Too long," Sakura agreed, smiling as she watched them work.
"Good catches lately?" she wondered.
"Yes ma'am. Don't hurt that some merchant came in a few days ago with a load of salted pork. Trouble is, some of it hadn't been salted properly and rotted. Lolo dumped it right out in the water. Fish have been dining like kings ever since," one of the old men informed her with a toothless grin.
"One man's misfortune is another's fortune, I suppose. Fair winds," Sakura greeted them with one last smile.
By this time, Sasuke had already helped his brother down from the ship. They stood together on the dock, Sasuke awkwardly hovering, unsure whether to physically support Itachi or not. But Itachi pushed the fluttering hands away as he took a deep breath. Naruto stumbled out after them, still a little green.
"This place is… truly incredible. The textbooks don't do it justice," Itachi declared.
Haku exited the boat last, shielding his eyes against the bright light. He made his way to Sakura's side. He had developed a habit of grasping her elbow. He probably wasn't even aware that he was doing it. And she didn't mind.
Plumeria was built into the bay. It was high tide now, so it looked like all the homes and walkways floated on top of the ocean. Clusters of white houses with red tiled roofs were visible up ahead. Other homes, a bit larger, had blue tiles instead. The market was a colorful cacophony of colored tents and waving flags. Boats pulled right up to the stalls, people laughing and haggling. Further inland, they could see a white building glittering on top of the waves. The straight white lines unmoving near the swaying palm trees.
Sasori's head moved to the left. On the arms of the bay sat towers. Some of them were covered with leaves and debris to make it look like an overgrown tree. Movement flickered. And then a dove burst out between the leaves. It beat its wings frantically as it made its way to the palace.
"Well, while we wait for transport. We should eat something," he suggested.
"Watch your step. It can get a little slippery," Sakura warned Haku. And then she looked back to the two brothers, who nodded. And then at Naruto, who also nodded.
It was only then that Sasuke truly understand how the market in his country must have looked to Sakura. He wondered why she hadn't burst out laughing at the neat lines and the meek smiles.
Each stall held a new wonder. Strangely colored fruits with new smells and flavors sat on display. The merchants carved into them right there, juice running down their fingers as they offered shoppers a taste. Some merchants displayed bolts of fabric in deep burnt shades of reds and purples while others sold only pastel colors.
Jewelry was everywhere too. Pearls especially. They sat in long strings or as earrings mounted on silver wire. There were other jewels too, like tourmaline. And some sort of bizarre, iridescent jewel that they had never seen before.
Sacks filled with red and yellow powder sat on display beside scales that merchants always seemed to obsessively testing and re-testing.
The smell of bread rose high into the air. It was too late in the morning for the women to still be baking bread. But the floury loaves sat stacked in displays. Sakura asked for one, squabbling with the older ladies with a smile.
"The Duchess comes back and wen cockroach me already!" one of them lamented as they handed Sakura two loaves. But they were all laughing as Sakura paid. She broke the loaves into pieces and passed them back. She took a bite as she moved.
The bread was crisp and floury on the outside. Soft and buttery on the inside.
"I've never had anything like this before," Sasuke whispered to no one in particular. But it was his brother who he found standing next to him.
"It's delicious," Itachi answered.
They shared a smile. But then Sasuke turned away, as if revoking that shared moment of wonder.
"Ah! Look who's here!" someone said. A chorus of greetings rose up as more and more people began to recognize Sakura. People rushed out their stalls to grasp Sakura's hands, to kiss her cheek. And the Sakura who was so quick to turn a cold shoulder, giggled as she returned every greeting she could.
Itachi took in their sun-kissed skin and their dark hair. He had always thought Sakura was somewhat dark, but these people were roasted by hours in the sun until their skin gleamed like finely polished wood. Their eyes, though sometimes as black as his, were also pale green and blue. Some had eyes a color between green and brown that Itachi had never seen before. They all spoke the same language as him, but a more fluid noise that clung to some of the syllables. And the phrases they used caught him off guard.
"Eh, Duchess, what did you do to all these kane? They're so skinny!" one of the merchants remarked, putting his arm around Naruto. Naruto didn't understand, but he laughed all the same. And that made all the merchants roar with laughter.
As they moved north through the market, the bustle of the market began to die down. This was a more residential area. Most people were working this time of day. A few heads did poke out of windows to greet them as they moved.
"Is it alright not to bring our things?" wondered Itachi. The entire group paused. Except for Sakura and Sasori, who walked a few extra steps before they realized that no one was following.
Sasori simply pointed toward the water. Everyone followed his finger to find a canoe drifting past them. Two men sat at each end, paddling. They recognized them as part of the crew that had helped on the ship during their journey here. In the middle of the boat sat some of the trunks that had been loaded in the cargo hold. And then, behind them came another canoe with more of the luggage.
"Oh, that's so efficient," Itachi murmured as they continued on.
There was a set of wooden steps that guided them up to the entrance of Sami Palace. A large archway marked the beginning of the palace. Two guards stood there, spears held at their sides. The vines climbing around and over the archway shaded them from the worst of the sun. They bowed in greeting when the group approached. But no one moved forward, because they were busy staring open-mouthed.
Sakura had seen this view countless times before but she couldn't help but also be amazed at its beauty. There was such an elegant symmetry about the place. And someone had thought to scrub the walkway clean of the salt that tended to accumulate on the planks. The entire place was spotless. Only after a giving everyone a minute to gawk did Sasori and Sakura exchange pointed looks before they proceeded down the walkway.
"There are flowers... in the water," Sakura heard Itachi remark aloud.
"They were a gift. These flowers have been specifically bred to thrive in saltwater. They're lovely, aren't they?" responded Sakura without looking back. A group of servant girls passing by with baskets held on their hips suddenly froze. Faces lighting up, they surged forward.
"Welcome home, Your Grace!"
"You look well!"
They chattered merrily, touching Sakura's arm and laughing together. But then one of them glanced back to see the other visitors.
"You must be tired, Your Grace. Shall we escort your guests to their rooms?" she suggested. Sakura gave her a grateful smile.
"Thank you. That would be wonderful. Shall we meet for lunch at noon?" said Sakura, directing the question at Sasuke, Naruto, and Itachi. When all three men nodded, the servant girls moved to guide them to the guest apartments. Sakura turned to Sasori.
"You're going to take a nap," she guessed.
"Of course. Wake me for lunch. I'll be starving by then, darling," answered Sasori. He pressed a kiss to her cheek before he took the left path
That left Sakura with Haku, who hadn't budged when one of the servant girls had asked him to follow her. He just shook his head, pointing after Sakura. The girl looked puzzled, but gave him a gracious nod before she went on her way.
Sakura had noticed this, of course. Just as she heard the sounds of someone hurrying down the walkway.
"Why didn't you send a bird sooner!" the steward scolded her as she ran to greet them. She threw her arms around Sakura, engulfing her in a big hug.
"To see you panic, of course," Sakura teased.
"Oh, you wicked thing," the older woman scolded her, swatting at her.
As they drew apart, Sakura gestured to Haku, who stood fidgeting behind her.
"Shizu, meet Haku. He'll be staying with us from now on," Sakura introduced the boy.
"As?" Shizune prompted, fixing Sakura with a look.
"As your apprentice, of course. You won't live forever. Not with all the stress I put you through," retorted Sakura. Shizune swatted at her again.
"You get more and more naughty every time I see you. Go wash up," Shizune said. And she motioned to a few servant girls to follow Sakura as she pushed her ahead on the path. Shizune stood watching her with her hands on her hips. And then she glanced over at Haku.
"Come, boy. We'll get you a bath, and then I'll introduce you to all the lolos in this palace," Shizune said.
"Lolo?" Haku repeated as he fell into step beside her.
"Crazies," Shizune translated with a smirk, "Including Her Grace. She's the biggest crazy of all. But that's why we like her."
There was a royal bathhouse at the northern end of the palace. But there was also a private bathing pool in her apartment.
The first thing Sakura did after her weeks of travel was to disrobe and step into the steaming bath. Something about washing in seawater never seemed to leave her feeling completely clean. One attendant gathered her clothes to wash later. Another scattered rose petals into the water.
Sakura leaned back against the edge of the bathing pool with a sigh. One of the women knelt on the tiled edge.
"Please excuse me," she announced herself before she poured a liquid into Sakura's hair. She lathered it up into a dense, fragrant foam before she began running a wide-toothed comb through it.
Another began washing Sakura's hands. "Your Grace, your nails," she lamented.
"Oh, hush. She's been busy. And if you weren't doing this, you'd be scrubbing the floors somewhere. Be grateful," the third servant teased her. Sakura smiled. The idle chitchat of the servants had always been part of the bathing ritual. That was probably why things felt so empty in Whiteriver Keep. She knew that there were some noble ladies who demanded silence from their staff. But Sakura liked the chatter. It was soothing. Just as soothing as the sounds of the wind rustling through palm fronds. The twitter of birds sitting just outside.
The tiles of the floor and bath had been painted and fired right here on the island. Bright blue and turquoise over white. The pillars were carved from white marble, imported from far across the ocean. There was a ceiling and walls to protect against the elements. Unlike most of the buildings in the palace, there were doors rather than archways. Wind still traveled in through the windows, along with the flowers outside.
"Shall we oil your hair, Your Grace?"
"Please," answered Sakura.
"Very good, Your Grace."
They poured warm water over Sakura's hair, combing and combing until it was free of bubbles. And then they massaged the fragrant oil from her scalp, all the way down to the very tips of her hair.
Seagulls shrieked in the distance. She breathed in the clean air. And it felt so good that she exhaled to take an even deeper breath this time.
"It's so good to be home," she said out loud.
When she was clean and her skin grew rosy from the heat, the servants brought towels and a robe. They dried her skin and wrapped the robe around her. One dried her feet while another squeezed the water from her hair. The third hurried ahead to open the doors. Shizune stood waiting outside.
"Why all the secrecy? Who is the boy?" asked Shizune as she followed Sakura down the hall, through the salon. Up the stairs that led to her bedroom on the second floor. It was spotless, of course. And there was a servant waiting for her to open up Sakura's armoire.
"Hm," said Sakura as she looked through her closet. Her fingers trailed over the soft fabrics as she considered what to wear. They lingered over lines of tiny pearls and transparent swaths of airy fabric. After a moment, Sakura turned to regard the smiling servant.
"Which do you think, Rio?"
"The blue would look splendid on your skin," she recommended. Sakura nodded. The servant plucked the garment from the hanger. Another attendant walked into the room. Shizune huffed as she took a seat on a footstool.
"What were you asking, Shizune?" Sakura then queried. She held her arms out so that the servants could begin removing her robe.
"Who is the boy, Your Grace? You haven't said anything about him!" Shizune asked again.
"Which one, Shizune? They're all boys," responded Sakura with a smirk.
"The boy you suddenly said would be my apprentice," Shizune huffed. As she spoke, she pointed downwards. Because downstairs, in the salon, Haku was undoubtedly still sitting on the divan, straight-backed and wide-eyed. Haku had been swept off by some of the manservants who scrubbed him clean and dressed him before depositing him on one of the cushioned seats. Shizune had offered him some sort of refreshment while he waited and she had struggled not to giggle at his obviously flustered expression.
"Ah. Him. He's a mystery I've yet to solve myself. But he seemed to be in danger in the Mountain Kingdom so I brought him here," Sakura admitted. At this, Shizune's forehead wrinkled.
"Danger? Is he alright now?" Shizune questioned.
"He'll be very safe among you ladies, I'm sure. Especially with you around, Shizune," assured Sakura. "I expect you to take excellent care of him," she added, looking at the two servants now.
"Of course. Your Grace fights everyone with her fists. And Miss Shizune fights everyone with her words. We're all safe here," one of them retorted. The other servant girl broke into peals of laughter. Only giggling harder when Shizune dealt a kick to her rear.
After Sakura dressed and the servants saw to her hair, it was time to leave. Haku rushed to his feet when she came down the stairs. He seemed determined to shadow each of her footfalls wherever she went. Shizune gave him an appraising look. And then she leaned in to Sakura to whisper.
"He's very attached to you. What have you done to him?"
"Nothing," Sakura insisted.
On the way, Sakura stopped by Sasori's apartment. The guards bowed as Sakura entered the building. She found him slumbering peacefully in his room. He laid the wrong way across the bed, arms crossed over his face and his feet dangling off the edge. Sasori had only bothered to pull open the top buttons of his new uniform jacket before collapsing in this pose. But a few words and a shake to the shoulder opened his eyes.
Stretching, he reached up to swat at a lock of her hair hanging over his face. "Do we have to entertain? I'm exhausted," he sighed while rolling onto his stomach.
Sakura let out a fond sigh. Honestly, he was such a child sometimes.
"I'm afraid that if I leave you like this, you'll grow moss," teased Sakura. And then she let out a humming noise and added, "I'm certain that everyone is tired after a long journey. The welcome feast won't be until tomorrow night so we could all retire to our rooms after lunch."
Comforted somewhat by that suggestion, Sasori slowly sat up. He ran a hand through his messy hair. He grasped Sakura by the forearms and pulled her forward to plant a kiss to her forehead.
"I'll be along in a bit, darling. Make sure there's some wine for me," he slurred before unleashing a gigantic yawn.
"There's always wine for you," scoffed Sakura in return as she slid off the bed. Beckoning for Haku to follow, she stepped out of the room and onto the smooth walkway. The light patter of his new shoes against the walkway lagged behind the steady tempo of her footsteps.
"Don't worry. This place seems large but you'll adapt quickly," Sakura assured him.
"Of course, General," Haku replied. Sakura cast him a measured look over her shoulder.
His head was held high and his dark eyes took in everything around him. His gaze met hers and he blinked rapidly. After bathing and changing into clothes borrowed from one of the manservants, Haku seemed somewhat more at ease. He was dressed in a cream-colored tunic with long sleeves and matching pants. The leather sandals seemed to be a little unfamiliar to him, judging from his awkward gait. But he touched the beadwork along the collar of the tunic with a look of awe. Sakura thought then that she had never seen the boy look happier.
When Sakura smiled, he offered one in return without seeming to understand the expression.
"Where are you from?" she wondered out loud. Haku's brow rumpled. But after a moment, Sakura turned her eyes back ahead.
"No matter," she intoned with a wave of her hand, "We'll find a place for you here. Oh, and no need to call me that here."
Haku's eyes widened.
"But, Ge- Um, what do I call you then?" the boy asked.
They stopped in the archway to a square pavilion. Sakura's hand lingered on the side of the archway as she tilted her face toward him. Then, with a smile, she reached out and tapped his cheek with her pointer finger.
"I don't need to wear that title like armor here. 'Your Grace' will do. 'My Lady' is even better," Sakura responded before she slipped past the curtain and into the room. Haku glimpsed that bright pink petals glistened when the sunlight slanted in past the billowing curtains.
"You're with me, little bird," Shizune's voice said from behind him. Haku turned around, pointing at himself. She nodded.
Itachi and Sasuke already sat at the low rectangular table in the middle of the room. There was an array of cushions and mats spread out on the tiled floor in colors ranging from a deep, burnt orange to light green. Small clay bowls painted white sat at intervals along the table, filled with fresh flowers.
As Sakura ducked under the curtain, the two brothers, who had not been speaking before, both rose to their feet. But Sakura held up her hand.
"Please. You're my guests. Make yourselves comfortable," she insisted before she sat at the middle of the table. Sasuke and Itachi both sat across from her, their dark eyes roving over the unfamiliar table settings and then to the wall-less room itself. After a long silence, Sasuke and Itachi turned simultaneously to look at each other. And then, surprisingly, it was Itachi that spoke first.
"Pardon me if I am being forward, but you seem somewhat…different, General," observed Itachi.
"Different," Sakura repeated a little unsurely. It was ever-blunt Sasuke who explained.
"You're all prickles and hard edges, usually. But here, you're smiling… constantly. Frankly, it's a little unsettling."
Itachi gave his younger brother a look of horror as Sasori settled to the spot on Sakura's right. The red-head caught the tail-end of Sasuke's words and chuckled.
"Says the man who is also all prickles and sharp tongues," snorted Sasori.
"Am I really that unfriendly away from home?" queried Sakura as she nudged her cousin. Sasori turned to stare at her with a flat expression.
"Love, if you were any less friendly off this island, you would be stabbing everyone you meet. You're a great deal less pleasant," uttered Sasori with absolute sincerity. And then, noticing Naruto enter out of the corner of his eye, Sasori added, "But then again, with the company you usually keep, I can hardly blame you."
Sasuke snorted into his sip of water.
A girl stepped through the curtain and knelt on the floor.
"Yes, we're ready for the food. Thank you," Sakura told her.
The girl dipped her head before she rose to her full height and slipped out. No sooner had she disappeared through the doorway that several servants stepped into the room carrying a platter with a whole roasted fish. Another held chunks of fresh fruit in a dazzling rainbow of colors. There were dark purple potatoes that steamed when Sasori split one open.
Sakura explained each of the foods. Sasori chimed in as needed. There were some wary expressions as they looked at the unfamiliar dishes. But some observation of how Sasori and Sakura ate was enough guidance. And eventually, everyone was making surprised noises of approval as they gorged themselves on the fresh foods.
Conversation ran long after the food was gone and the servants came to refill cups several times before Sakura suggested that everyone return to their rooms to rest. But before she could even think to lie down for a nap, there were servants bombarding her with various messages from so many different people.
She took a deep breath. "Please enjoy your evening," was all she said before she got to her feet.
There was a thunderstorm late that night. Some of the servants roused themselves to put up the wooden doors and shutters stored away for such rare occasions. It rained frequently on the island and it was rarely severe enough to cause much worry. But the distant thunder promised hard rain. Hard rain and wind did not mix well with open arches.
Sakura sat up in bed, as if jolting from one bad dream into the next.
The rain had made it difficult for her to sleep since the day her parents had passed away. It had been raining on that day too. They had been in a hurry to return from a party thrown by the Count Yamanaka. The roads were slick with mud. The horses slipped and the carriage veered off the road and into a ravine.
Pressing a hand to the cold sweat beading down the back of her neck, Sakura's hand reached under her pillow when she heard the door open and close somewhere. It wouldn't be the guards. They knew better than to fumble around like that.
Her fingers closed around the handle of the knife always kept hidden under her pillow. But when she heard the rhythm of the footsteps coming up, Sakura relaxed. She pushed her knife back into its spot as Sasori's head of dark red hair appeared. He climbed up the remaining stairs and then sat on the foot of her bed.
His hair was messy and the top buttons of his linen shirt were left undone. Sakura could see the top of the scar that slashed diagonally across his chest. Cheek in his hand, he stared at her from under his messy mop of hair.
"You've been lying to me," he observed.
"About?" prompted Sakura as her hands fell into her lap.
"All those letters you sent home, you assured me that you were doing so well," he began. When Sakura showed no sign of guilt, he continued.
"You're far from fine. I saw you right after the war, Sakura. I know you better than anyone. Your dreams are getting worse," said Sasori without a hint of uncertainty. Sakura turned her head away from him. Sometimes, not usually, but sometimes she hated how well he knew her.
"What would you know?" she asked in a tired voice. Still, Sasori moved over to envelop her in his arms. Rocking her back and forth, he let out a big sigh to match his big heart for her.
"Oh, darling. My lying, adorable cousin, I know so much. And I know that it's alright to want to cry when it gets hard," he murmured. When he kissed the top of her head before resting his cheek there.
"How impertinent," she sniffed before she pressed her face into the crook of his elbow.
When Sasori woke in the morning, Sakura was gone. The air smelled sweet and clean in the way that it only did after a night of rain.
"I…am such a wonderful person," he declared to no one in particular.