Amaryllis
Chapter 23
Sakura's fingers tightened. She listened to Concubine Deba's keening as she pulled her head back.
"You need to learn your place," Sakura declared. Ignoring the high-pitched protest from the other concubines, Sakura yanked Deba to one side. Deba stumbled, falling to her knees.
"How dare you! Unhand me, you bitch!" screamed Deba. Her nails dug into Sakura's wrists.
"Ugh. How noisy. It seems all you know how to do is make noise," Sakura scoffed.
"Guards! Arrest this woman!" Deba demanded.
There was a pause. Some of the guards exchanged nervous looks. And then one of the guards advanced, drawing his sword. Sakura spotted Suigetsu lingering in the shadows. He angled his sword to let the light angle off it. When Sakura gave a slight shake of her head, he lowered his weapon.
"You heard her. Release Concubine Deba this instant," the guard ordered.
Sakura's eyes widened. She gave an incredulous laugh.
"What a backwards court you have here," Sakura said, pulling Deba's head up so she could get a good look at her. Especially at the way her mascara smeared across her eyelids.
The smile melted off Sakura's face as she felt the guard grip her shoulder. Her eyes narrowed.
"From the guards to the concubines, you are all an ill-mannered bunch, aren't you," Sakura said, clucking her tongue. She stared down at Deba, as casually as if she were a flailing insect on its back. When she turned her gaze to the other concubines, who had huddled together to glare at her, they all flinched.
Sakura snorted.
"Fine. Take her," Sakura declared.
She dragged Deba kicking and screaming across the hall. And when she threw Deba into the crowd, the women screamed. They rushed to comfort Deba, who was shrieking and cursing, her eyes and cheeks black with smeared makeup.
But even Deba fell silent when Sakura whirled on her heel and slammed her elbow into the face of the guard that had dared touch her. And before he could recover from the shock, Sakura grabbed him by the front of his shirt and punched him in the jaw. She smashed her knuckles into his face a few more times, striking him in all the right places to daze him.
The guard howled when she seized his arm and twisted until she felt it pop out of the socket. When she released him, the guard slumped to the ground, groaning as he clutched at his dislocated arm. Blood dripped out of his nostrils, onto the otherwise clean tile.
"You'll pay for this, you bitch! I'll make you regret the day you were ever born!" Deba was screaming now, face turning close to purple. Some of the concubines fluttered nervous hands around her. Others tried to shush her. But Deba was beyond reasoning now. A vein bulged in her forehead as she ranted and raved.
Sakura raked her hand through her hair. Let her hand fall to her side. She let her glare rest on Deba. "And you're still making noise," she sighed.
She advanced one step. And then another. Deba's mouth clamped shut.
Sakura lunged the last step. She grabbed Deba's face in one hand. Squeezing tight to keep her from spewing more obscenities.
"Make no mistake. I am not like you. And it is you that will regret this day," Sakura hissed. And then her voice pitched lower as she added: "I will ruin you. Just watch."
Sakura shoved Deba away. Her upper lip curled as she glanced down at the hand that had just touched her. Her expression softened as she turned to face Shijima. She crossed the hall, offering her left hand to the girl.
"Come. I've touched something filthy. We should go before the public baths close," Sakura said, glancing down at her right hand again.
Deba sputtered as she realized what Sakura was implying.
And despite the state of her hair and her clothes. Despite the bruises and scratches on her arms, Shijima managed a watery smile. She took the offered hand and let Sakura pull her to her feet. Sakura draped her sleeve around Shijima, pulling her close against her side.
As they began moving toward Shijima's apartment, Sakura caught sight of a large figure at the far end of the hall.
It was Baki, flanked by some of his guards. He was smiling. Eyes glinting darkly as they followed her every move.
He had seen everything. And there was no mistaking the desire that filled his gaze.
This was a mistake. She hadn't meant for him to witness any of this. In fact, this wasn't the plan at all. But there was nothing she could do now. It was a problem she would have to confront at another time.
"Does it hurt to walk?" asked Sakura.
"Just a little," Shijima replied. And then she peered up at Sakura. "Thank you."
"General, your hand is bleeding," Meno fretted as she trailed them.
"I know. Later."
Meno and Shijima both jumped when Suigetsu appeared out of nowhere to join them. There was a sour expression on his face.
"You should have let me handle the guard," he complained. And then his eyes lingered on Sakura's hand. "And the woman."
Sakura almost smiled at that. "Did you see?" she asked instead.
"That woman was screaming and throwing a fit. She ripped it up and told someone to hide it," Suigetsu reported.
"What are you…" Shijima trailed off. She looked down at herself. "Oh no. I lost the shawl you loaned me, General."
"That was part of the plan. It's quite alright," Sakura assured her.
"I hope it wasn't too valuable. I'll pay for the cost, General," insisted Shijima.
The corner of Sakura's mouth turned up. "It was actually part of my grandmother's bridal linens. Not easily replaced, I'm afraid."
Shijima gasped. And so did Meno.
"Oh no, General. I'm so sorry. I should have taken better care of… How can I ever… I…" Shijima fumbled for words, her eyes widening. It was an irreplaceable heirloom. And the fact that it had belonged to a princess of the Haruno family only made the transgression all the more severe. Sakura just patted Shijima's head.
"Don't look so scared. Remember that it was Concubine Deba who gave the orders," Sakura pointed out.
And then Sakura's smile sharpened. "I did speak a little impulsively, but I meant every word of what I said. I will make sure Concubine Deba is a nuisance to you no longer. But it's up to you to do the rest," she then added with a pointed look.
Shijima bit her lower lip. Her gaze trailed to Sakura's scratched hand. And then down to her own battered arms.
"I can do that," Shijima decided. "But I need more of your help."
Sakura nodded. "And I can do that," she assured Shijima.
It didn't take long for word to spread through the Viper's Fang. By the time Concubine Deba stormed into Prince Baki's chambers, nearly all the servants were whispering about what had occurred earlier that day.
"I don't recall calling for you, Concubine Deba," drawled Baki as the doors banged shut. The concubine beside him sat up straight with a squeak. Pulling the sheets against her chest, she rushed to bow to Deba. Deba glowered at her. The other girl began rushing to pull on her robes and to fix her dress.
Baki turned to murmur something to the girl. But she tearfully finished dressing and rushed out of the room, giving Deba as wide a berth as possible.
Baki heaved a sigh as he sat up. Forearm draped over his knee, Baki waved a reluctant hand toward Deba, motioning her to come closer.
She stalked over to him. Stood by his bed, fists clenched at her sides.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Surely you must have heard, My Lord. The humiliation I suffered at the hands of your… treasured guest," Deba spat the last two words.
Baki arched an eyebrow. He rested his cheek on his hand. "Oh. That." His voice was flat.
Deba's eyes narrowed.
"That's it? That's all you have to say when I have been beaten and degraded?"
Baki waved his other hand. "You're a strong woman, Concubine Deba. And from what I've heard, you weren't the only one injured."
Deba's gaze moved back and forth as she thought. And then her face lit up. She sat on the edge of Baki's bed.
"Yes! That woman assaulted one of your guards. I've heard that he will never wield a sword again. How is that a fair fate for a man who has dedicated his life in your service?" Deba coaxed.
Baki considered. And then he shrugged.
"He should not have raised his hand against such an honored guest."
Deba grit her teeth. "My Lord-"
"The Haruno family is a powerful ally. And an even more formidable enemy. Would you truly have me make a mockery of the General?" Baki barked.
Deba flinched. "But what of me? Is this the treatment I receive in exchange for giving you a son?" she pleaded, her voice softening. She rested her hands on his forearm.
Baki clicked his tongue at her. He pushed her hands aside.
"Enough of this. Leave me," Baki ordered.
"My Lord-"
Deba choked back her words as Baki glowered at her. Gathering her skirts in her hands, she hurried from his chambers with as much dignity as she could muster.
In the northern wing of the Viper's Fang, Shijima winced as Azra dabbed ointment on her cheek.
Temari watched, lounging on her side. "Careful not to get that into your mouth. It tastes foul," she warned. And then she tilted her head to look at Sakura.
"This wasn't the plan," she then pointed out.
Sakura sighed.
"I know. I just saw red."
"You have an awful temper. You and Sasori both."
That made Sakura chuckle a little. She leaned against the side of the sofa.
"I know," Sakura replied.
And then Temari smiled. "I only wish I could have been there to see you beat some sense in this wretched woman."
"Me too," lamented Kankuro as he sat down behind Temari. He leaned over her to reach for Sakura's wrist.
"Did you punch her?" he wondered as he saw the reddened skin across her knuckles.
"The guard. Fucking moron tried to stop her," Suigetsu interjected from somewhere behind them.
Temari laughed.
"Oh. Now I'm so cross that you didn't take me with you," she chuckled.
Kankuro grimaced as he examined the scratch makes covering the rest of Sakura's hand from where Deba had clawed at her.
"Is that woman some sort of feral cat? What has she done?" Kankuro grumbled.
"So what's next, Lady Sakura?" asked Gaara. He sat on the floor between the couch and the table. He plucked a few grapes off a bunch, looked at Shijima, and then gestured toward her. When she smiled, he dropped the fruits into her hand before he plucked a few more for himself.
Azra stopped tending to Shijima to look at them. Shijima stared at them too.
Sakura reclaimed her hand from Kankuro. She examined the longest gash that dipped between the knuckles of her pointer and middle finger.
"The both of us will attend supper with Prince Baki. We need to see what his reaction is. Although… I have a guess as to how he'll respond already," Sakura said. And then she lowered her thumb, tucking it against her thumb. "At some point during the night, I'll think to ask Consort Hoki how she likes that green shawl I loaned her."
Shijima grimaced again. But Sakura just smiled at her, shaking her head. She lowered her pointer finger.
"Consort Hoki will realize that she has misplaced the shawl. And from there… well…" Sakura trailed off with a pointed look at Shijima. "I'm not familiar with the ways of this palace."
Shijima frowned. And then her expression eased as she realized what Sakura meant.
"I'll send out servants to retrace my steps. They can check the harem as well," Shijima suggested.
Sakura nodded. "Very well. I'll be impatient and send out Suigetsu and Mangetsu." And then, with a sharp look, Sakura added, "Who will be discrete."
Suigetsu wrinkled his nose.
"And when we realize that it's been destroyed…"
Everyone's eyes fell on Sakura, waiting. And all Sakura did was chuckle.
"Oh. That'll be a surprise. Your reactions will have to be genuine," she said.
Temari heaved a sigh. As did Kankuro.
"Dramatic," Kankuro grumbled.
"Such a Haruno," agreed Temari, reaching over Gaara's shoulder for some grapes.
"Before I forget, send that guard to me. The fool who tried to stop me," Sakura then ordered. Kankuro stared at her.
"Do you mean the one you just bragged about beating?" he asked.
"Yes. Is there a problem with that?"
Kankuro shook his head. "Not at all."
Ino woke with a start. The shutters over her windows rattled. It was dark outside. The candle that she normally kept lit at her bedside had gone out sometime during the night. She sat up, hugging herself. Shivering.
She pulled her robe off the end of the bed to wrap around her body. She made her way out of her bedchamber, into the adjoining sitting room. The clock on the table ticked away. She brought it close to the window, squinting at it in the little light the night provided.
Ino sat on the bench. Hands in her lap. Staring down at the hands of the clock. They seemed able to move ahead so easily. Unlike her. Flailing. Floundering.
Ino sighed.
She knew that she should call for some servants. Maybe a bath and some warm moon tea would help settle her nerves. But the thought of their smiles made her head hurt.
It made absolutely no sense to steal out into the city at this time of night. Kisame told her so when she ran into him just outside her apartment. She didn't know what sort of expression she wore on her face, but Kisame sighed as he motioned for her to follow him. He helped her walk out past the guards with a few jokes and an easy laugh.
Kisame cast a wary look around the empty streets. And when they arrived at the tailor's shop, he rapped on the door in an odd pattern. He pushed Ino close against the door, out of sight from anyone who might be on the street.
"I can't stick around. Have him walk you back whenever you're ready. Or have him send word, I guess. Chojuro could come get you too," Kisame instructed. Ino nodded just as the door inched open. A single eye glared out at them. And then the door inched open a little more as the eye fell on Ino.
"Thank you," Ino whispered before she slipped into the tailor shop and closed the door behind her.
As Ino lowered her hood, she saw that Deidara was barefoot. His linen shirt was loose, revealing his collarbones and chest. There was a raised scar on his chest, right above his heart. He shrugged on a robe, knotting it loosely in the front.
"Couldn't sleep?" he guessed.
Ino nodded.
The lanterns still burned. His workbench was cluttered with pieces of light blue fabric. Ino took a step closer to the work. The sketch of the finished garment lay on the corner of the table. A jacket with tassels and a space to hide several knives.
"Kisame really trusts you," Ino pointed out as she ran her finger along one of the patterns.
"I guess," Deidara replied, rubbing a hand through his hair. He yawned. And then he cast a sidelong look at Ino, his gold hair spilling out between his long fingers.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Deidara then wondered.
"Like what?" Ino asked in return, just as bewildered. And then Deidara smiled.
"Like you expect me to have answers or something. I just make clothes, Little Miss," he reminded her.
She didn't know how to respond to that. She picked up one of the pieces of fabric instead. She ran her finger along the tasseled edge, marveling at how she could barely feel the stitches under her fingers. She smiled a little.
"This is beautiful," she murmured. She was careful to set it back down in the same spot. She stared at the pieces that would soon become a jacket. Each one made with such love and care. She knew from the way the clothes would hug Sakura so perfectly. There could not have been more devotion sewn into each inch.
When she looked over her shoulder at Deidara, he was just watching her, arms folded across his chest.
"You know, Little Miss, I believe I've told you this before. It's a terrible idea to follow a stranger like me around," he pointed out. But then his expression brightened. "A lesser man might get the wrong idea."
"What kind of wrong idea?" she asked, looking away.
Ino held her breath.
"That you've come here because you enjoy my company, rather than the craft."
Ino fiddled with a loose thread.
"Well… you wouldn't be mistaken then," she replied. And then she stole a glance at him again. "Does that… bother you?"
Deidara tilted his head. "Certainly not."
He held his hand out to her.
"Why don't we go for a walk?" he suggested.
Ino hesitated. But when she placed her hand in his palm, Deidara rewarded her with another smile.
He took her for a stroll along the beaches on the southern tip of the island. Boats bobbed at the docks, empty for the night. The stalls in the market were closed up tight. There was some light and noise from the taverns, that were always full of laughter and song until dawn when the bartenders shoved the straggling drunkards out.
Deidara's hand was warm around hers. And Ino tried her best not to look down when she felt the tailor lace their fingers together.
They didn't say anything on that meandering stroll. But when he walked her all the way back to the palace, just as the sky began to lighten where it met the ocean, there was something in the way that their hands were reluctant to part. And there was a glimmer in Ino's eyes as he pushed her hands away when she tried to return his jacket. He folded her hands up between his instead.
When Deidara raised her hand to his mouth to kiss it, Ino colored.
"Come visit soon," he murmured.
Ino nodded. Holding her hand close to her chest as she watched him walk away.
And it was a good thing that Ino stayed rooted there. Because when Deidara turned a corner, he found Sasori leaning against a column. Staring at him.
"I was unaware that Lady Ino was in need of your services," Sasori said.
"You're unaware of many things, I'd imagine," retorted Deidara. Sasori's eyes narrowed. But Deidara raised a hand, already walking away.
"As much as I'd like to stand here and squabble with you, I have an actual job to get to, Admiral. Another day," Deidara called over his shoulder. Smirking like he couldn't feel Sasori's glare digging into his back for as long as he could.
Naruto wracked his brains for ways to lie. Which was challenging, because he wasn't a deceitful person by nature. He had always been taught that honesty was a virtue of all good men and women.
He wished he still believed that. Especially since every time he closed his eyes he could see the way the bird's body plummeted to the ground.
He tried asking the servants whether there had been a hunting expedition that day. The maids looked confused. As did the guards. They all shook their heads.
And when he had gathered his courage two days later, Naruto returned to the aviary with another envelope in hand. This time, he chose one of the pigeons, hands shaking as he fastened the message to the bird's leg. When he slipped the usual crest over the bird's bobbing head, he felt like he had tightened a noose around the creature's neck.
Naruto didn't vomit the second time he saw a bird struck out of the sky. He felt a little dizzy, stomach roiling. But he managed to hold it together.
The next day, he was back. He picked a crow. Wrung his hands as he watched the glossy black feathers plummet to the forest floor.
He tried experimenting with times of day. He even tried sending the birds out without the crest. But even then, each bird fell. Some squawking. Others silent. The silent ones felt worse. Naruto tried to focus on pinpointing where the arrows were coming from. But in that narrow window, it was impossible to see the surroundings clearly.
No one uttered a word about the number of birds that didn't make it back to the aviary. But a few days later, Naruto saw a cart cross the drawbridge. On the back were stacks of cages. Birds fluttering and squawking away inside.
Eventually, Naruto couldn't even see a roast pheasant on the dinner table without feeling sick to his stomach. He stopped sending out letters. Wondered whether he could include a message in one of his parents' letters. And then stopped when he realized that his parents could very easily read the contents. Just because they promised not to read didn't mean those promises were honored, after all.
"Does a vow mean nothing to any of these nobles?" he muttered, rubbing his hands over his face too hard.
And then there was a pause. He peeked over the tops of his fingers.
No. There was one person, at least, who a vow meant something to. While she herself wasn't in the city, her people were. And she had said at least once that she trusted the Inuzuka family.
"Why?" Naruto remembered asking. And he was so thankful that she had taught him to ask.
Because he remembered now. Sakura's hands tightening on her reins. Her neck long, her shoulders pulled back.
"The Inuzuka family has served as the crown's watchdogs for 13 generations now. They wouldn't sit by quietly if they didn't like what they see. I suspect they would be the last to leave my side, but the first to raise a sword against me should I stray from the path," she had once told him. Smiling in that weird unsmiling way.
Naruto checked the clock in his room. It was in the afternoon. But not too late. Maybe Lieutenant General Inuzuka would still be at the academy. Just outside of his door stood Sir Sai. He knew the knight would sneer and insist that he couldn't just barge into the military academy again. Remind him of the last humiliation he had suffered when he had blundered his way in.
Naruto sagged in his seat. A headache had settled with seeming permanence in his temples. He slumped to one side, knocking his head against the window.
Down in the courtyard, servants ran around tending to their duties. One of the stableboys walked past, guiding a horse towards a stall. Naruto sighed. He wished he could just grab one of those horses and run off somewhere. But without a plan. Without money or allies of his own, it was a stupid thing to do. He could imagine Sakura saying the exact thing to him. His shoulders drooped even more.
To his surprise, about two weeks later, a letter arrived from Prince Sasuke.
Young Lord Naruto (not Prince, he noticed),
It was a pleasant surprise hearing from you. I hope you are in good health. Things have been busy as Father has announced his intention of naming me his official heir. I feel comfortable divulging this to you, as I am certain that news has traveled over into your country already.
My brother writes often from Plumeria. It seems his health has improved greatly. Perhaps there is something in the sea air that has proved beneficial to him. I imagine that your cousin, The General, has proved an excellent host. My brother goes on and on about the food and all the sights each time. It's a wonder he hasn't run out of things to brag about by now.
It's unfortunate that you did not receive permission to join us once again for the summer festival in Ispolin. I hope that you will be able to honor us again with your presence during next year's celebrations.
Be in good health.
Prince Uchiha Sasuke
Naruto couldn't believe his eyes. He read the letter twice before it sunk in.
He had seen the bird carrying this letter shot down. There was no mistaking it. And yet the prince was writing back as if he had received that message.
Naruto leaned back in his seat, tapping the letter against his chin.
"So… they read my letter… and decided that it was safe… and then… resent it?" Naruto mused, trying to unpack this situation with all its twists and turns. He placed the letter on his desk. Staring at it.
"Well… why this one and not the other ones?" he wondered. Staring at the way Sasuke had written his name in perfect loops and swirls.
Naruto closed his eyes to try to focus. He sat that way for such a long time that he almost began to nod off. And then he jerked upright as something occurred to him.
"They want me to write to Prince Sasuke. To promote good relations or whatever. So then they don't want me to write to Sakura for… the opposite reason."
And as he said it out loud, it all began to make sense.
He knocked his fists against his forehead once.
How simple.
The reason why she was so cold. Well, there were probably many reasons for that.
But he never wrote on important days like her birthday. Or the anniversary of her parents death. (Or so it seemed). And then whenever they did meet, he would lie about how she had never written back to him, as if he was trying to make her look like the villain.
Naruto gazed out the window, as was his habit now. And he spotted the men working at the stables as usual. But then he spotted one who was much shorter. He was usually the one that was doing all the work as the older ones hid in the hay to nap or snuck off into the city. He must have been around his age. Or maybe even younger.
It occurred to Naruto that the only reason he recognized this servant out of all the others was that he was the only one Sakura trusted with her beloved horse. Whenever she rode into the city on the magnificent white stallion, this boy was the one to run out to her. And he smiled and laughed at whatever she said to him. Naruto remembered feeling a twinge of envy at seeing that warm expression on Sakura's face. It was an expression she never made around him.
Sai lolled his head to the side to look when Naruto's door burst open.
"You're not allowed out," Sai said in a flat voice.
"I know. I want to go see the horses," Naruto called over his shoulder, already moving.
Sai yawned. "The horses?"
"Just stay there. I'll be right back," Naruto yelled, growing farther and farther away.
Sai yawned louder, blinking the tears out of his eyes. "Suit yourself. Smells like shit out there anyway," he grumbled.
Naruto dashed out into the courtyard, huffing and puffing. The servants smiled and greeted him as they passed. And the young stableboy started when he saw Naruto heading directly towards him.
"Good afternoon, Your Highness. Is everything alright?" the boy asked.
Naruto threw his arm around the boy's shoulder, not minding the grime and whatever else was staining his shirt. Not even flinching from the smell of horse manure.
"Your clothes, Your Highness!" the boy exclaimed.
"Don't worry about that. I have some questions about horses. Could you help me out?" Naruto insisted, leading the boy to a quieter part of a courtyard. One that would probably be harder to see from one of the windows above. Naruto cast a furtive glance around.
"Uh… of course, Your Highness," the boy stammered.
Naruto dug into his pockets with his free hand. Came up empty. Dug in his other pocket. And then in his jacket until he finally found a loose gold coin. He pushed it into the boy's hand.
"Can you tell Lieutenant General Inuzuka that I need to see him?" Naruto whispered. And when the stableboy stared at him, Naruto pushed the coin more firmly into his grubby hand. "I could really use your help."
There was a long pause. The boy's dark eyes scanned the area too. Slowly, his fingers closed around the coin. He nodded a little before he thrust the coin inside his vest pocket.
Naruto gave a tiny smile. Then his voice was back to booming.
"So, I still don't get it. Why do you need to nail those big metal things into the hooves? Can't you just put shoes on them like people?" Naruto wondered. He began leading them back into the bigger area of the courtyard. The stableboy took a second, and then he forced a laugh.
"You can't just put boots on a horse, Your Highness."
Some of the other servants smiled as they caught on to the thread of the conversation.
"I mean, it's got to be more comfortable. I wouldn't want a big nail in my foot," Naruto stated.
"Such a curious young man our prince is," some of them giggled to each other as they passed.
Naruto found himself on the edge of his seat as he waited now.
A full day passed since he had entrusted the stableboy with his mission. And then another.
He scrutinized every napkin, every tray that he could find. Hoping to find one of those slips of paper he sometimes saw Sakura or Sasori pocketing as they passed through a town. The ones that they would skim through before throwing into the nearest fire without another word.
All his vigilance was for naught.
One night, Naruto rolled onto his side when he felt a tap on his foot. He felt the tap again. More insistent this time. He mumbled something. And then a sharp sigh of impatience above him jolted him awake.
"You're the one who begged for a meeting and now you're going to sleep through it?"
Naruto rubbed his eyes with his fists.
Standing at the foot of his bed was Lieutenant General Inuzuka. His arms were folded across his chest.
Naruto scrambled to sit up.
"How- how are you in here?" Naruto wondered, looking all around his room.
Kiba sighed again. "You sleep with your door unlocked. How do you think?" And then Kiba fiddled with the edge of his cloak before pulling out his pocket watch.
"We've only got about 10 minutes until the next shift of guards gets here. What's this urgent matter?" he demanded, snapping the watch cover shut.
Naruto blinked, trying to clear his sleep-addled brain.
"Wait. I wrote it down," Naruto suddenly remembered. He scrambled out of his bed, stumbling over to his desk in the corner. He found the note buried under countless other half-composed letters and crumpled drafts.
"When I write letters, someone shoots down the birds. Every time," Naruto read. When he peeked up at Kiba, the Lieutenant General was frowning. He met Naruto's eyes. Nodded for him to continue. Naruto squinted in the darkness.
"I've tried writing to Sakura, to Prince Sasuke of the Mountain Kingdom, and also to Pearl Port. The birds were all shot down. But later, Prince Sasuke, and my friend in Pearl Port wrote back to me. I didn't hear back from Sakura or one of her people," Naruto continued. And then he added, "And I waited for the time it would take the letters to travel."
"It… This…" Kiba scowled, fist over his mouth as he thought. He scrutinized Naruto. And then he pointed.
"You're not making this up. You're certain," Kiba demanded.
Naruto nodded. And then his eyes lit up.
"I can send a letter and you can watch if you want to see. Then you can trust me more," he suggested. Kiba's eyebrows rose. He tilted his head to one side. Then the other.
"Alright. Tomorrow morning at 9," Kiba agreed. His mouth set into a tight line. But his eyes were a little less sharp than usual.
"Anything else?" Kiba pressed.
Naruto scanned his scrap of paper again.
"Oh. Um. Not about this but… something I wanted to ask Sakura about… if you can get word to her," he hesitated.
"Well, your first idea wasn't bad, so let's hear it."
Naruto gripped the paper a little tighter. "Almsgiving is… weird."
Kiba's expression contorted. "You think charity is weird?"
Naruto shook his head. "No. No. It's… the way they do almsgiving is weird. It's… they do it so often and the same people seem to be coming to each one. So it's probably not really fixing any problems if the same people keep showing up. I just… it's…" Naruto huffed. "I just get a weird feeling from it."
Kiba didn't seem convinced. But he nodded. "Not quite sure what that means, but I'll pass it along, I guess." He shifted his weight to his other foot. He looked around the room, as if expecting to see someone hiding behind the curtains.
"Look, Prince-"
"Don't call me that," Naruto muttered.
Kiba's eyes widened. And then he gave a half-smile.
"Alright. Young Lord. It seems that you've learned a thing or two recently. Make sure other people don't notice that. The stupider you seem, the safer you'll be," Kiba warned. And then he lowered his voice. "Especially not-"
"Marquess Shimura."
"Duke Hyuuga."
They said the names at the same time. Kiba gave a look of approval. But Naruto was unsmiling.
"Can I do the same thing if I have more to tell you?" Naruto wondered.
Kiba pulled his cowl up to cover the lower half of his face. "Probably not. It's risky enough for me to sneak in here like this. If it's urgent, send that stableboy with a message again. You picked a good one. The kid really likes the General." He took a step toward the door.
"Keep your head down. That goofy smile of yours will keep most people's guards down around you," Kiba suggested. And then he slipped out with barely a sound.
Naruto waited a few seconds. When he poked his head out into the corridor, he couldn't see anyone. Not even the guards who usually stood at his door. Kiba was right. When the guard shifts changed, it seemed like there was some time when his door was left unattended. It embarrassed him that he hadn't even known about it when it was just a few feet away from him. And then he realized how strange it was someone from outside the castle knew about such a detail. Naruto locked his door as he stepped back inside his room.
Naruto sat on his bed.
It felt like a great weight had been lifted off his chest. After months and months of feeling so trapped, talking to someone who could do something was such a relief. And while it wasn't as good as reaching out to Sakura himself, it was much better than the alternative: sitting in silence like a fool.
He laid back down, closing his eyes.
In the morning, he would send a letter so that the Lieutenant General could see for himself what happened. And then he would visit the temple to speak with the High Priestess. Spending some time with her always made him feel a little better. His head racing with thoughts of what he could bring for her this time, Naruto took a deep breath for the first time in a while.
Something was wrong.
Sakura felt this acutely as she sat down for supper. She had arrived separately from Shijima, but they had discussed in detail what to say. What to withhold. What to embellish. The consort had yet to arrive, but Prince Baki was already sitting at the head of the table with the demeanor of a mountain lion. Eyes tracking her as soon as she entered the room.
"Good evening, General," Baki practically purred.
"Good evening," she answered, keeping her tone curt.
Baki smirked, gaze never leaving her as she crossed the room to take her place at the enormous table. She felt a touch on her elbow. Mangetsu leaned in close to inform her that Suigetsu was keeping an eye on Concubine Deba's side. Sakura nodded, already knowing that Baki would have fixed Mangetsu with a less-than-friendly look. However, when she looked up, Baki was back to smiling.
They exchanged light pleasantries about the day. Both acting as if neither remembered the events of that afternoon.
When Shijima entered the hall, she bowed deeply to both of them.
"How are you feeling, cousin?" Sakura greeted Shijima, holding out a hand to her. There was a bandage on her cheek from where Deba's nails had gouged into her. There was another one on the left side of her forehead. Shijima had made sure to wear big sleeves that drooped down to her elbows when she lifted her arm, revealing the bruises there too.
"I'm fine thanks to you, General. How are you feeling?" Shijima replied, hurrying to Sakura. She knelt at Sakura's side, fretting over the uncovered scratches on Sakura's hands.
"This is nothing. I barely feel anything," Sakura assured her.
"Ah yes. I'd heard that there was some excitement in the harem today," Baki interrupted them.
"Really? And your thoughts?" Sakura replied without looking at him. She fussed with Shijima's hair and fixing the collar of her gown.
"You seem a reasonable woman, General. I doubt you clashed with Concubine Deba for no reason."
Only then did Sakura finally look him in the face, rewarding him with a smile. "You truly are a wise man, Prince Baki. I'm so glad that you can see things with such clarity," she complimented him. And then she released Shijima, urging her to go take her place next to Baki. Shijima nodded.
The meal was served not too long after. They laughed and shared conversation over the food and drink.
As Sakura had hoped, Shijima's injuries hadn't gone unnoticed by Baki. And even if it was just pity that moved him, Baki did comment on her condition. He even asked how she felt, which was quite a change from how he normally treated her as part of the palace's decoration.
But at the same time, Baki's gaze fell hot on her all too often.
Sakura had a good idea of what this was.
A man like Baki, who prided himself on his fighting prowess, had probably not encountered too many women like her. When women in the Viper's Fang fought, it was with slaps and hair-pulling. But for Sakura, who had severed a man's head from his body on more than one occasion, all that was child's play.
Aunt Kurenai had warned her of this on more than one occasion. That there existed some men in the world who not only enjoyed violence. But were aroused by it. And judging from Baki's expression, he seemed to fall in that category quite splendidly.
This complicated things. Her goal had been for Baki to see Shijima's struggles to gain control over the harem and to admire that tenacity. After all, Shijima was a beautiful young woman. But there were many beautiful women all around her. It would take more than that to hold Baki's attention. None of this would work if Baki was too busy watching Sakura to notice Shijima's efforts.
Sakura felt a headache begin to pound its way to life somewhere at the back of her skull. She wished Shikamaru were here. He would have formed a plan within a day.
As they finished the meal and signaled for more wine, Sakura held Shijima's gaze. She stared hard until Shijima gave a tiny nod.
"Well, it's been an eventful day. I haven't even had a chance to ask you, my dear. Have you had a chance to try on that shawl I showed you?" asked Sakura.
Though they had rehearsed together, Sakura couldn't help but marvel at the way Shijima's face turned white. Her hand was trembling as it came up to cover her mouth.
"Oh… I was… I was on my way to show it to you when Concubine Deba…" Shijima trailed off, tears welling up in her eyes.
Baki swirled his wine around, looking between both women.
"Calm yourself in front of our guest, Consort Hoki. It's probably just lost. There's no reason to cry," he scoffed. But when neither of his companions spoke, he scrutinized Sakura's face.
Sakura puckered her mouth, as if she were trying to think of what to say. She exhaled heavily through her nose. Shijima jumped a little at the sound.
"So you don't know where it is? Am I understanding correctly?" questioned Sakura.
Shijima nodded.
As Sakura pushed her wine to the side, Shijima burst into tears.
"Please forgive me, General. I'll send servants to go find it right away. I may have left it in my room," Shijima blurted out.
"Do so. I'm quite upset and I don't wish to spoil the mood any more than I already have. Please excuse me," Sakura replied, her face stiff as she got to her feet. She reached her arm back. Mangetsu stepped toward her. Sakura grabbed him by the collar of his shirt to hiss into his ear. Mangetsu nodded a few times. And then he hurried out of the room, breaking into a run as soon as he was past the doors.
Sakura followed in measured steps, her shoulders tight and her fists at her sides.
She heard Baki ask, "What's really going on here, Consort Hoki?"
Sakura knew when Shijima explained what the shawl was. She heard Baki's, "What?" explode from the hall even after she had stepped into the corridor outside.
Sakura headed straight for her room. She ran into Suigetsu in the hall. Suigetsu cackled until Sakura grabbed his arm, pressing her pointer finger to her lips. He clamped his mouth shut. Snickers still escaped through his sharp teeth.
"I've never had this much fun on a job before. You're really something, M'Lady," he whispered.
And only because she was confident that no one else would see, Sakura cracked a smile too. But then Suigetsu's expression sobered.
"A maid. Behind you," he murmured.
"Sorry about this," Sakura warned him. And Suigetsu just gave her a cocky smile before he nodded.
Sakura struck him hard. The slapping sound rang up and down the corridor.
"Find it. I won't tolerate incompetence," she snapped. Suigetsu stood there, looking down at the floor.
"Get out of my sight," Sakura then snarled. Suigetsu bowed. And he flashed her a quick wink before he rushed down the hall. When Sakura turned to glare at his back, she spotted the maid peeking at her from behind a pillar. The girl ducked out of sight with a look of terror, as if she had seen a demon.
When Sakura walked into her apartment, she slammed the doors. But when she leaned against the doors, she offered her cousins a smile.
"Did I sound angry?" she asked.
"Terrifying," Kankuro assured her.
"It was quite strong, Lady Sakura. I'm sure everyone is convinced," added Gaara. And then he motioned for her to sit. "Try these grapes. I can't stop eating them."
"You'll upset your stomach," Sakura warned him as she pushed off the door to join them.
The minute Mangetsu had burst into the northern wing of the palace, Azra and Esma had dropped their things and hurried out with their skirts in their hands. Meno, who had gone to the kitchen to fetch dinner for Kankuro, Temari, and Gaara, would likely hear the news soon. She had left them with plenty of fruits and pastries in the meantime.
"In case supper is delayed. I deeply apologize," Meno had said earlier in the day. And Kankuro chuckled at her sincerity.
"Such a sweet child," he commented.
"I hit Suigetsu outside. I feel a little guilty," Sakura confessed as she put her arm around Gaara. She opened her mouth and let Gaara feed her a grape. Sweetness washed over her tongue when she bit into the skin. When her eyes widened, Gaara beamed at her.
"I think we've all wanted to hit him at one point or another. It's fine, My Lady," Temari retorted. Kankuro snorted into his wine.
"Buy him a good bottle of wine later, Lady Sakura. I'm sure all will be forgiven if you do," Gaara suggested.
Sakura shook her head a little. "What a clever child the goddess has blessed me with for a cousin," she praised him. She pressed a kiss to his temple. The way she always had. And he smiled at her as he always had.
As they waited, the servants began scouring the kitchens and the laundry rooms. Shijima's personal attendants barged into the harem escorted by Prince Baki's guards. They overturned wardrobes and dug through the concubines' jewels. Hunting desperately for the emerald green fabric stitched with the desert rose design on the hem. Also completely ignoring the concubines' shrill protest.
Of course, Suigetsu already knew where to look. But he bumbled around looking irate and terrifying a few of the concubines to the point of tears before he finally pretended to stumble upon the scraps hidden at the bottom of a basket of laundry. He grabbed the torn pieces of fabric and held it up to the light, as if scrutinizing the pattern.
The servants, who had all been shuffling through the piles of fabric in opposite corners of the room, eyed Suigetsu when he grabbed the whole basket. He hefted it onto his shoulder and ran into the hallway.
Sakura was unsurprised when Suigetsu overturned the laundry basket onto the floor in front of her. The green shawl sat in several pieces, mixed in with dirty sheets. She supposed that if this sort of tradition mattered to her, she would be livid right now.
But the fact was that her grandmother was dead. And she had left behind many other treasures and trinkets for her descendants to remember her by. If the stories Aunt Kurenai had told her were to be believe, Queen Chiyo would have wholeheartedly endorsed sacrificing one of her possessions for a plan such as this.
"Oh no. How can this be?" she said in a flat voice.
"That's terribly cruel. She didn't have to rip it up so many times," Temari commented. She pointed to each scrap as she counted all the pieces.
"Gaara," Sakura said.
"Yes?"
Sakura unwound her arms from around him. "Go be a dear and bring Consort Hoki here. Let's act out the next scene of this fun little show."
Gaara ate one last grape before he got to his feet. Temari reached over to brush off any dirt that had stuck to the back of his pants.
When Shijima arrived several minutes later, her face was swollen from crying. She stood in the entrance, staring at Kankuro lying on his back while Temari and Sakura tried to throw grapes into his mouth.
"Oh goodness. You're a mess," Sakura remarked. She motioned for Shijima to join her, already pouring her a glass of water. Shijima gulped it down as Sakura tried to smooth back her hair. Shijima let out a sigh of relief. As she set the glass down, she noticed the green scraps scattered on the ground. Her face fell.
"General, I really am so-"
Sakura interrupted Shijima by pinching her nose. "It's quite alright. Things could not have gone more perfectly." And then she grabbed Shijima by the cheeks.
"Were you forcing yourself to cry or actually crying?" Sakura wondered.
"I just thought about what I've had to go through the last several years. It's not difficult to make myself cry that way," Shijima confessed. Sakura smiled.
"So clever too, this one. I'm surrounded by such clever cousins," Sakura praised her. Shijima blushed.
"Now," Sakura moved on, releasing Shijima's face. "I'd like you all to react naturally to what's about to occur." She looked all around the room. Including Mangetsu, who had just slipped back inside and was speaking quietly with Suigetsu in the corner. The brothers met her gaze. They both smiled at her.
When the doors to the northern wing of the Viper's Fang burst open, Sakura emerged, pulling her falchion from its sheath.
"General, please!" Shijima pleaded, grabbing at Sakura's skirts. "Please! I'll take responsibility! Don't do this!"
Sakura ignored her, storming ahead, swinging her blade around.
"Out of my way!" she barked at the servants, who fled in terror. Her cousins trailed behind her, shouting her name as they struggled to catch up with her strides.
"This was my fault, General. Please calm your anger! Take it out on me!" Shijima sobbed.
Despite even Meno and the twins trying to divert Sakura's attention, she made it all the way to the harem.
"Bring Concubine Deba before me!" Sakura demanded to the guards on duty at the double doors. They stared straight ahead. Although Sakura could see their eyes darting around nervously.
"Bring her before me so I can repay the dishonor she has done me."
"General, please don't be like this," Shijima begged, wailing even harder now, her face pressed into Sakura's skirts. And Sakura couldn't help but inwardly commend the girl for her performance. She truly was a skilled liar.
It didn't take long for Baki and his guards to arrive on the scene. Of course the servants had run to get him as soon as they saw Sakura running through the palace swinging her sword around.
Baki looked from Sakura still clenching her sword in her hand. To Shijima clinging to Sakura's dress and begging for something in incoherent words.
"What is all of this, General?" Baki asked.
Sakura whirled around, pointing at Baki with her falchion. His guards took a step forward. But Baki held his hand up, sending them backwards.
"Your precious Concubine Deba has defiled the memory of my family. She has torn my grandmother's memento into pieces. And so I will do the same to her," Sakura answered, smiling with too many teeth.
Baki stared at her. As if trying to determine how serious she was. And then he gestured toward the harem.
"Go. Bring Concubine Deba. Let's resolve this matter quickly," he barked. One of his guards took off to follow those orders.
It took several minutes for Deba to appear. She was disheveled, her hair in disarray and her eyes red. She seemed to be determined to appear the victim in this situation. She fell to her knees, already crying before she heard the charges. Sakura struggled to control her expression. If not, she would have rolled her eyes.
"Please, My Lord husband, what is this terror all about? This poisonous woman has ransacked our home and made a mockery of me! How much more suffering does she plan to heap upon this concubine's head?" wailed Deba.
Sakura laughed at that. She reached into her pockets to pull out the scraps of green fabric they had recovered from the laundry. Deba was a seasoned liar herself. Her expression did not change.
"I heap suffering upon your head? It seems you've poured hot coals over yourself and then turned to blame me," Sakura retorted.
"I loaned Consort Hoki this shawl because she admired it so. On her way to show her outfit to me, she was accosted by Concubine Deba this afternoon," she then reported, looking at Baki now. Baki nodded.
"Yes. This I've heard," he replied.
"Yes, My Lord. I told you of how this cruel woman beat me and beat one of your loyal guards," whimpered Deba.
Sakura sneered. "Yes, yes, I'm a monster. It's not as if I caught you also beating and kicking Consort Hoki."
Deba stopped her fake whimpering to shoot a glare at her. Sakura only smirked in return.
"My retainer found this buried at the bottom of one of the baskets in the laundry room. The servants claim that it was mixed with laundry that belongs to Consort Hoki," Sakura went on.
Deba pointed at Shijima. "There! It's clear who the perpetrator is. Then why am I the one being accused?"
"You stupid woman," Sakura rebuked. Deba's eyes widened. "Since you and your followers have taken to terrorizing Consort Hoki by filling her bedding and clothes with pests, I've had her servants wash her laundry with mine. It's been weeks since any of Consort Hoki's possession have come anywhere close to your laundry room."
"You still have no proof that it was me! Who here witnessed this supposed deed?" Deba insisted, pointing all around the room at the guards and the servants. Some of the concubines had also left the harem to witness the ruckus. They all turned their gaze or flinched when Deba's stare fell on them.
But then, a guard with his arm in a sling stepped forward.
"I witnessed it," he declared.
He knelt in front of Baki, lowering his head.
"You…" Deba breathed.
"And you are?" Baki queried.
"I am one of the guards who witnessed this afternoon's events, Your Highness. I am also the guard who attempted to subdue the General," the guard confessed.
Baki, as well as many others, looked confused.
"Very well. Speak your part."
The guard bowed again.
"Thank you, Your Highness. When the General and Consort Hoki departed from the scene, I witnessed Concubine Deba as well as several other concubines retrieve the garment that Consort Hoki left behind. They spoke insults of the General and the Consort as they ripped it apart with their hands and stepped on it with their shoes," the guard explained.
"You liar!" Deba sputtered, turning bright red. She lunged for the guard, but Sakura lowered her falchion, blocking Deba's path.
"Why don't we let him finish?" Sakura suggested in a soft voice. Deba froze at the sight of the sharp blade just in front of her face.
The guard then bowed in Sakura's direction. "I realized how shameful my actions towards the General were afterwards. I went to the General to kneel and to beg forgiveness. I had no idea that shawl belonged to the General. Otherwise, I would have reported it immediately."
That was half-truthful.
When Sakura had summoned the guard before her, she had laid out the facts for him. How kindly would Prince Baki look upon a nameless, faceless guard who had insulted a noble guest? And when she had hinted that he wouldn't be able to rely on Concubine Deba's protection for much longer, he had folded. A testimony in exchange for enough gold to support him for the rest of his life. After all, with an injury like his, he wouldn't be able to serve as a guard from now on.
With the guard's single testimony, Deba's already flimsy alibi crumbled. As did what remained of her composure.
"Fine! Maybe I did! But am I not justified after how she insulted and humiliated me in front of my own court! How am I the villain in this situation!" Deba raged, glaring at Sakura so hard that it looked like her eyes would fill with blood.
And when Sakura simply regarded her with disgust, Deba let out a scream of frustration.
"Concubine Deba, do you even know what you've destroyed?" Sakura inquired.
She nudged her falchion closer to Deba, who leaned away from the sharpened edge, still glowering up at Sakura. Sakura opened her hand and let the green scraps of fabric rain down on Deba.
"The color for a bride, so that her marriage will be filled with many years of pride. Sew it emerald green to set the most joyous scene," Sakura recited. It was an old song that she had heard so many times as a child.
Deba stared down at the jagged edges of the fabric, suddenly chilled to the bone.
"It was the veil my grandmother wore when she wed my grandfather. A precious heirloom of the Haruno family that you destroyed with those pretty little claws," Sakura uttered.
A shriek of terror ripped from Deba's throat. She gathered the little bits of fabric in her hands, trying to remember the shape of the original garment. And when she looked up at Prince Baki, his expression was stony.
"My Lord! I didn't know!"
"Consort Hoki begged me to calm my rage. That she would compensate me in full for my losses. But…" Sakura turned on her heel to face Baki now. "How does one compensate for an insult against someone's very legacy? I'm not quite certain, Prince. Do you have any suggestions?"
Kurenai had always taught Sakura to wield her words as weapons. And the military had taught her to wield her weapons as words. But it was ever so refreshing when both things could be done at the same time.
Sakura sheathed her sword.
"And Consort Hoki is correct. Taking Concubine's head would not even begin to quench my anger."
Sakura looked down at Shijima still hanging on to her skirts. Shijima sniffled as she stared right back up at her.
"I am quite certain that even if the Deba family were to empty their coffers and to drive themselves into crushing debt, it would not be enough. And after all, Prince Baki, haven't you said that we are cousins? How will you handle this transgression against our family?" Sakura then challenged, staring directly into Baki's eyes.
Baki was left speechless.
Sakura returned her attention to Deba, who was curled up in a ball, silently weeping. The wrinkled scraps of green fabric clenched in both her hands.
"No ideas, Prince Baki? I'm disappointed," she remarked.
"I- General."
Baki bowed to Sakura. A gasp rippled through those gathered. That the fierce, prideful Prince Baki would ever lower his head to another.
"I offer my most sincere apologies at the dishonor that has occurred under my roof. I will discipline Consort Deba and do whatever it takes to appease you."
Sakura ran her hand along the edge of her sheathed sword, thinking. Her eyes fell on Deba again. Cold.
"Perhaps it won't be enough to cover everything. But why don't we start with the head of your dear Concubine Deba?"
"No!" Deba screeched. She lifted her tear-streaked face. "Please, My Lord, have mercy! I have given you a son! I have spent so many years at your side!"
Baki turned away from Deba.
"Please give me time to deliberate, General. I assure you that I will come up with a solution that will please us all," he said.
And Sakura thought back to all the instances that she had demanded justice and received none. When her throne had been stolen from her. When the nobles had mocked her and sent her to her death. When her parents' usurpers had adorned themselves with her parents jeweled and laughed as they stuffed themselves with the richest foods while she slogged through the mud bleeding from the gut.
She wore that anger on her face as she looked upon Baki.
"I am unsatisfied with this answer."
Sakura motioned for her cousins. When they stepped forward, Sakura took Gaara's hand.
"Kankuro, prepare arrangements for our departure. This place has left a sour taste in my mouth," she ordered.
"Yes, My Lady," Kankuro responded.
"Temari, write to Princess Mei for me," Sakura then said, already walking away from the gathered crowd.
"What should it say, My Lady?" Temari asked, falling into step beside her.
"In light of today's events, I will ask her to choose a side. She can no longer maintain friendly relations with the Viper's Fang as well as with Karo. Also inform Great-Uncle," she instructed.
"Yes, My Lady."
"General!" Shijima called after her. But her call fell on deaf ears as Sakura turned her back on her as well.
That night, as Gaara began gathering and folding their clothes, a messenger arrived, wind-battered and parched. He stood drinking the water Gaara offered him as Sakura opened the envelope.
Dear Sakura,
I saw a flower today that made me think of you. I know that my memory has done you a great disservice. After all, how could you ever compare to a little thing such as a flower?
Earlier this week, went into the city to visit the silk dyers. I am still amazed by the skill with which they work. I saw a color that I thought would suit you. I asked them to send a bolt to your tailor. It is my hope that he will make something that will be to your liking.
Today, as well, I will rebuke the ocean that keeps you from me. Day by day, I am learning new things in the hopes that I will be a better man by the time you return to me.
Itachi
Sakura tucked the letter into her robes, right against her heart.
"Are we really going home, Lady Sakura?" Gaara asked from somewhere behind her.
"Not now. But soon," she promised him.