Amaryllis
Chapter 24
Karui tapped the pipe against the edge of the table. Ash fluttered down as the blue smoke rose up. She placed the tip in her mouth, leaning over to peek at the envelope.
"What is it, Grandfather?" she wondered, tilting her head to read the words.
Ebizo stroked his long beard.
"She is very much like her grandmother," Ebizo murmured. He chuckled as he handed the letter over to Karui.
Karui's fist rose to cover her mouth as she read through the contents of the letter. And then a laugh spurted out of her too.
"Oh, I wish I could see the expression on Prince Baki's face. How terrible this is," Karui sighed. She lowered the letter into her lap. "What will you do, Grandfather?"
Ebizo clucked his tongue. He held his hand out. With a guilty smile, Karui returned his pipe.
"The situation is actually quite straightforward. She's made a reasonable request. And it will cost me very little to indulge her," he mused.
"I thought she was just a military woman. I'm surprised to see such a cunning scheme from her," Karui commented, looking down at the letter again. She blinked when Ebizo tapped his knuckles against the top of her head.
"Silly child. Do you think that branch of the family has survived so long in hostile lands simply by waving a sword around?" he scolded her. Karui rubbed her head, even though it hadn't hurt at all. She blinked.
"I supposed not," Karui said.
Konohamaru swiveled his head around to check the alley behind him for what felt like the hundredth time. It hadn't been easy to pin down a meeting with this person. And he wasn't even certain if this was the person he needed to talk to.
Pulling his hood a little closer to his face, he ducked into the seedy little bar deep in the heart of the slums. Wary eyes fell on him when the door creaked. They followed him as he made his way to the bartender, an older woman with an eyepatch.
"Beat it if you don't have any money, kid. This isn't a charity," the bartender grumbled.
But her visible eye widened when he pushed a golden coin across the counter towards her.
"I'd like to take some singing lessons," he whispered. The bartender glared at him as she lifted the coin to her mouth. She bit down hard before she scrutinized the coin. And then she jerked her head for him to follow. Konohamaru looked around. When he couldn't find a place to enter, he ducked under the bar to follow the woman past the wooden barrels of alcohol. To a small door in the back.
The bartender knocked in a peculiar pattern. There was a pause. And then a voice came from within.
"What?"
"You got a guest."
"…Let the kid in."
The bartender muttered something about being "full of herself". She said nothing to Konohamaru as she hobbled her way back to the bar.
Konohamaru stared at the worn doorknob. He closed his hand around it and pushed. The door opened with little noise.
"You found the place alright. Not bad."
It was just a dusty little room filled with barrels and shelves. There was a bed wedged into the corner, as if someone had squeezed it in last-minute. The woman sat at the foot of the bed. A lute case lay open behind her.
"You're… the court musician," Konohamaru said. But it was more of a question than anything.
Tenten leaned back on her palm, smiling. "Yeah."
Konohamaru frowned. "How do I know I can trust you?"
It had been difficult to even find the musician in the first place. He knew there were messengers who ran for the General when she was in the capital. It had taken every moment of his spare time for a week to find one of them. And once he located the messenger, it had taken almost all of the money the General had given him to convince the man to point him in the direction of this tiny bar that didn't even have a sign out front.
"A good question. And how do I know I can trust you, kid?" she wondered in return.
"I… I want to help the General," he stated, a little helplessly. Because he had nothing else to support him. No documents, not that he could read anyway. No seal or ring to prove that he served someone more powerful than him.
Tenten tilted her head to the side as she appraised him.
"I've seen you tending the General's horse. You really like her, don't you?" she observed.
Konohamaru nodded.
"I owe the General. She picked me up when I was just some urchin who could sing. I'm not dumb enough to bite the hand that feeds," Tenten then assured him. And then she sat up straight.
"So. What is this message you need to get to her?"
Konohamaru hesitated. And then he spoke. "Prince Naruto came to me in secret. He paid me to send word to Lieutenant General Inuzuka. I heard the Lieutenant General talk about how someone is shooting down… messenger birds? I don't know why. But it has to do with the prince. And then he said he needed to send word quickly."
Tenten scratched her arm as she took that in. "Well. Sounds like he's going to tell the General, doesn't it? Why come all the way here?" And then her hand stilled when she met Konohamaru's eyes. He stared at her.
Tenten laughed. "Oh. You already know not to trust these people." She tilted her head from side to side as she considered things. And then she got to her feet.
"Things are getting stale in the capital anyway. I might as well pay her a visit," she decided.
Konohamaru fumbled when she suddenly reached inside her pocket and flicked him something. It was a silver coin.
"Thanks for the tip. But don't give away this kind of stuff for free anymore. If you've got something I don't have, you can profit in some way," she advised him.
Tenten rode out of the city at dawn the next day. She joined up with a few merchants making their way up to Whitewave. She offered them a little coin to let her ride on the back of one of their wagons. She played songs to help pass the time. And by the time they arrived at the port city, the merchants were sad to see her go.
The city of Whitewave was run by Countess Inuzuka, an outspoken supporter of the General. The strong tie between the two women was reflected in their trade relations. The city was filled with exotic fruits and teas found nowhere else in the kingdom. It only took a day or so to find cheap passage to the Southern Tea Isle. In exchange, all Tenten had to do was play a few songs here and there to keep morale of the sailors up.
When Tenten arrived on the island, storm clouds hovered over the trees. She kept her head down and booked a room in one of the island's more run-down taverns called The Sailor's Rest. It wasn't empty, but it also wasn't crowded. As she climbed the stairs up to her room, Tenten noticed a few men occupying a table in the back. One of them eyed her in a sharp way, eyes narrowing behind his glasses. She made a note to herself not to linger too long here.
It almost didn't surprise her when she realized that the General wasn't here. It wasn't like her to be quiet for so long. And she usually visited the mainland for a few months every year.
Tenten leaned against the bar in the Sailor's Rest as she considered her options.
It was quite natural for most people to relay information to Admiral Haruno. The General's cousin was well-known as her close confidante. Those who wished to curry favor with the General usually started with the Admiral first. But when she asked around, she found that the Admiral was quite busy. And with the General absent, there was no guarantee that any news would reach her quickly.
She tapped her fingers once. The bartender slid a tankard over to her. She nodded in his direction.
The man who had stared at her earlier was nowhere in sight. But at the same table was a huge, blue man. He offered her a smile, nodding before he turned his attention elsewhere. Tenten's eyes narrowed when, a few minutes later, he made his way over to her.
"I'm not interested," she stated before he could set his drink down.
The large man appraised her. Laughed.
"No offense. You're an attractive woman. But that's not it," he replied. And then he offered his free hand.
Tenten stared at it. She considered swatting it away. She decided to shake it.
"Kisame Hoshigaki, handsome marauder and outlaw," he introduced himself. And then he thought before he added, "Been working as the General's security these days."
She toyed with the idea of giving him a fake name. But she decided against it.
"Tenten."
Leaning his elbow on the bar, Kisame jerked his chin toward her.
"You looking for her?" he questioned.
Tenten studied the man for a long moment. He was huge. The hand on his tankard made it look like a child's cup. And that hand could easily bash her skull in. But then she had also noticed the way people who passed him greeted him with "Howzit, Big Blue" and "Hey there, brother". Those sorts of greetings didn't roll off the tongue overnight.
"Maybe," Tenten responded.
She flinched back a little when the mercenary reached for his belt. He froze. Paused to give a pointed look, as if to reassure her. And then he rummaged around in the pouches on his belt until he produced a small gold ring. He could squeeze it onto his finger if he had to. But it was annoying to have anything on his hands, so he just carried it around on a gold chain instead. He handed the ring to her, keeping the chain looped around a couple of his fingers.
Tenten scrutinized the desert rose engraved into the gold.
"Never thought I'd see the day the General hired a mercenary," she murmured. She handed the ring back to him.
Kisame flashed his pointy teeth.
"People keep saying that. It's starting to hurt my feelings a little," he replied.
Tenten glanced around the tavern. She tapped the bar a few times.
"Not here," she declared. "Maybe the palace."
Kisame snorted. "No." He read the expression on her face and smiled again. "I know you want the palace because you want witnesses in case I try to kill you. But it's not exactly the best place to exchange secrets right now," he explained.
Tenten's forehead wrinkled.
"The docks at dawn? The fishermen will be out then. Too far to eavesdrop. But close enough to see if either of us tries to stab the other," Kisame suggested instead. He pointed at his chest, at the exact spot where Tenten had hidden a knife. She refused to give him the satisfaction of looking down at herself. It was a well-concealed weapon. This man was even more dangerous than he appeared if he could figure that out just from a short conversation like this one.
Tenten's eyes narrowed as she held the mercenary's gaze.
When she gave him a stiff nod, Kisame looked satisfied. He told the bartender to get her another drink on his tab before he walked away. Tenten left the drink untouched, slipping out of the tavern as quietly as possible.
At dawn, Tenten was already at the docks, concealed in the shadows of one of the stalls that had closed for the night. She could see the huge mercenary standing there, shifting his weight from foot to foot. There was another man standing some distance away. Just in case they were planning an ambush, she kicked at a rock, sending it skittering across the path. Both men turned toward the sound. She was too far away to hear, but she could see Kisame turn toward the other man to say something. The second man departed with a wave of his hand. She couldn't tell whether the wave was for Kisame or for her.
"The General mentioned she had a musician wandering around the capital. That's you?" he said in greeting when she finally joined him. She stood a good distance away, her arms folded across her chest.
"Where is she?" Tenten asked.
Kisame sighed. "If she didn't tell you, I sure as hell won't."
Tenten clicked her tongue. She couldn't help but approve a little. She tried not to show it in her face.
"Can you read?" she asked.
"Yeah," Kisame answered.
She handed a note over to him. "Stableboy at Whiteriver Keep got wind of some strange happenings. Kid felt worried enough to come find me."
Kisame unfolded the paper and read through the contents. His expression didn't change. And when he finished reading, he tore up the paper and tossed it into the ocean.
"Lots of strangeness going around lately," he grumbled.
Tenten stole a glance at the mercenary. At least he wasn't asking stupid questions. She noticed a pebble at her feet. She nudged it into the water.
"Anything else?" he asked.
Tenten sniffed, unfolding and refolding her arms. "Don't think so. I saw them bring more birds in. Lots of them. So seems like Little Namikaze isn't lying about that, at least."
Kisame paused mid-stretch as he took that in. Frowning, he turned to look at Tenten. She stared right back. Arching an eyebrow.
"They brought in more birds," he repeated.
She nodded. "Crows from the north. Doves from the east. They do doves here don't they?"
"So if they had to send more doves to Whiteriver, folks here would know…" mused Kisame, trying to put the pieces together.
Tenten didn't quite follow his line of thinking. "Someone has to sign off. So… whoever's in charge while the General's gone, I guess."
Kisame's eyes narrowed. "Then there's no way they wouldn't notice something like this unless they were signing off with their eyes closed."
Tenten's arms dropped.
"Are you saying that-"
"She knows. The aunt knows and she hasn't said anything," Kisame declared, glaring out at the ocean now. He heaved a sigh, rubbing his hand across his forehead. "General's not going to take this news well."
Tenten's eyes widened. "Lieutenant General Inuzuka said he would write to the Admiral about this," she recalled.
"He won't pass it to the General. That kid is right in his mother's pocket. If the aunt isn't telling her, then the cousin won't either," Kisame pointed out. Pressing his knuckles to his mouth, he continued staring out at the water. The sun was beginning to peer over the horizon now. The bottom of the black sky began to glow orange and red.
Tenten jolted a little when the mercenary's eyes suddenly fell on her.
"This conversation didn't happen," he warned her.
Tenten smirked. "The General pays me too well for me to remember any of her secrets," she assured him. But Kisame didn't smile.
"I hope you forget this quick then."
Tenten folded her arms again. "You really like her too, huh?" She glanced over him, noted the scars on his wrists.
"I've seen those before on slaves from the south. They had you in the fighting pits?" she observed.
Kisame rubbed his wrists. "Not for long," he assured her. "You'd be surprised how easy it is to break through chains when you really want to bash someone's head in."
They stood there, staring out at the water for another moment.
"I'm confused. So we're not going home?" Kankuro wondered, hugging a pillow to his chest as he sat down. On the other side of the room, Gaara leaned against the lid of one of the trunks they had been filling with various clothes and souvenirs they had gathered during their time in the Viper's Fang. All the gifts provided by Prince Baki had been placed in a separate pile. Kankuro kicked at some of the objects in that pile whenever he walked past.
"It all depends. But no. That's not in the plan for now," answered Sakura, leaning on her hand. She sorted through the letters she had spent the morning writing. Each one sealed with her ring. Temari had gone out to mail the first batch a little while ago. She would be back to send the others soon. Normally this was a task left for servants. But Sakura wanted to be sure that these letters made it to their destination quickly.
"What's the atmosphere like in the palace, Meno?" asked Sakura.
Meno paused while folding one of Sakura's robes for travel.
"Prince Baki is in meetings with his advisors much of the time. Consort Hoki interrogated the servants to identify which concubines aided Concubine Deba when she destroyed your property, General," Meno reported.
"Any word on their punishment?"
"No, General. For now, Concubine Deba had the servants and guards confiscate their possessions to be appraised," added Meno.
"For what?" Kankuro scoffed, stretching out onto his back and staring up at the gilded ceiling. "They destroyed something priceless. That's like trying to fill up a bottomless pit with gold."
"I suppose it's more of a gesture. Shijima's trying to show that she's taking this situation seriously," Sakura guessed. And then she smiled a little. "She really is a smart girl. It's a shame that that's gone unrecognized for so long in this place."
Since Sakura was "furious", it made no sense for Shijima to wander in and out of her quarters anymore. And while she wasn't lonely with her cousins beside her, Sakura worried about Shijima. With the huge upset in the power structure of the harem, all Shijima would have to do is seize control. With Prince Baki in a foul mood, not many of the concubines would be brave enough to try any underhanded tactics for a little while. Still, Sakura knew how daunting it could be to do something like this. She hoped that the few allies Shijima had made in the harem were serving her well now.
As Shijima seized control of the harem from within, Sakura's letters spread to all the cities with relationships to the Haruno family. Of course Princess Mei would be one of the first to receive word of the great offense Prince Baki and his wives had struck against her. Sakura was aware that Mei's relationship with Baki was all about business. When forced to choose between Baki and the Haruno family, Mei was certain to choose the Haruno's. It wasn't just about distant family relations. It was about profit as well. Baki controlled some trade routes to the east. But the Haruno family's access to gold and marble, as well as their vast network of connections to other cities in the Arids made them a better investment.
An added bonus was that Shijima had expressed discomfort at the relationship between Mei and Baki. Mei had mentioned once that she had a son by Baki, which ensured that he would never raise a hand against her city. After all, what kind of father would try to harm his own son? Mei was adamant that she had no other interest in the man. But if it bothered Shijima, then this was one way to solve the problem.
The other cities would face a similar dilemma. If the Haruno family was cutting ties with the Viper's Fang, what would they do?
The Haruno family had spent generations marrying its children into the various cities surrounding them. And because blood must always be honored, there would be very few in their right mind who would choose to turn their back on a Haruno.
Baki was likely meeting with his advisors, who would push him to try to salvage the relationship with Prince Ebizo's grand-niece before it was too late. But Baki's pride would prove a stumbling block, just as she had predicted would happen.
It didn't take long for messengers to begin pouring into the Viper's Throat. They carried letters with seals of all different colors and patterns.
Prince Byakuren apologized for the conduct of Concubine Toge, one of Deba's strongest supporters. Her father had been removed from his position as ambassador and was reflecting on his failure to raise a good daughter. Byakuren sent along jewels, as well as a written vow that he would always remain an ally of the Haruno family.
Prince Ibushi to the southwest disavowed Prince Baki for his lack of respect for traditions. He expressed mortification that he had ever shared a meal with such a man. He explained that the Viper's Fang would no long be welcome to conduct trade through their port city.
Sakura recalled a battle a few years ago. It was towards the end of the war with Sound Country. With winter closing in, bringing with it the promise of frostbite, Shikamaru had proposed a plan that had sounded impossible at the time.
Rather than attack the main garrison of enemy troops, he had proposed ambushing the cities and roads that provided supplies. It had been a risky maneuver. But they had divided their remaining soldiers and disrupted Sound Country's supply lines. That was how they had taken one of the biggest fortresses in the country and turned the tides of war in their favor.
Politics was like war in many ways. Maybe people did a little less stabbing, but the outcome was the same. Some people lived. Others died. And all it took was one mistake to break whatever careful balance there was.
There were, of course, some cities who remained silent. None of them would be foolish enough to criticize Sakura outright. But pressure from the surrounding cities would be enough to change their minds in time.
When word came from Karo a few days later, Sakura had to read the letter twice. Just to make sure she hadn't misunderstood.
Prince Ebizo was disappointed to learn that Prince Baki was not the wise man that rumors suggested. Ebizo urged Sakura to return to Karo and not to suffer discomfort for an instant longer than necessary. He also mentioned that with the souring of this relationship, naturally Sakura could not accept the troops Baki had promised.
"What? But you need those soldiers, don't you, Lady Sakura?" Temari read over her shoulder.
Sakura sighed as she tried to piece together what Ebizo meant.
"I think… I think that Great-Uncle is suggesting that if I were to refuse those troops… it would be another blow to Prince Baki's reputation. Because he would be unable to honor a promise he made to me," Sakura guessed.
"That is a very serious issue here. It might ruin him completely," Kankuro agreed, looking a little too happy about the prospect.
There was one letter that arrived that put a damper on things.
It was from the city of Solace. To the north. Where Mei's stepbrother Ao ruled.
Prince Ao sent his regrets at the misfortune that had befallen her. But due to the poor harvest in the north this year, he was unable to cut ties with Prince Baki. He reminded Sakura of how Baki was technically a cousin to her, and suggested that she try to find forgiveness in her heart, which was the mark of a good ruler.
"He must be out of his mind. He's being deliberately disrespectful," Kankuro complained.
Sakura tossed the letter on the table with a noise of disgust.
"Well… that was unpleasant," she remarked.
"Why did you stop, Lady Sakura? There's more," Gaara wondered, reaching for the later. He turned pale as he read the final paragraph that Sakura had omitted. Temari grasped his shoulder to steady him.
"What is it?" demanded Kankuro. He grabbed Gaara's arm to bring the letter closer to him.
"…Father's in Solace," Kankuro realized as he read.
"I wonder what he's said about Lady Sakura. And about us. No wonder Prince Ao seems less than fond of us," Temari said, her face grim. She moved to put her arm around Gaara's shoulders instead.
"I'll inform Great-Uncle. Perhaps there's something he can do to chastise that man," muttered Sakura, already thinking of what to write. When she looked up, biting the tip of her thumb, she spotted Gaara's panicked expression. Her face softened.
She reached across the table to grasp Gaara's hand. Her eyes were still unfocused. But he squeezed back.
"He's far from you. He can't hurt you," she assured him. Gaara nodded. But he didn't look convinced.
Along with Ebizo's letter came an envoy who bowed deeply.
"Since your needs are not being met here, His Highness has commanded me to find housing for you in the city until safe passage to Karo can be arranged," he reported.
Sakura gazed past the man, to Meno dusting in the corner. When Sakura met her eyes, Meno turned to glance at the door. Then looked back to her. Sakura nodded. She watched Meno gather some dirty linens in a basket before she made her way out. Hopefully the rumor would spread through the palace quickly.
Returning her gaze to the envoy, Sakura smiled.
"I'll trust your judgment. Please inform my Great-Uncle that I am thankful for his care and kindness," answered Sakura. The envoy nodded, bowing once again.
That night, Azra and Esma cleared away the bowls and cups from their evening meal.
Sakura had stopped dining with Prince Baki for obvious reasons. She even refused food from the palace's kitchen. Instead, she sent the twins out to buy food from the market each day. They always returned with grilled meats and fresh bread. They tried to find something new, although Sakura assured them that she wasn't so picky. When they counted out the change, Sakura pushed it back into their hands.
"Would you like tea? Some more wine?" Azra asked.
"No. You haven't had a chance to eat yet, have you? Go," Sakura urged, sending the girls out with impatient pushing motions. The twins smiled as they lifted the trays and made their way out of the room.
Heaving a sigh, Sakura leaned her head back on the couch. Her cousins were out for a walk to help them digest the heavy meal. Their company was nice. It would have been difficult to be away from home for so long if not for them. But a moment of silence was also something she looked forward to every now and then.
She heard the door open.
"What is it?"
"The security of this place is really terrible," Suigetsu complained, not for the first time, lowering his hood. He crossed the room to hand over a folded piece of paper. And then he helped himself to rest of her wine.
It was a message from Shijima. Thanks to that lax security, Suigetsu and Mangetsu were able to slip in and out of the harem to deliver notes like this one.
"Listen to this," Sakura said as she read. Suigetsu turned to her, still gulping.
"Prince Baki has been in a foul temper these days. He summoned me, demanding to know how to 'fix that woman's mood'. I appeared, shed some tears, and insisted that I was trying my best. I'm beginning to think that you might be right. He is not a bad man, but not very clever."
Suigetsu choked on the wine. Wiping his chin with the back of his hand, he coughed and laughed at the same time.
"She sounds like you," he pointed out, thumping his fist against his chest.
Sakura skimmed over the rest of the message. She crumpled it into her palm to burn later.
"M'Lady," Suigetsu called, suddenly serious. Her eyes fell on him.
"Have you gotten any sleep?"
The nightmares had crept up on her. It was so sudden that she had almost felt bewildered by their return. But once they settled back into her skull, it was like they had never left in the first place.
She knew that it was stress. The unfamiliar environment. And even as she dreamt, she was frustrated by her lack of control over her own mind.
Swords dripped blood onto rotting corpses. And everywhere she roamed, whether it was on charred battlefields or barren cities, she could hear sobbing. As constant as the chorus of crickets during the summer.
She jerked awake in the darkness, her heart racing. And if there was someone else in the room, her mind automatically screamed 'enemy' without giving the rest of her a chance to catch up. Temari nearly went blind one night when she burst into the room, hearing strange noises. Luckily, the dagger missed and hit the door instead. From that point on, Sakura laid down a strict rule that no one was to disturb her at night.
Mangetsu broke the rule. A lot.
When Sakura woke shouting about someone bleeding out. Ordering someone to put pressure on the wound, because soon the number of corpses would outnumber the living who had to carry them. Sweat drenched her shirt and her hair. And she whipped around as she heard a sound at the window. Mangetsu had opened it from the outside. He pocketed his knife that he had used to wedge the lock open.
"Sleep. I'll just sit here," he said, settling in a chair in the corner of the room.
She was too exhausted for anger. She wiped her hand across her forehead.
"What?"
"I'll just be here. Go back to sleep, M'Lady," Mangetsu repeated. He idly flicked a bit of sand off his clothes. And when Sakura glared at him, Mangetsu pointed toward the door, where Suigetsu was probably standing watch.
"Has the same thing. It's better when someone's in the room with him. I figured I could do the same for you," the mercenary explained.
Sakura considered throwing him out. But she had spent enough time with Mangetsu and Suigetsu. If she removed him, he would find another way back in. It wasn't worth arguing with him about this.
It was easier than she thought to fall asleep with him watching her from the corner of the room. Maybe because she was used to him walking past the room at night on his patrols. She had never asked either of the brothers to watch her room so closely. And she had never asked them to confront the palace guards who spoke ill of her. Neither of them had mentioned the latter to her. It was only because Meno and the twins had whispered it to her during a rare moment when both of the mercenaries were out of the room. The rumors were likely exaggerated. But Sakura was confident that it was true that Suigetsu had taken down a guard twice his size. She was less confident that the guard had burst into tears.
She slept a little. It wasn't perfect. She still jerked awake a few times. But the haunting wails that pierced her ears were a little easier to ignore when in her half-woken daze, she heard a soft sigh and "It's not real. Try to sleep some more".
In the morning, when she crawled out of bed, the chair in the corner was empty. And Mangetsu said nothing to her about where he had spent his night, as if it had never happened in the first place.
As Shijima had mentioned in her note, she was kneeling in front of the doors that led to the northern wing of the palace. When the doors opened up, Sakura hesitated. As if surprised to see Shijima sitting there. And then she resumed speaking to Temari as she walked right past the consort. Kankuro and Gaara stared at Shijima. They exchanged looks and then watched Sakura continue down the hall.
"Sorry," Gaara whispered before they hurried to catch up to Sakura.
"I know what she's doing. Suddenly extending an olive branch will only undermine her at this point," Sakura assured Temari once they were out of the palace. She adjusted the shawl that covered her hair.
They didn't actually have much business in the city. However, it was important that Prince Baki think that they did. They checked the post station to see if any messengers had arrived with news from out west. They relaxed at the bathhouse, ate street foot standing in the shade of a tall building, and then visited a few vendors to browse the shiny wares they had on sale.
By the time they returned to the Viper's Fang, night had fallen. And Shijima was still kneeling in front of those double doors.
Sakura ignored her again as she swept past.
"Have one of the girls pour some of that wine we purchased. The day has been hot and I'm quite thirsty," Sakura remarked.
Temari glanced at Shijima. But her steps didn't falter as she continued after Sakura.
"Of course, Lady Sakura," Temari replied.
In the morning, Suigetsu tapped on the door to Sakura's room. Just enough to wake her that she didn't draw a weapon on him when he stepped inside.
"You know that she's still out there," he said, without greeting. He glanced at the empty chair in the corner. Mangetsu had slipped out a little while ago. Suigetsu seemed to know of the arrangement. But like his brother, he made no comment about it.
"Who?" asked Sakura, raking her hands through her tangled hair.
"Shij- The Consort. Whatever."
Sakura's hands froze.
"You mean that she's returned this morning?"
"No. She went somewhere for a few minutes during the night. But then she came right back. Probably went to the…" Suigetsu trailed off and Sakura caught his meaning. Her hands dropped into her lap.
"So she's been there a full day? Without eating?"
Suigetsu rubbed the back of his neck, thinking. "I mean, I haven't seen anything. Maybe she snuck in a meal during those few minutes? I wouldn't put it past you nobles. You're all kind of crazy," he answered.
Sakura closed her eyes, thinking. She exhaled through her nose, shaking her head. She reached her arm for something, pointing. Suigetsu followed the line of her arm until he spotted her robe draped over the back of her chair. A year ago, he would have balked at the thought of being ordered around like this.
Snickering a little at himself, Suigetsu plucked the robe off the chair and draped it over Sakura's shoulders. She pulled her arms through without thanks. She opened her eyes. They were bloodshot and a little puffy. When Suigetsu pointed to them, Sakura swatted his finger away. She pressed the backs of her hands to her eyelids. Suigetsu's smile faded as he examined her face.
"What's the reason why you don't want to sleep?" he suddenly wondered.
She lowered her hands a little. "What do you mean?"
"Are you scared of your dreams? You know they can't hurt you," Suigetsu told her. While he was smiling, it wasn't a mocking expression. Sakura held his gaze for an extra moment, lowering her hands all the way now.
"No. I'm scared of who I am inside them," she answered.
Suigetsu was quiet. He nodded.
"Better scared than dead," he pointed out before he stepped out of the room.
Shijima raised her head when the double doors rumbled open. Sakura took a step out, arms folded across her chest. Her hair was loose. She was still in her nightgown with just a robe thrown on top.
"What is the meaning of this?" demanded Sakura without greeting.
Shijima lowered her head again.
Shijima had informed her in a short message that she would be putting on some sort of scene. Sakura hadn't realized that she would push her body so far.
"Please don't leave, General. I realize that you are rightfully upset. But please reconsider," Shijima requested, staring at the floor.
"And you think this will change my mind somehow? Kneeling here?"
There were bound to be guards or servants hiding somewhere nearby. Sakura kept her tone cold, her gaze sharp.
"It seems you intend to starve yourself on my doorstep. You must not realize that someone like me is quite familiar with death. Do as you please," Sakura stated before she slipped back inside. The doors slamming shut behind her.
Sakura walked past Shijima again on her way out into the city. When she returned in the evening, Shijima still knelt there, her face haggard. Sakura didn't speak to her. Safely inside her room, Sakura turned to Gaara. She put her hands on his shoulders.
"You've always been friendly with her, so it will be less suspicious. Sneak outside later and bring the poor girl something to eat. And some water," Sakura instructed. Gaara nodded. He cast a look of concern toward the door.
But when Gaara returned, he shook his head.
"She refused."
Sakura sat down. She clenched her jaw. Lifting her fist to her mouth, she pressed her knuckles to her lips.
"She'll hurt herself," Temari worried too.
"She must have a plan. She's not that stupid is she?" Kankuro leaned his elbow on the back of the couch as he spoke.
"She must. But…" Sakura trailed off. She looked up when Gaara crossed the room. He sat at her feet, grasping her free hand.
"We should trust her. She must know what she's doing," Gaara urged. She looked down at his face. When had he grown up so much? It took a moment. But a faint smile appeared on her face. She pulled her hand free of his to pat his cheek.
"Yes. I suppose so," she agreed.
That night, Sakura slept even more fitfully than usual. She was startled awake by someone yelling her name too close to her. Her eyes flew open to find Mangetsu's face above her. She moved to push him away, but her arm jerked to a stop. It took her a moment to take in the situation.
Mangetsu's hands gripped her wrists, holding them above her head. And before she could rebuke him, she felt the shape and weight of a knife in her hand. In both of them, actually. She slowly relaxed her fingers and wrists. Let the blades fall harmlessly onto the bed. Mangetsu stared her right in the eyes. Whatever he read there seemed like enough. He let out a sigh of relief as he released her. Sakura flexed her hands, rubbing her reddened wrists. They would probably bruise.
"Sorry. You woke swinging knives and I had to," he muttered, taking a few steps back.
Sakura nodded. She tried to calm her shallow breaths as she sat up. She turned her head away from him, fist pressed to her forehead. It was mortifying enough for someone to witness this. Somehow his lack of judgment made it all the more embarrassing.
The door opened.
"You don't look like you're going back to sleep this time."
"So you're both just walking in and out as you wish now," Sakura growled as she recognized Suigetsu's voice.
"Come on, M'Lady. Let me show you something nice," Suigetsu said, ignoring her glare. He picked up her falchion propped up in the corner by the bed.
"What nonsense are you saying in the middle of the night?" she sighed. "Put my sword back."
Suigetsu's tone changed. He was serious now. "M'Lady." He waited until she was looking at him properly. "I don't know a lot of things. But this… I know this."
So Sakura followed Suigetsu outside, into the courtyard. Mangetsu trailed after them, an odd smile on his lips, as if he were in on some kind of joke.
He tossed Sakura her falchion. She kept it in the scabbard, regarding Suigetsu with suspicion. Suigetsu wielded his own weapon. And then he reached out toward his brother. Mangetsu unsheathed his sword and handed it over to Suigetsu with a pointed look.
Looking insulted, Suigetsu grumbled, "I'll be careful. I've only dropped it once…. twice."
And then he turned to Sakura with a grin.
"I've seen you fight before. With all those fancy twirls. It's stupid."
Suigetsu was brutal. He lunged and slashed in the moments when she felt most vulnerable. And just when she felt like she might be able to catch her breath, he was attacking again. There was no question that Suigetsu's fighting style was unrefined and nonsensical at times. But it was something that was born out of necessity, not flair. So what it lacked in showmanship it more than made up in efficiency. She managed to get in some good maneuvers here in there, but by the end of the round, she felt somewhat like a fox being chased down by a pack of particularly tenacious hounds.
"Sometimes…" Suigetsu suddenly said, "It feels nice to just do something… and not to think. It helps." He held his hand out to her.
Sakura searched his face. And then she almost smiled as she grasped his hand, letting him pull her up.
"I know what you mean," she replied.
She washed up and fell back into bed for the little time left until dawn. She closed her eyes, still a little afraid to sleep. But exhaustion made it difficult for her to fight sleep for long. And mercifully, when she succumbed, it was to a dark, dreamless sleep. Kind and quiet like the bottom of the ocean.
A few hours later, Sakura was out of her bed. She opened up the doors to the north wing of the palace. Shijima still knelt there. Her movements were sluggish as she lifted her head. Sakura took a few steps forward. Stopped in front of her. And then she knelt, leaning in close.
"You're not waiting for me, are you?" Sakura whispered.
Shijima glanced around. And then she offered Sakura a tiny, secretive smile.
Sakura lifted her head a little. She pulled a wineskin out of her cloak and tossed it in front of Shijima.
"Drink. Or I really will leave today," Sakura ordered.
Shijima opened the cap and took a sip of the water. And then she another. Soon, she was gulping down every last drop in the container. When she looked up to Sakura, wiping her chin on the back of her hand, Sakura was holding out an orange.
"You must realize that this is ridiculous, Consort Hoki," Sakura chastised as she watched Shijima peel the orange. But her hands were shaking so badly that she couldn't do it. Clucking her tongue, Sakura reached out to peel the fruit for her. She handed the segments to Shijima and watched her eat.
"What will happen if you leave this way? Doesn't that doom this city?" Shijima worried, chewing as she spoke.
Cheek in her hand, Sakura tilted her head as she thought.
"Doom is a strong word."
Shijima looked relieved.
"But not wholly inaccurate."
Shijima looked even more concerned than before.
"His contacts to the east will continue to deal with him. Largely because of you, actually. You do know that marrying you has made that man richer than he could have ever hoped?" Sakura pointed out. And though she had mentioned this to Shijima before, perhaps the wording struck a chord within her. Because Shijima's eyes widened.
"His standing out here will certainly change, however. I've persuaded my Great-Uncle not to declare war, which is a good thing. Great-Uncle hates conflict, but his heir doesn't," Sakura went on. Her eyes darted to the presence she had noticed hiding further down the corridor. The servant girl ducked behind the column, likely praying that Sakura hadn't spotted her.
"I'll tell you something good because I personally like you, Consort Hoki. The Arids have been peaceful for so long for two reasons," Sakura said, holding two fingers up. "The first is that the major cities have intermarried so much that there are few of us who cannot call each other 'cousin'. And second is that most of the cities here are of similar standing. Or they are allied with someone who can protect them. It's usually the weakest in a pack that gets swallowed by predators, after all."
Sakura could see the words settling into Shijima's head. The girl turned pale.
"So if The Viper's Throat falls-" Shijima whispered.
"Predators will fall on it like vultures on carrion," Sakura finished the thought for her.
This wasn't something she had gone over with Shijima beforehand. She hadn't wanted this reaction to feel rehearsed in any way. And perhaps it was a little cruel. Sakura wouldn't abandon Shijima in the middle of such a risky affair, but the girl had no way of knowing that. They had only known each other for a short time.
With the consequences hanging over her head, Shijima would be pushed to be think a little harder and to speak with more conviction. And from the way that the servant girl went sprinting down the hall, perhaps Baki would realize just how badly things could go if he continued to cling to his pride.
"You can kneel here for as long as you wish, Consort. But I am returning to my Great-Uncle's city in a week's time. As soon as all my affairs are put into order. And you can continue to kneel here once I'm gone for all I care," Sakura concluded, rising to her full height. As the double doors closed, Sakura turned around to look at Shijima. She offered her a glimpse of a smile before the doors separated them again. She hoped that the girl would be smart enough to put together a good strategy. Sakura had set her up with some strong pieces, but there was only so much she could do from behind for her.
Later that morning, Azra and Esma whispered to Sakura that there was some sort of commotion. They guided her by the hand to a secret passage hidden behind a large urn. She had always felt suspicious of the placement of the ostentatious decoration. But she was thankful for it now when the twins guided her into the narrow space. It led them an oddly-shaped space. When Azra pointed to a set of tiny holes, Sakura was confused. Esma mimed cupping her hands around one ear. So Sakura leaned in closer, pressing her ear against the holes.
"I've had enough of this spectacle. Get up this instant, Consort Hoki."
It was Prince Baki's voice.
When Sakura looked to the twins, Azra nodded furiously. Sakura pointed at the other holes on the wall. She motioned for the girls to join her. Eyes glittering, they squished in with her to listen in on the conversation.
"I will kneel here for as long as it takes for the General to quell her anger, My Lord," Shijima replied. Sakura smiled at how confident Shijima sounded.
"Forget that woman. She'll be leaving soon. You should be thinking of how this affects my reputation," Baki grumbled.
Sakura scoffed. So did Esma.
"I am thinking of your reputation, My Lord. If relations with the Haruno family truly remain this way, it will affect every part of your reputation. Surely you realize this."
"Do not nag me, Consort Hoki. Don't think as if you know everything just because you've spent some time with that woman."
Sakura shook her head. She had no idea what Shijima saw in that bull-headed man. She had asked Shijima on multiple occasions whether this was the path she really wanted to choose. It would be a simple affair to have them divorce and to bring Shijima with her to Plumeria. They had no children, so the divorce could be on the basis that they had failed to produce a legitimate heir. One of Baki's many concubines could be promoted to Consort instead. She would do well in the tropical climate. And there were so many nice young men she could introduce her to. Ones that would surely be head over heels for her. Unlike a certain stubborn fool.
"Maybe I should be nagging you. You haven't handled things very well with my silence."
That snapped Sakura right back to attention. Azra grabbed Esma's hand, eyes wide.
"What was that?"
"You've never seen me as your consort. You allow your concubines to harass me. You exclude me from social events when I should be by your side. And all this time, I've held my tongue because I trusted that my lord husband would know what he was doing."
Azra's mouth fell open.
Sakura grimaced to herself. She couldn't even begin to imagine the expression on Baki's face. That was a bold criticism to unleash on anyone.
"I'm no longer a child. And you're not the man I thought you were. I suppose it's time for the both of us to face reality."
Esma slapped her hands over Azra's mouth. Sakura covered her own mouth with her hand. They waited for something else. But it was silent.
Just as Sakura began to worry that she might have to intervene, she heard noises again.
"Come with me," Baki growled. And then footsteps began retreating across the stone. Hurried and sharp.
The following morning, Shijima arrived at the northern wing of the Viper's Fang. Meno opened the door, bowed, and then disappeared to go inform Sakura of the visitor.
Sakura leaned against the inside of the door, staring out at Shijima. Because Shijima was rosy-faced and practically glowing with satisfaction. Sakura appraised her, sighed.
"What is it?" she demanded, still aware of the eyes all around the palace.
"I have a proposition from my lord husband," Shijima announced.
Sakura folded her arms across her chest. "And where is this… lord husband of yours during such an important discussion?" she wondered.
Shijima gave an impish smile. "Still asleep. My lord is quite tired from… a long night," she admitted, lowering her voice. Sakura had to fight the urge to smile right back. She turned on her heel instead.
"Come inside quickly. Don't waste my time," she retorted. The doors closed behind Shijima as she followed after her.
But as soon as the doors were gone, and Mangetsu confirmed that no one else was around, Sakura threw her arms around Shijima.
"Oh, well done, love. You've worked so hard," Sakura said, her voice warm now.
And although Shijima had been smiling, the instant she heard those words, she burst into tears. Clinging on to the back of Sakura's dress, she sobbed about how frightened she had been. How difficult it was to watch everyone who had once been so warm to her to act so cold now. Even if it was all just a show. Azra and Esma sniffled too as they set an extra place for Shijima at the breakfast table.
Teary-eyed and runny-nosed, Shijima took a sip of the tea they offered to her. She had cried even harder when Temari had rushed out in her nightgown to hug her too, starting the hysterics anew.
"Now. Eat something. You must be starving," Sakura urged. Before she could move her hands, Gaara was already piling fruits and bread onto her plate. Kankuro refilled her teacup and added a bit of sugar.
"I… ate last night… with His Majesty," she confessed, her eyes falling to the table.
"Is that all you did? Eat?" Kankuro probed.
Shijima erupted scarlet. Temari reached over to slap her brother on the arm while Sakura chuckled.
"So this is what you meant when you told me you learned things before you came here," Sakura teased. Hands on her cheeks, Shijima peeked up at her. When she nodded, Kankuro burst out laughing. He fell against Gaara's shoulder. Gaara had his face turned away to be polite, but from the way his shoulder's shook, it was easy to see that he was laughing too.
"Mother told me many stories. I'd never… but I knew… so…"
As Shijima grew an even brighter shade of red, Kankuro took a sip of tea.
"Father had 8 concubines, so Mother had to be good at maintaining a household."
Kankuro spat his tea out. And Sakura couldn't even chastise him for his poor table manners because she was too busy coughing and choking on her tea too.
As it turned out, one of the skills Shijima's mother had instilled in her was the art of good pillow talk. Whatever had transpired during the night had left Prince Baki quite open to suggestions. Shijima wormed her way into his thoughts, suggesting this and gently steering him away from that. While Shijima had struggled with dealing with other women, apparently she had little trouble with the opposite sex.
"So I suggested that all you really wanted was a fair punishment for Concubine Deba. And that if you were appeased, all the relations and diplomacy would go back to normal," Shijima explained.
"What is 'fair' in your eyes then?" asked Sakura.
"Well… I knew Prince Baki wouldn't want to execute Concubine Deba and her son. After all, that's his son too. So I suggested stripping the son of his title and sending Concubine Deba away instead."
Sakura nodded, examining the healing cuts on the back of her hand. "Why not send her to work for my Great-Uncle? Labor for her debts?"
"What about the other concubines? The ones that helped Deba?" prompted Temari.
"The same treatment. Prince Baki was hesitant at first. But then I assured him that our son would be the best successor," Shijima said, placing her hand on her stomach.
"There's no way of knowing that you are already…" Kankuro trailed off, miming a rounded stomach with his hands.
"No. But… we have time. It will happen eventually. The women of my family are very fertile," Shijima answered with confidence. "I also suggested that since I'd appraised the value of the goods I confiscated from the harem, that we could send them to the Haruno family as a gesture of apology and goodwill. It would cost Prince Baki no additional money and it would help smooth things over for now. Just like you said, General."
Sakura nodded, her coughing finally under control.
Gaara handed over her tea to help clear her throat. Sakura took a sip before she spoke again.
"You do realize that by not killing his sons you're leaving a threat for the future," Sakura warned, not for the first time.
Shijima nodded. "I don't want to do it. It doesn't feel right. Even if it means they'll come back to challenge me. I'll just have to work a little harder."
Sakura looked down at her tea. She set it to the side. "I don't know if it's the right choice, but you've made it. And I respect that," she admitted.
They went over some more details together. Sakura would send out a letter to Karo in a few more days outlining Shijima's compromise. Another one would reach Hilal as well. From there, the rumors would spread. And Sakura would make every effort to ensure that Consort Hoki's name was attached to the story.
Prince Baki was not a complicated man. Whatever Shijima's mother had taught her was obviously effective against him. As the days went by, he was rarely seen without Shijima at his side. And when the concubines saw how much the prince favored the consort now, there was a mad scramble to try to get into her good graces. The servants as well were quick to change their allegiances.
With some persuasion on Shijima's part, Prince Baki even apologized for the delay in handling such a terrible insult against her. It was interesting how much his gaze had changed in a matter of days. No longer were his stares directed at her. In fact, it seemed he was having trouble looking anywhere but at Shijima, which Sakura welcomed. And hanging on Baki's arm, Shijima looked so happy that Sakura couldn't find it in her to criticize the man too much.
"It's quite alright. It's all thanks to Consort Hoki that things were resolved so quickly," Sakura commended instead.
And Baki looked over at Shijima to smile.
"Yes. She's wise, isn't she?" he answered.
But as Sakura prepared to move on to their next stop, the eastern kingdoms to the east of the Viper's Throat, Sakura received a letter from Ebizo.
My dear,
I know it was your intention to visit the Qing Kingdom, but I must ask you to journey north instead.
Rasa's influence over Prince Ao has become concerning for all of us. He has refused summons to return back to Karo. I would send troops there myself, but Prince Ao may see that as an act of aggression. Instead, I must request that you visit the city for yourself and handle Rasa as you see fit. He ceased to serve a purpose for us when you had him removed for your employ. You have dealt with the man for much longer than I have, so I will trust whatever judgment you pass.
Sakura burned the letter as quickly as she could.
When she read between the lines, she could see what her great-uncle was asking. If she found it necessary, she could eliminate Rasa completely. And that wasn't something she wanted Temari and her siblings to have to confront.
Instead, she put on a smile as she informed her cousins that there was to be a change of plans. Kankuro was a bit disappointed that he wouldn't get a chance to see the markets in the east. There were rumors of grand festivals that he had been looking forward to taking part in. And when Sakura revealed that they would be moving north instead, Gaara said nothing. His expression was tight though. Temari grabbed his hand. She motioned for Kankuro, who moved to grasp Gaara's other hand.
"You can return to Karo first if you'd prefer. It should be a quick trip," Sakura offered.
Heads close together, the siblings exchanged a few quiet words. Temari frowned as Gaara shook his head.
"We will be with you, Lady Sakura," Gaara promised.
Sakura sent word ahead of her. Although she hadn't actually been invited, Ao would have no choice but to open his arms to her if he didn't want to suffer some sort of criticism from neighboring cities.
As they prepared the luggage and the gifts for their reluctant hosts, Baki invited Sakura to visit the barracks in the city with him. Kankuro and Temari were busy overseeing preparations, but Gaara was free to accompany her. He held her hand as they walked through the busy city. Mangetsu trailed a little ways behind them.
When they arrived at the barracks, they appeared to be running through drills. Sakura recognized the setup. Men lined up in a formation. A single man in front barking orders.
As Baki stepped onto the field, they stopped. The man in front was tall with shaggy white hair. He stood at attention, saluting as Baki approached him. He yelled an order. All the soldiers saluted in unison.
Smiling, Baki extended an arm to gesture towards the men.
"Your regiment, as promised, General," he announced.
Sakura released Gaara's hand. She crossed her arms behind her back as she turned her gaze to the men. "How many in total?"
"5000, as promised. And this is Commander Darui. My best," Baki replied.
Sakura arched an eyebrow. "You're giving away your best? Let's not tell each other lies, Prince Baki," Sakura retorted.
Baki's smile faded a little. But he tried to reclaim the expression, laughing.
"Alright, you've caught me there. But Commander Darui is certainly one of the best. He will not fail you. And he speaks the language of the west, so you should have no discomfort communicating with him."
Sakura looked Darui over. He kept his gaze on her feet.
"Do you have a problem serving under a woman?" she queried.
"No, Ma'am," came his prompt reply.
"We're going far from here. You will not return to these lands. Are you still willing?" she pressed.
He saluted. "I will follow you wherever, General. It is an honor."
Sakura scrutinized his face. And then she laughed a little. "What an insincere reply. Well, you have some time to change your mind if necessary."
Then she turned to face the soldiers still in formation.
"My travels will take me far from this land. If any of you are unwilling to follow me, be it family or an aversion to reporting to a woman, then I will not force you on this journey. We depart in a week. If you choose not to follow me, there will be no consequences. Take some time to make your decision," she announced before clapping her hands once.
Without waiting for any input from the two men, Sakura began walking away from the barracks. Gaara hurried after her. But Mangetsu was already at her side, leaning in towards her to whisper.
"You shouldn't have been so easy-going, M'Lady. You'll lose some of them."
Sakura leveled him with a look. As if she couldn't believe his line of thinking.
"Good," she replied, "I need troops to become my hands and feet, not a burden. I would rather leave any whining children behind."
Mangetsu snickered, shaking his head a little.
"Then why are you bringing Suigetsu?" Gaara asked, grabbing onto Sakura's sleeve as he finally caught up.
Mangetsu laughed even louder. And Sakura smiled too as they made their way onto the bustling city streets.