Smultronställe
Chapter Three
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"Is the food to your liking?" Sasuke asked her from across the table as he picked at piece of steak within in his bowl.
His question had caught her off guard.
With a mouth full with noodles, making a complete fool of herself, Sakura coughed off her embarrassment as she tried to swallow down the big bite. Flushing furiously, she avoided his amused gaze. After taking a sip of water to clear her throat and an attempt to brush aside her bad table manners, she squeaked out, "Yes, it is very delicious."
"Hn, I can tell." His tone was anything less than teasing. At Sakura's nearly permanently red face, he decided that he had done more than enough teasing comments for the night. Sasuke then switched the topic of the conversation, "I heard from the maids that you have already visited Karin's garden."
"Oh, yes!" At the mentioning of Karin's little garden, Sakura's eyes gleamed. Pushing aside her now empty bowl, she turned towards him and began talking eagerly. "Her garden is absolutely stunning. It's only something that I could only dream of."
"I take that you have an interest in gardening, then?"
"I love it. A couple years ago, I had a little small garden myself. Nothing as amazing as Karin's, but it was still one that I loved dearly." Smiling brightly, she added, "There honestly wasn't a day that I didn't tend to it. Quite silly of me, but I loved each and every one of those flowers as if it was my own children."
As she spoke of the flowers, Sasuke took notice of how her entire being lit up with happiness, eyes gleaming brighter as she waved her hands around animatedly during the conversation. Her tiny body could barely contain all the happiness that was emitting from her.
Taking this account, as he took a sip of his drink, he said, "If that's the case, there's a place that I would like to show you."
"Right now?" Sakura beamed at him excitedly.
"That is if you're finished."
"I am!"
With a wave of his hand, he motioned for the maids to clear the table as he got up from his seat. "I assume that the maids have also given you a tour of the room earlier today when they were getting you ready?" Sasuke asked.
"Oh, yes! It is very lovely and grandeur. I appreciate all that you've done for me very much. It was certainly not something that I was expecting..." She bowed her head bashfully, avoiding his intense gaze yet again.
At her words, Sasuke couldn't help but scoff in an amused manner. "Did you think that the room earlier was your room?"
Blinking owlishly, she lifted her head up. "... Well, I was under the assumption that it was…"
Dismissing her comment with a wave of his hand, he grunted, "That's nonsense. I would never allow a guest like you to reside in that small area." As he continued to walk down the corridor, he beckoned her to follow along.
Once Sakura took notice of her surroundings, she realized that they've been walking down the same corridor for a quite a while. The same dark marble floors underneath their feet has remained the same since they have left the dining hall. And every so often, a burning, gold torch would illuminate the way. Another thing that Sakura began to notice was that the further they walked, the less maids and servants she saw. It was as if the rest of the castle was vacant.
Just when Sakura couldn't keep track of how long these dark marble floors would continued to stretch on, they came to a stop before a grand staircase. It wounded around a pillar, before disappearing as it rose higher. Unlike the endless dark marble floors that Sakura has only seen since her stay at the castle, the stairs slowly faded from black to grey, and then completely to a white marble all together. It was breathtaking.
Stopping in his steps, Sasuke turned around to face the stunned rosette before him. Based on her facial expression and lack of words, he figured that it was to her liking… hopefully.
"I've already shown you my wing in the castle." He began. "Now, this is yours."
Sputtering, Sakura struggled to form her words in response. "Wait, I get my own wing?" Waving her hands before her, she shook her head. "Oh, that is not necessary. Just having a room in the castle is more than enough. Truly."
"It is necessary." Sasuke countered sternly. "Especially for you. I am unwilling to offer anything less to you." And with those words he knew that he had won the conversation. Sasuke then headed for the staircase. He listened as she hesitated for heartbeat, before scurrying after him, just as expected. Once she was by his side again, he added, "Do not feel burden for what I am offering. I only want to make your stay here as comfortable as possible. Do not hesitate to tell the maids if there is anything you need or want. I will make it a priority to get you what you desire."
"I'm sorry… this is just a lot to take in that's all…"
Shaking his head, he told her tenderly, "There is no need to apologize."
"I'll try not too…"
At her shy reply, he couldn't help but roll his eyes. She was way too modest for her own good. Sasuke knew that she would come out of her shell eventually as time passed. But he didn't think it would take this long. She was always this timid and afraid to speak out since the first time he met her, when she was five.
Usually not one to push the conversation forward, he made an exception for her, as he asked, "Is there anything else that you desire? If there is something on your mind, do tell."
"If that's the case," Sakura began quietly. Fidgeting with her fingers, Sakura averted her gaze downwards as she asked, "Can I get my own garden too?" The moment that the question had left her mouth, she hastily added, "It doesn't have to be as grand as Karin's. But just a small garden of my own is okay. I would really love and appreciate it..."
Chuckling at her child-like antics, he simply opened the door behind him and pushed her forward as he did so. Her nervous rambling ceased almost immediately as she marveled at the sight before her.
Unable to suppress her loud gasp, Sakura ran deeper into the room, leaving behind Sasuke at the door. Eyes wide, she took in her surroundings with a smile. She could barely believe her eyes at what she saw around her.
All around her, it was an explosion of color.
Burnt orange amaryllis and pink sedum covered nearly every inch of the garden. They stretched over the grass like a blanket, dotting it with splashes of color. Carefully mixed in with them were bright colored, dark center poppies. Burgundy and two toned plum Dahlias lined the outskirts of the garden, creating a dark safety border around everything. Soft pink camellias and ranunculus sprinkled themselves amongst all the other flowers as crawling blue morning glories hung above her head.
Crouching down to the ground, Sakura reached out and touched the vibrant, lush grass at her feet. As she ran her fingers through them, Sakura breathed in deeply, relishing in the fresh air that came into her lungs. Taking a look around her, Sakura couldn't help but smile once again at the sight.
There was no such thing too many flowers in Sakura's opinion. She could tend to them for hours on end and look at the same ones each day and not get tired of them. To her, each and every single one was a delicate bloom. Their petals were beautiful, colorful works of art and their hues were medicine for her soul. There was just something about them that she felt needed for her whole being; for her to feel alive. It was crazy talk to some, but it was true for her.
Head still in a daze, she whispered to him. "This is-…," unable to truly find the correct words to express her feelings, Sakura settled with, "Thank you, Sasuke."
A breath of silence came into between for a second before he told her, "There's something else that I want to show you as well."
"There's more?" Sakura asked, astonished.
He nodded. Reaching into his cloak, Sasuke carefully pulled out a tied silk bag. Asking her to extend her hand out to him, Sasuke placed it within her palm, urging her to open it.
Brows knitted together, Sakura tentatively pulled at the red string that held the contents of the bag together. As she did so, it revealed an iridescent, silver bud. Looking back up at Sasuke in curiosity, she said, "... I've never seen anything like this. What is it called?"
"It's a night blooming cereus. It is a flower, the only flower that is native to the Underworld and it only blooms at night under the light of the moon. Yuuna is its name."
"It only blooms at night?"
Sasuke nodded. Then taking the flower from her hand, he beckon her to follow him as they walked deeper into the garden. Once they reached what seemed like the center of the garden, Sasuke stretched out his palm. Sakura watched as a ray of silver light from the moon from above touched the bud. And ever so slowly, she watched with amazement as the bud bloomed, it's iridescent petals gleaming underneath the light.
"This garden is one of the few places that you can see the human world above." Sasuke began telling her as he handed the flower back to her. Pointing above him, he continued. "We can see them but they can't see us. I understand that my realm is not the most pleasant of places to live, so I hope that this place can give you a sense of being alive. Unfortunately, this is the best that I can offer in return for the life that you have lost. The human world is completely different from this."
Throat tight with overwhelming emotions, Sakura could barely speak. Instead she settled for a nod.
"As I said before, if there is a flower that you wish to have for your garden, let the maids know and I will get it for you."
.
There was something about her that made him breathe a little easier. But at the same time, it made his heart race a little faster.
With her rose colored hair and emerald eyes, she was a breath of fresh air to him in this suffocating realm of his. She was the light that he never knew that he needed in his life.
There was also no denying that she held a high level of beauty to her. But she wasn't just beautiful in her appearance. No, she was beautiful in all that she was.
She was beautiful in the way she smiled and eyes shined as she talked about the flowers.
She was beautiful in the way in the way her melodious laugh would fill the room with warmth when she found something funny.
She was beautiful in the way she gazed back at him there under the moonlight as if he wasn't the God of the Dead, but something more.
Her beauty was nothing that was temporary. No, it was something deeper within.
It had caught his eye that night so many years ago. She was ethereal to anything he had ever set his eyes upon. He had seen her darkest nights. But he has also seen her brightest days. And there was nothing more that he wanted to do but to protect her and cherish her in the ways that she deserved to be.
Because her existence makes him feel like he finally has a purpose.
Yawning, Sakura turned over onto her side, eyes blinking blearily. Eyes still encrusted with sleep, she rubbed them with the back of her palm. As she did so, her vision began to dance with little black dots before it finally cleared up. Eyes now open, Sakura became more aware of her surroundings.
She ran her hands over the cold, silk covers as she stared up at the white canopy of her bed. Brows furrowing, Sakura took a look from each side. Lips pursed and brows still knitted together, she slowly sat up in the bed. Was this a dream?
Because surely this wasn't her normal bedroom. Because for one, she did not have enough money to splurge on silk covers like this.
Closing her eyes, Sakura tried to remember what happened. As the memories came rushing back at her, the more she felt like it was dream. There was no way this was real.
"This has got to be dream…," she muttered to herself.
"Nope, not a dream." A voice answered back, scaring the wits out of her.
Heart racing, Sakura turned in the direction that she heard the voice. Eyes squinting to see who it was, she opened her mouth drily. "Who…"
"Long time, no see Sakura." Gaara waved back at her with a devilish grin, his red hair shining underneath the lights.
"Gaara?" She exclaimed. Sakura couldn't believe her eyes.
"Yes, that would be me. And you're Sakura. Thank you for the introduction." He replied back, sarcasm dripping from each word.
"Oh, my gosh! I haven't seen you in so long either!"
"Sorry. It's been a little busy around here."
"Sasuke doesn't give you a break, does he?"
Snorting, Gaara mumbled, "Of course not. Coming from a guy who never takes a break himself."
"You're both such workaholic."
"Being a demon is not easy work." He retorted, not before adding, "Not like you would know, princess."
Eyes narrowing on the nickname, Sakura asked huffily, "What's that's supposed to mean?"
"Or should I say, Queen." Gaara laughed.
"Seriously, what is that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, come on, Sakura. You can not be that dense. It is the gossip of the century, literally the century."
"Which is?"
Getting up from where he was resting, Gaara walked closer to the bed. Arms crossed, he stood in front of her with a knowing look. "You're the new queen that everyone has been waiting for." Then quietly he added, more to himself than anything, "Guess the Oracle was right after all…"
"Wait, what?" Sakura sputtered. "Me as queen? That's such an insane idea, I don't even know where it could possibly come from. Plus, isn't Karin like already… the queen?"
"Her?" Garra scoffed, completely offended. "Karin, as queen? What a joke. That obsessive nature nymph could never achieve such a status."
Taken aback by his clear dislike towards the other redhead, Sakura mumbled, "I didn't think that she was that bad…"
"Really? Because she is."
"And what do you mean by 'the Oracle'?"
"Ah." At the mentioning of what he had hoped she hadn't heard, Gaara quickly stood up straighter in his spot. Trying to not make eye contact with her, he said, "It's nothing for you to worry about."
"Which means it's something." She countered back at him.
"It might be better off that Sasuke tells you about it, than me."
Now it was her turn to cross her arms in defeat. Gaara had caught her there. Knowing Sasuke, he was not going to spill anything to her about it for sure. She would just have to find the answers on her own then. If Gaara couldn't tell her, Sakura was sure there's a least one other person in the castle that can.
The dress that the maids had hand picked for her today was a deep emerald, green floor length, wrap dress. It had a slightly less than modest v-neck, showing off her collar bone.
She watched in the reflection of the mirror as the maids placed the final touches on her french braid. Kalon tucked a couple more baby breaths into her hair and as she reached for the flowers laid out on the vanity, Sakura asked, "What is the Oracle?"
At her sudden question, Kalon hand stopped short of the carnation, frozen in mid-air. Eyes wide, the maid bowed her head, whispering, "Miss, you mustn't speak so frankly about that. It does not change anything, except make it worst."
"Make it worst?" Sakura frowned. What Kalon had said didn't ease up any of her confusion, but added more to it. "What do you mean?"
"My apologies, Miss. But it is not something that I should speak about. It would be better if you spoke with Lord Sasuke instead."
There is was again.
It seemed like everyone was avoiding the question and shoving the responsibility of explaining it to Sasuke.
Brows knitted together in absolute confusion, Sakura couldn't wrap her mind around why everyone was so secretive and tight lipped about this so called Oracle. It was as if it was a taboo subject, which didn't make any sense to her. Ever since the conversation that she had with Gaara that morning, she had been keeping a keen ear out for the mentioning of the Oracle amongst all of the gossip in the castle. And true to his words, she heard that name slip from the lips of the castle workers quite frequently. Yet, when she asks about it directly, they are all but mum.
If no one was going to let her in on the secret, she figured that she would have to search for the answer herself.
He had business to attend to, so Sasuke had missed out on having breakfast with her. It was late morning, almost midday when he had finally returned back to the castle. On the way in, he had caught sight of Gaara leaving, who had spotted him the same time he did.
With a curt bow, Gaara spoke, "She's all yours then."
"Hn." He thanked the demon.
Concerned that Sakura would not be able to adjust that quickly to her change in environment, Sasuke had sent Gaara in his place to protect her for the time being. There was no obvious danger that could harm her per say but he would rather play it safe for the time being as she's just slowly adjusting.
"I'm assume that there wasn't any trouble that rose while I was away?" Sasuke inquired.
"No, not quite." The redhead replied back with a slight shrug of his shoulders. But then taking a step closer, Gaara leaned in and whispered, "But you might want to keep an eye on her."
At the demon's suggestion, Sasuke frowned.
"Sakura is a curious one. It will be hard to keep her curiosity at bay and satisfied."
"And?"
"I'm afraid that I might have let the mentioning of the Oracle slip…"
Eyes narrowed, Sasuke growled, "Gaara. You know better than to mention such a thing to her."
"I know, I know. It slipped. Honestly I didn't think that she would have heard."
"You and I both know that Sakura is not dumb. She maybe quiet but she is not dumb. Like you said, she has a curious mind. She will pick up on everything that anyone says."
"Speaking of anyone," Gaara added. "You might want to watch out for the workers. They're gossiping a bit more than usual. And it's not just the normal gossip we've been hearing for decades. Words of the Oracle are spreading amongst them. And it is also stirring Sakura's curiosity."
After Gaara was finished, Sasuke pursed his lips together in a tight line. Sighing, he dismissed the redhead back to his post. As he watched the redhead disappear beyond the front gates of the castle, he ran a tired hand down his face.
Sasuke had known that words of the Oracle had been circulating amongst the people for a while, but with the arrival of Sakura, it had increased ten fold, and there was no stopping it. Then accounting for Sakura's curious nature, she would go around secretly asking about, which only adds more to the gossip.
Sighing, Sasuke would need to figure out a way to steer Sakura from that topic. It was too risky to let her dive deep into it at the moment. He'll explain more to her once the situation is stable because currently it was not. Her arrival and stay here was expected but at the same time it was not, especially with how she arrived here with a status of a Lost Soul.
After asking a passing worker where she was, Sasuke headed down the corridor to her wing of the castle. They had told him that she had left for the gardens after breakfast and have remained there ever since. And that was exactly where he had found her.
Stepping into the garden quietly, he dared not to make a sound as she was so immersed in grooming the flower in her hand. But once he edged closer to her, Sakura took him by surprise when she greeted him with a smile. "Welcome back."
Sasuke watched as she placed the flower back into the basket at her side before brushing her hands off and stood up. Eyes twinkling she said, "The maids said that you had some work to tend to."
"Hn, I did." He nodded. Tilting his head over to the flowers in the basket, he commented, "Sorry if I had disturbed you."
"Oh, not at all. I felt you coming, so I was prepared."
At her comment, Sasuke raised a single eyebrow. "You felt me coming?"
She nodded. "The moment you stepped onto the grass."
As she confirmed his question, he couldn't help but stare back at her quizzingly. She couldn't have possibly feel that he was coming. For one, he was a God. Their steps are completely undetectable to humans, sometimes even the people of this world couldn't even hear him coming. Only great gods like himself could. Second, he was an Uchiha, they were known for their silent and quick movement. She couldn't possibly foresee his steps.
Brushing his own curiosity about the rosette in front of him to the side, Sasuke changed the topic as he said, "I can see that the garden is to your satisfaction. I've heard that you've spent the entire morning here after breakfast."
With a shy bob of her shoulders, she smiled. "It is my favorite place and the only place I truly know about. It's the only place I can reach without having to ask the maids for guidance."
"Hn, I see." Clearing his throat, Sasuke said, "I think that there's another place that you'll like as well."
"Oh, I don't think there's any other place that can top this garden." Sakura laughed, her eyes turning into little crescents as a smile decorated her lips.
"Challenge accepted." Sasuke quipped back smugly. He was sure that she was going to love the next place that he was about to show her.
.
As they came to a stop in front of a set of french double doors, he told her, "Now close your eyes."
Giggling, Sakura did as he instructed and closed her eyes. "This better blow me away if you're having me close my eyes like this."
"It will."
Taking her by her hands, Sasuke opened the doors to the room. Once she was standing in the center of the room, he let go of her hands, saying, "Open your eyes."
The moment that she opened her eyes, the sight that she came to meet with had her bring her hands to her mouth in shock. Time after time, this world of his has never failed to amaze her. If anything, it continues to her blow her away more and more each time. Turning on her heels, she took in the her whole surroundings.
Lined from the ceiling to floor and spanning across all the walls were endless rows of books. They were nested in antique gold shelves, stacked so high that there were sets of spiral stairs that led to them. There wasn't just one level but multiple, climbing all the way up.
She has never seen so many books in one place before. This scene before her put her university's library to shame. Sakura had thought that Konoha's University's libraries were the most beautiful ones she has ever seen, but they were nothing in comparison to this.
Stirring her out of her thoughts, Sasuke asked, "I'm assuming that it is to your liking?"
Spinning on her feet and without a second thought, she grasped his hand in hers, exclaiming, "Oh yes! It's so beautiful. I've never seen anything like this in my life." Then releasing his hand, Sakura ran towards the shelves of books with glee. "Where do you get all of these books?"
"Some of them have been with my family since the beginning. Others are from travels that I've collected, others are gifts I've received."
"Is this Latin?" Sakura gasped as she pulled a bound book from the shelf.
"Hn." He hummed in agreement. "This library is home to many languages. You can find the ones in Greek on the other side of the room. There's also Spanish, French, Chinese, and more. I've lost track over the years."
"Wait," Sakura paused in realization. Glancing all around her, she then excitedly exclaimed, "That means you have medical books as well?"
He nodded. Then pointing upwards, he said, "They're on the third level."
"Oh my gosh!" Hastily making her way towards the spiral staircase, she began running up the steps, eventually taking even two steps at a time.
As she reached the third floor, Sakura immediately went towards the walls. Even from afar, she recognized some of the book covers among them. She couldn't believe it. There lined perfectly in a row were the medical textbooks that she had used during college. There were even other versions and editions of it. This library really had everything.
"This is amazing!" She screamed out lastly as she couldn't contain her excitement any long.
From below, Sasuke simply shook his head at her childlike actions. Smirking, he shouted out to her, "Challenge passed?"
"Oh my gosh, yes!"
Crossing his arms, Sasuke smugly relished in his minor accomplishment. It wasn't like he hadn't expected her to not like it. Based on what he had seen during her time above, Sakura had a special interest in reading and learning everything that she could get her hands on. Especially things related to the human body and medicine. Whenever he was out searching for her in the world above, nine out of ten times, she was nested deep in the university's library. She loved that place. It was like her second home.
"My Lord…" The Grim Reaper began, his head bowed low. "If the time permits, there is something that I wish to speak to you about."
With a nod of his head, Sasuke motioned for him to continue on.
"I understand it is something that you do not wish to be spoken off, but Lady Sakura's soul… She signed a contract with you and agreed to sell her soul away, if I am not mistaken.."
Turning his head in the direction of the Reaper, Sasuke's lips pursed into a thin line. Slowly nodding his head, Sasuke hummed in agreement. As he flipped through another page in his hand, he questioned, "Yes. That was some time ago. But I do not see the reason for it to be a topic of our conversation today."
"I understand, My Lord. But...," The Grim Reaper paused hesitantly, unsure if he should voice his thoughts, for it would surely anger the deity before him. "Is there any chance, that you did not complete the transaction."
It didn't take more than a second for the words to even reach his ears that Sasuke abruptly snapped the book in his hand shut. Within seconds, Sasuke dematerialize and appeared right from his spot from across the room to directly right in front of the Grim Reaper. Voice low, and eyes narrowed, he said, "Are you suggesting that I, the God of the Underworld, Ultimate Ruler of all Souls, do not know how to complete the process of collecting a soul?"
Immediately, the Grim Reaper bowed his head lower in shame. "My Lord, that is not what I meant entirely."
"Then what did you mean? Do tell, for I am about two seconds away from throwing you into the darkest pits of Tartarus for your questioning of my ability to do such a simple task."
"I mean no offense, My Lord." The Reaper countered, before reaching into the sleeve of his cloak and pulled out a white card. A death note. "But, ever since the day that you have saved Lady Sakura, I've been receiving this every day."
Eyebrows knitted together in confusion at what the Grim Reaper was getting at, Sasuke snatched the white card out of his hand. Flipping it over, his eyes ran over the contents of the cards.
Haruno Sakura. 24. Died January 5th. Time of Death: 4:08pm.
As he read the card in his hand again and again, it simply didn't make any sense. The 5th was today. Looking up from the card, he glared at the Grim Reaper before him. "I believe I instructed you to file her as a Lost Soul, am I correct?"
"Yes, you are not mistaken, My Lord. And it was signed off by no one other than you."
Holding the death note in between his index and middle finger, he questioned, "Then what is the meaning of this?"
"That was something that I hope you would have the answer to… Ever since that incident, each day I've received the same death note, commands to collect her soul. The only thing that changes is simply the date."
"You've been receiving a death note for Sakura every day?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"That does not make any sense. This has never happened before with any Lost Soul case. Once it's signed off and closed, the death note should disappear." Sasuke thought out loud and he looked back down at the white card in his hand. "Not to mention, she has no soul to collect, period. I have her soul."
Reaching into the collar of his cloak, Sasuke touched the chain that held the contents of her soul. Pulling it out from under his shirt, he looked at it. And there it was. Her vibrant soul confined into the pendant's orb, swirling with energy. Lips pursed into a thin line yet again, he clutched the pendant in his hand tightly. If what the Grim Reaper spoke about was true, then her soul must be still alive in order for him to receive a death note every day.
That still made no sense.
Sasuke was the one who personally sealed away and sign off on their transaction. And he was never one to make a silly mistake as such, to only take half her soul? Impossible.
But the more he looked at the card in his hand, the less sure he was.
Could it be that some part of her soul was still intact with her body?
{A/N}: Honestly this chapter was supposed to be a little longer and I'm not 100% satisfied with it. But if I keep on trying to edit it more, it may never get uploaded. So here is the long awaited chapter. Hope it is to your liking and Happy Valentine's Day everyone!
Thank you to: Wkt, Guest22, thymoondragon, ILoveSxS, brenda sianipar, animedude16, Marshmallow-fluff-23, arika518, lil'lovely, kazuyaryo, MademoiselleRED, chizuruyamamoto, infinitexlovee, 2Lazy2CreatAnAcc (Love this username by the way), Psycho-schlemiel, Harijime, cocoablossom, uchiha. sakura. 23, and multiple guest anons.