Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
"He's the most frustrating person ever!" Sakura shouts, slamming a fist on the table, nearly knocking over the wine. "He was like, four hours late! And he didn't even teach! He just—just threw knowledge at us! Not even! Barely—ugh."
"Under any other circumstance, I would say you're in love, Sakura-chan." Akiko-sama chuckled and took a sip from her wine glass.
Sakura choked.
Tucking a strand of loose hair behind her ear, the older woman glanced to the Okiya Mother watching them with stony eyes.
"Sakura-chan, we can continue this later. I've got to…entertain tonight." Akiko-sama said quietly, tugging at the collar of her spring kimono and applying another layer of lipstick.
And then, for the first time in two weeks, she sees the dark circles under her lady's eyes and the way her cheeks are pinched and the familiar warm light in her eyes has gone a little dim.
Sakura's smile drops and shame fills her chest.
She had forgotten who she owed her life to.
"I will prepare our room for later, my lady." Sakura bows deep and low, her head touching the floor to hide her angry and ashamed tears.
As Akiko-sama sashayed towards the bar, twirling a curl around her finger, Sakura's gaze swung towards the Okiya Mother.
The steely blue eyes of Lady Manami, so similar to her first mother, bore into hers and Sakura swears revenge for Akiko-sama's state.
Enjoy! Tell me your thoughts!