'Bath Time!' And 'Oh no's... The kitchen's on Fire!'
Screams and hisses were heard throughout the castle. A few servants stopped their activities to listen closely. And much they heard.
"Just SHUT UP!"
"Meow!!"
" Otouto... She can't understand you."
" Aaaargh!!"
Another hiss and a few scratches were heard. Sasuke yelped loudly as the claws made contact with the skin of his cheek.
" Dammit!" yelled another voice, Itachi. The little demon had kicked him there.
"BOYS! DON'T SHOUT INSIDE THE HOUSE! And no cursing, misters!" screamed out Mikoto, oh so angry.
"Yes Ma'am." came the obedient response.
"Good! Now, as you said before, she needs a bath. The hot springs are on the other side of the castle. Go now! "
"See! " shouted Sasuke at his brother, " I told you we were going the wrong way! "
"WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT SHOUTING!? "
"Sorry Ma'am! "
"You really can make a fool out of yourself, foolish little brother. "
" … "
"Meow? " came the hesitant 'question' of Sakura.
"Right… Bath. "scowled Sasuke.
So they walked all the way to the hot springs who were, as Mikoto said, at the total opposite of were they were. The castle was quite pretty. The stones were a nice creamy color while the floor had been done with dark wood. A nice contrast that made it homey. A few very well done paintings were hanging there and there, picturing women and men, portraits, nature, and such.
Sakura, totally absorbed in looking everywhere, bumped harshly into the back of someone.
Groaning and looking up, she saw herself staring at pretty white eyes in a cherry red face. Smiling she went to the person she had bumped into and mewled happily. The girl smelled good. She purred happily, rubbing herself against the girl's side.
The girl blushed even more and patted her awkwardly on the head.
" Gomen nasai, Hinata-sama. This is our... friend Sakura. Mother found her in the forest and took her in." apologized Itachi politely.
" I-it's o-okay," stuttered Hinata, " I-I wa-wasn't l-looking whe-where I was go-going." she blushed.
" Hinata-sama, let me help you." came a soft but cold voice behind them.
" Ne-Neji-nii-san!" squeaked Hinata, " I c-can stand o-on my own." she tried to sound final but failed doing so, seeing Neji approaching her even more.
Sakura suddenly hissed. She didn't like the male walking toward them. His scent was strong and powerful, reeking obedience and coldness but also a bit of... softness.
She stood on her fours and glared coldly at him, growling; her eyes had gone a darker shade of green, her ears were drooped back in anger and fear, her tail was low and the fur bristled. The man stopped a few feet from them and looked at her passively.
"What, may I ask is that." he spoke.
Itachi, quick to the rescue, picked Sakura up from the collar of her dress, hiding her behind his back.
"Just a err… friend of ours'. She is visiting here and is as important as you are. So please, treat her nicely. She is quite... wild." he said unemotionally.
"I can see that. But, be nice and take her away from Hinata-sama. She may be dangerous for her."
"Ne-neji-nii-san! Please, I-I am sure she m-meant no harm! Stop, onegai shimasu!" Hinata cried out.
Neji sighed and relaxed slightly his stiff muscles. Turning his head toward her, he nodded.
"Very well, as you wish."
Sakura blinked at Itachi's back. Just what the heck? She was in an important battle here! She had to show she was superior or she might die. That was her law and the forest's. The superior ones survive while the weak die.
And of course, who in their right mind wanted to die? She didn't, at least!
So there she was now, clawing at his hand to get free and kick the boy's arse. But the grip was too tight and strong. Finally, she stopped and her ears drooped lower in defeat. In her head, she registered that this was the end. She could not free herself then she was going to die.
As in, death equals bath. Yup, she was going to die.
Hinata got up from the floor and walked over to Neji. She smiled softly at the near tears Sakura and said:
"D-do you need a-any he-help wi-with her? I-I think sh-she could u-use some fem-female comp-company."
"Gladly." and Sasuke took Sakura's collar from Itachi and literally dumped her in front of Hinata. Now, as Sakura is part cat, she landed on her feet. But being the clumsy... thing she is, she managed to topple over, taking Neji and Hinata with her. That girl really can't keep herself on earth...
So, anyway, there they were, sprawled out on the floor very unceremoniously and, of course, in the middle of the hallway. Servants were looking curiously at them while some other giggled silently. But, seeing the now big, evil aura surrounding the sprawled out Neji, they scurried away before the explosion.
Hinata squeaked in fear and jumped up to cover herself behind a statue. And then, Neji exploded. Not literally, of course! But, in a manner of speaking, he began shouting his head off. And, you know how Mikoto is! 'No shouting in the house' she says... More like shouting herself! And, it's not really a house, seeing the grandeur of it, more like a palace slash castle. But that's beside the point.
" Go away from my person, you little filth! I'm gonna maim you till there is no more body or... fur from you still on Earth!" he yelled out, jumping up and down like a mad person. His pearl white eyes were surrounded by veins standing out of his skin and you could nearly see some evil mauve-blue aura around him.
" Mister Hyuuga Neji! No shouting in the house!" came the angry voice of Mikoto.
" Yes ma'am, sorry ma'am..."
" Great! Now, you shall excuse little Sakura here and... She still hasn't taken a bath? GO! There will be some clean clothes there for her. And wash her thoroughly! Not one spot of mud or dirt shall be seen on her body! Understood?"
So, now you could see five teens running away from a mad woman yelling at them for not listening to her while she talked.
" C-come, Sa-Sakura-san, I w-will help y-you." stuttered Hinata, gently taking Sakura's hand in hers, leading her to the hot springs. As they got there, Sakura smelled the hot water and stopped walking.
Now way in hell she would soak herself in that! Too hot, too much water, too wet.
" Iie!" Sakura yelled out. She began crawling backwards to the door, a pleading Hinata pursuing her. Itachi, hearing Sakura scream, came in. Not saying a word, he took her in his arms. Sakura, not understanding what he was doing, clung on him. But then, he dropped her. In the water. And walked out, still not saying anything.
She meowed angrily for being tricked.
Ah, well, since she was there, why not stay? There were going to wash her anyway.
Hinata took of Sakura's clothes, blushing, and grabbing the soap, she washed the wet girl. Taking the shampoo, she washed her hair before dumping a bucket of water on her head. Sakura hissed, getting some shampoo in her eyes and scrubbed them, trying to remove it. Hinata laughed softly and helped her with a handkerchief. Then, Sakura got out, took a towel and dried herself.
Hinata took the clothes laid out beside the hot springs and clothed her. It was a simple white kimono with a dark green obi sporting some sakura petals. In all, Sakura looked normal. Well, except for her twitching ears and tail, which was now confined inside the kimono. She then brushed Sakura's hair and put it up in a bun with her two bangs framing her washed face.
They finally got out to see the boys waiting for them. Seeing Sakura dressed normally, they gaped. This... is not something they saw everyday. Even though they only knew her for a matter of hours or minutes for Neji and Hinata, it was spectacular. And just then, Sakura's stomach growled hungrily, she smiled sheepishly and looked warily at Hinata, whom immediately understood. Where was the food?
Hinata took Sakura's hand in hers and led her to the kitchen. When arriving there, without too much problem, they asked the chef for some milk and fish. He smiled at them and went to prepare it. As he did so, Sakura wandered around the kitchen and looked at everything, touching this object and that one too. Arriving to the fire, she poked it with a random stick. Quickly, the stick took fire and she squeaked, tossing it behind her. And it just happened to land on the flour. It made a mini explosion and Sakura ran out of the kitchen, terrorised.
A few minutes later, the servants had managed to take out the fire and the teens excused themselves to look for Sakura. But they didn't find her. She was gone. And so the search party began.