The Gate Amidst the Ivy
Chapter Five
(Hey, Ino, your family owns a flower shop, right?
We used to, Sakura. Before Dad was… well, you know.
That's why you know so much about flowers, huh?
What do you think, Forehead? Of course!
Well… I was thinking that maybe once we had enough money saved up, we could start up our own shop?
A pause, then a bright, jubilant smile. That's a… good idea, Forehead.
Hey! Don't get all mushy on me now, Ino-pig!)
"Hey, Sakura, have you seen Ino?" Umayo asked Sakura curiously as she passed her by the hall.
"Uh, no? Is this something wrong?" queried Sakura worriedly.
"No, just weird. Aiko's asking for Ino to help in the gardens—something about needing her florist expertise. But I can't seem to find her anywhere. You're sure you haven't seen her?" The younger girl frowned.
"Maybe she's with Tenten. Have you checked?"
"Yes, and Tenten says she hasn't seen Ino all day!"
"Well, the last time I saw Ino was during our lunch break. Maybe one of the other overseers gave Ino a job," suggested Sakura.
"Yes, I suppose… But then what will I tell Aiko? She's not going to appreciate this, and I don't want to get Ino into trouble!"
(Sakura, I don't want to get you into any trouble!
Sheesh, Naruto, I'll be fine!)
Sakura almost smiled. Umayo really was a sweet girl, if sometimes too flighty for her own good. "It'll be fine, Umayo. Ino has a valid reason, I'm sure, and it'll get cleared up sooner or later. Aiko is strict, but she's never been unreasonable." Even as she said those words, however, Sakura began to feel a slight sense of worry.
They were reassuring enough for Umayo, however. The black-haired girl smiled, bowed quickly, and exclaimed, "Thanks! I hope Ino does have a good excuse…"
Sakura shrugged, and smiled slightly at Umayo as the girl passed her. Umayo smiled back, and Sakura put her worries behind her. Ino was probably fine. Perhaps Miss Izanami had given her something to do. Either way, to worry about something as inconsequential as this was just silly.
Sakura became slightly more worried as the day got darker, and Ino was still nowhere to be seen. A few minutes ago, she had sought out Umayo, but the girl shrugged and had said Ino was still nowhere to be seen. Tenten's answer was similar, as were the answers of the other maids she had asked.
(Naruto, where have you been! I've been asking around everywhere for you—no one knew where you'd gone—
A soft smile. You don't need to worry about me, Sakura. I'll be fine.)
Since she'd had the day shift for today, Sakura had the evening off to do as she pleased. Deciding to visit the garden, she let her feet lead her on a path she'd traveled many times before. Soon, she found herself in front of its ivy wall and slipped through the cleverly concealed opening and into her sanctuary.
With sharp eyes, she observed her garden. The first thing, she was pleased to note, was that the jewelry box with its bracelet was gone. Nothing else had replaced its presence—the garden was just as it had been before Sasuke's interference. She allowed herself a moment of hope that His Highness had just lost interest, but then resolved that he'd probably realized his first plan hadn't worked and was thinking of a second one.
The pinkette took off her wig and boots again, but made sure to keep both items within her hands. (—In the meantime, I'll be keeping your belongings. I hope I have the chance to return them soon—) Then she walked towards the fountain in the center, now finally free of the dark and nefarious influence of Sasuke's magic, and settled herself beside it. The dim evening light made dramatic shadows and dark corners in the usually bright and airy garden, but Sakura paid no mind. Instead, she relaxed entirely against the pleasantly cool stone and began speaking out loud in a hushed, subdued voice.
"Hello, garden. It's been a long time since I've spoken to you, hasn't it? Well, as you know, Prince Sasuke has returned, and I've had to be cautious. I'm sure you understand. Do you know what he did? Well, of course you do, but I'm still offended! He left a bracelet with a tracking spell on it! How… how arrogant and prince-like and disgusting of him! I'm not one of his lady-loves that he can just give expensive presents to and hope they fall for him, you know. I've heard he's had many, by the way. And anyways, it was almost like he was telling me that I was just a lowly peasant—that I'd be unable to resist something so beautiful and rich and exquisitely made—well, I showed him! Didn't I, garden? He took his filthy cheap bracelet back!" By the end her voice had risen in her agitation.
(Take your filthy, cheap gifts back, you demon brat! My daughter has no need of them!
But—)
Sakura stopped mid-rant, assaulted by memories. The sound of her deep breathing filled the silence of the garden, a contrast to her previously impassioned speech.
"On a side note," she began again, "it seems Ino's gone missing. Umayo and Tenten and everyone else haven't seen her anywhere. I think Aiko's starting to get a bit annoyed, really. Blergh. I just hope that stupid blonde isn't in any trouble. Sometimes, I swear she's just like Naruto. Well, anyways, I suppose Shikamaru and I can get her out if she does get into any trouble. But like Shikamaru says, it'd be so troublesome. Ino always figures out the most unique and puzzling ways to get into trouble…" Sakura broke off abruptly and stared at the sky, at the few twinkling stars that managed to shine through the pre-dusk light.
(Naruto always figures out the most unique and innovative ways to piss people off, doesn't he, Sakura?
Suzuki, that's coarse!
Well, it's true.
I—Suzuki—I need to go home now; it's getting dark.)
"Well, it's getting dark, garden. I noticed Ino's already watered you guys, hasn't she? I suppose that's the useful thing about partners. Cuts the work in half. Well, goodbye." Sakura got up, brushed the leaves off her skirt, and stretched, catlike, working out the kinks in her back after a long day of work. She winced at the slight cracking noises her spine made. She carefully fastened her wig back on, combing her fingers through her "hair"—her wig—to make it look neater. Then she slipped her new boots back on, stretched one more time, and gave the garden a final glance before slipping out again.
The empty, dark garden maze awaited her. Wrinkling her nose, Sakura began to walk back towards the castle. She had never quite overcome her childhood fear of the dark; and though she wasn't crippled by it, she was always jumpier than usual in the dark. After almost tripping over a shrub, Sakura placed a hand over her heart and took several deep breaths to calm herself down before continuing onwards.
(Oh gods, Naruto! Don't scare me like that!
What, is Sakura-chan afraid of the dark?
No—
A gleeful, almost unholy grin. You are, aren't you? Aren't you!)
Using the servant's entrance behind the castle, Sakura went inside. A brunette she had seen around sometimes and vaguely knew waved in a friendly motion, and Sakura returned it after a moment's hesitation. She passed the magnificent tapestry depicting Kyuubi's defeat, made a sharp left, and found herself in the female servant's quarters.
Her room, which she shared with three other servants, was further down the hall, and as she passed Ino's room, Sakura paused. Well, it couldn't hurt to check whether Ino was in the room, right…? Nodding to herself, Sakura fished out the key to Ino's room from one of the many hidden pockets in her apron. She inserted it into the lock and jiggled slightly. The door swung open, and Sakura relaxed as she saw Ino relaxing on her mattress.
The blonde looked up, surprised, at Sakura's entrance. "Yes, Sakura?"
The former medic frowned. "Where were you, Ino? Aiko was looking for you all day."
(Where were you, Sakura? I was looking for you all day—if you've been with the demon again—)
"Oh, yeah, Sakuno told me a little while ago."
"Well?" prodded Sakura.
"Oh, don't worry, I explained it all to Aiko. You know how Prince Sasuke decided to start inspecting the servants?" explained Ino.
"Yes?"
"I guess it was my turn today or something." Ino stretched back down onto the bed, putting her hands behind her head and staring up at the ceiling. "He asked—well, formally that's what he did, but you know as well as I that I couldn't have refused—for a private audience with me. Asked me a bunch of nonsense, really. How do I like my job? How taxing do I feel this job is? Am I properly taken care of? And I think he tried to make a bit of small talk as well." Ino smiled dreamily. "I've heard stories about how handsome Prince Sasuke is, Sakura, but I never imagined they were true—"
"Wait, he tried to make small talk?" asked Sakura incredulously. How was that even possible? What she'd seen of him—which was admittedly very little, but certainly more than the other servants had—had been enough to demonstrate quite clearly that Sasuke had no need of small talk. He was not charming—he was magnetic, dangerous, mean. That was his charm, not some clichéd nobleman-dandy gift at rhetoric!
"Yes," nodded Ino. "He asked me about my interests—I told him flowers, of course. He seemed very intrigued by that and asked me more about my history, like why I came to work here. I told him how my family, we used to own a flower shop—I was training to become a florist, but then… And anyways, so I didn't become a florist and instead came to work here. Do you think he's very interested in flowers? I love a man who appreciates flowers…"
The blue-eyed girl stretched again, and a flash of silver caught Sakura's eye.
(A flash of silver caught her eye—
Ino, what is that?
Oh, this? Isn't it beautiful?
But Ino, where did you get such a beautiful necklace!
One of the ladies left it on her bureau—
Ino! That's thieving!
Sakura, you don't understand. The maids do it all the time. Anyways, the lady was going to throw it out, I heard her talking about how out-of-fashion it was to her friends—what difference does it make whether it goes to me or into the trash?
I can't believe you!
Aren't we entitled to beautiful things as well?)
Sakura's heart stopped for a moment. "Ino—what's that on your wrist—?"
Ino blinked and looked at her wrist as though seeing it for the first time. "Oh, this? It's a bracelet I found. It was lying around in the garden—you know which one. And isn't it so beautiful? I saw the box, and I was so curious—and the minute I saw it, I knew I had to have it, it was so gorgeous! It's a funny thing, though—I think the clasp has jammed, because I can't for the life of me get it off—"
Sakura felt almost like crying, and she ran towards Ino, almost unable to believe it. But there it was, wrapped around her friend's wrist like an innocent, beautiful, delicate, sparkling, flawless platinum leash sprinkled with colorless diamonds.
Dread clutching her throat, Sakura said slowly, "Oh gods, Ino, Sasuke thinks you're the one that brought the garden back to life—"
"What?"
"That bracelet, Ino! When I saw it in the garden, I noticed it was a tracking spell with a compulsion spell layered on top. He left it there to find out who's been opening up the garden! The minute you put it on, Prince Sasuke knows where you are at all times! The only way to get it off is if he takes it off of you. Ino, how could you be so stupid!"
Her pretty features constricted in horror, became almost ugly. "No—I don't—It can't—"
"And you told him you used to work at a flower shop! He knows you have a strong gardening background—that probably cinched it for him—Ino, I can't believe you!"
Ino stared in horror at the deceptively beautiful bracelet.
So people have been asking me how old I am recently. Okay, well, I just recently turned fourteen. Like, a month ago. Almost. XP
I was a bit unsure about including that part near the end about Ino. I didn't want to make her look like a freaky shoplifter/kleptomaniac or anything, but I wanted to show that she has a definite weakness for beautiful things that sometimes causes her to do things on the gray area of morality. And, of course, how handy is it that her weakness is such an important plot point. ;D
Sorry for the much shorter than usual chapter (by about two thousand words, I think ): ). I also hope the chapter wasn't too abrupt. XD I wrote this all in like an hour, and I really did want to get the plot going.
I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed for the last chapter! In particular, thank you anonymous reviewer Nonny for your long insightful review. You brought up a lot of interesting points, some I agreed with and some I didn't. Either way, once again, your review was so very helpful and did indeed point out a lot of the weak parts of Chapter 4, and I'm definitely going to be thinking of you when I go back and edit this story. I love reviewers like you. It's naturally very ego-boosting to get reviews that say Good chapter! and OMG COOL! all the time, and I love reviews like those as well, but reviews like yours are the reviews that really help me improve as a writer. :)
Speaking of reviews, an awesomeful person on FFnet, Dancinfanz, made a VIDEO REVIEW of this story! That is so hardcore and high-tech, right? =D If you want to check it out, you can either click on the link in my profile, or copy and paste the link here (replace the parentheses, obviously). I hope FFnet doesn't do its weird link-corrupting thingy.
www(dot)youtube(dot)com(slash)watch?v=61aMcpWiCoc
If you review a genie will appear and grant you three wishes!
published 12.11.09