The Gate Amidst the Ivy
Chapter Six
(Hey, Sakura, do you ever lie?
Well, of course I do, Naruto! Who doesn't?
But I don't think I've ever seen you lie—twist the truth a bit, maybe, but never outright lie—
I try to avoid it as much as I can.
You're a better person than most people, Sakura-chan.)
Sakura woke up blearily in her own bed to Umayo shaking her awake. "Wha—what—" she muttered, stumbling over the word.
"Up, up, up, Sakura!" urged Umayo. "Get up quick! The carriage is here—"
Her eyes opening wide, Sakura shot up. "Carriage? What carriage? What for?"
Umayo fairly dragged Sakura out of the bed. The other girl stumbled with the force of Umayo's grip before pulling free. "What carriage, Umayo? What are you talking about?"
"No time, no time! Come on, get dressed—put on your finest gown—"
"I am not doing anything until you properly explain to me what is going on here," insisted Sakura, infusing a hint of steel into her voice, the same steel she had once used to soothe recalcitrant patients. But that time was long gone.
(Sakura-chan, we need to get out of here! Come quick—
You will properly explain what is going on here, Naruto, or else I won't do anything!)
Apparently she still had the intimidating posture to back up her words. Umayo frowned but stopped her insistent tugging. "Ino's being moved to the main castle, a few hours from here. She insisted that you go with her—"
"What? Why are we being moved to the main castle—"
"See if I know! All I know is that Ms. Izanami woke me near three in the morning, telling me to get both of you ready—you're not in any trouble, are you? Oh, gods—Ino's done something, hasn't she?"
Sakura froze. This had to do with the bracelet—what else could it be? Why else would both of them be suddenly called to the main castle? But—true, Ino had piqued Prince Sasuke's interest, but what had that to do with her? Was he seeking to punish her further for that fiasco with the pigeon, despite his words? Prince Sasuke didn't seem the type of person to go back on his words though—
"Get dressed!" interrupted Umayo shrilly. "Come on, come on, who knows when the carriage will get here!"
Sakura nodded stiltedly, going to her closet. "Ought I pack up anything? Or should I just dress?"
(We need to leave, Sakura!
Should I pack anything, Mama?
No! Just leave!)
The younger girl answered, "Izanami told me that footmen would be over later to collect your belongings; you just need to get dressed—"
"Footmen?"
"Do you think you both are going to become servants at the main castle? Even the maids there have class of a sort, not like us—they're all daughters of rich merchants who are not quite noble yet not quite common either—did you impress Prince Sasuke somehow? He was doing those interviews lately. What did you say to him? I mean, in my interview, I could barely speak, I was so nervous—"
"Ino had an interview with him," puzzled Sakura, "but I didn't even get a chance to meet with him." It was true, in a manner. She hadn't met him—not in the way the other maids were meeting him.
"Well, come on," hurried Umayo. "Ino's already dressed and waiting."
Sakura nodded, getting her one other gown out of the shared closet. It was made of pale blue muslin, showing dirt far too easily for it to ever be practical wear for a maid, but it was one of the few fine things she had ever had. It had a high empire waist, a few years out of fashion but still more frivolous than anything her mother ever owned, and long, slightly puffed sleeves. Umayo stared admiringly at it.
"Wow, Sakura!" she enthused. "I never knew you had something so beautiful!"
The other girl smiled, a touch bitterly. "Just never got the chance to wear it, I suppose. Come on, let's go. Where did you say Ino was again?"
"Oh, by the main entrance—"
"The main entrance? Not the servants' entrance? Not even the tradesmen's entrance?" asked Sakura, bewildered.
"I know, I thought that was strange too—you should have seen Ino's face!" chattered Umayo companionably, as she escorted Sakura through the halls. Sakura thought to herself wryly that perhaps it was for the better that Sasuke had taken the boots. The slippers actually complimented the dress rather well, and Sakura didn't have to worry about skillfully arranging her skirts to cover up any frayed, mud-covered boots. And goodness knew how much she'd be looked down upon once she arrived at the main castle, as an actual servant with no money or pedigree to speak of…
She rubbed her suddenly cold hands together and attempted to follow along with Umayo's conversation. They stopped in front of a side door, an impassive and liveried butler bowing and opening the door for them, though both could tell by his condescension that he was wondering what exactly servants were doing in the portion of the castle reserved for nobles. Umayo and she shared a brief look of solidarity before walking past him with their heads held high.
They walked on the gravel path to the castle's impressive U-shaped drive, bordered with impeccably trimmed hedges and rosebushes and weeping willows. Underneath the shadow of one such tree sat Ino, her shoulders stiff and her entire posture distinctly uncomfortable. She was wearing an sunshine-yellow dress with a high neck and embroidered waist, a dress Sakura had seen in Ino's closet but never actually on her. It was very nice—shabby compared to the fancy ladies of the court, but nicer than anything Sakura thought Ino would be able to afford. Nicer than her own pale blue dress, anyways.
The blonde turned around, and seeing Sakura and Umayo, relaxed noticeably. She gave a tentative little wave, and Sakura sped up, Umayo following after her.
"Ino!" called Sakura.
Ino smiled back at her. "Hey, forehead, Umayo."
Umayo gave an ostentatious wink. "Both of you have fun at the main castle now." She grinned, but behind the grinned there was a touch of worry. "Be sure to come back soon, alright? Don't get fat over there, doing nothing but sitting around and gossiping with the other servants!"
Ino rolled her eyes. "Yeah, Umayo, because obviously servants don't have to do anything over there. It's not like it's the main castle or anything."
"See what I mean? Sloth is one of the seven deadly sins, I'll have you know…"
"Yes, yes," sighed Sakura. "We'll take care of ourselves," she assured Umayo, smiling tentatively.
(Now, are you sure you'll be alright?
Don't worry, Papa, Naruto and I can take care of ourselves!)
Umayo nodded, seeming almost relieved. "Well, see you. I've got to get back to the kitchens."
Ino waved and Sakura nodded.
"That was very ladylike and noble," Ino informed Sakura once Umayo was out of earshot.
"What?"
"That nod—friendly but not too friendly. Like, 'You're dismissed, and you've pleased me, but don't think we're too close.'"
"Sometimes I honestly don't understand you, Ino," dismissed Sakura. "Now, tell me what is going on here. Umayo just wakes me up and tells me we're going to the main castle—why?"
"I—do you think it has anything to do with—it?" Ino jerked her head in the direction of the garden.
"Well, obviously, but what? What is his plan?"
"I—well, Umayo woke me at near four in the morning, and took me to Izanami. She told me I had to put on my finest dress and wait by the main entrance, because I am to be taken to the main castle. And I could—bring a handmaiden with me, so I insisted on you—"
"A handmaiden? Ino—he's going to introduce you to the court—"
"What gave you that ridiculous idea!"
"Who else has a handmaiden but a lady? Not just a servant of the castle, that's for sure!" answered Sakura shrilly. "He's going to—introduce you to the court—and make you his—his lady!"
Ino stared with wide blue eyes at Sakura. "Explain to me. Now."
"I heard from Lady Hinata—"
"Lady Hinata? Is that why she wanted to see you at the ball that one time?"
"Yes! Anyways, I heard from Lady Hinata that there was a prophecy of sorts—a prophecy that the one to bring the Uchiha garden back to life was the one that would be Prince Sasuke's Bonded—"
"His Bonded? Are you serious, Sakura?"
"Why would I be joking about this, Ino?"
"I—I don't know what to—"
"We have to find him," said Sakura seriously, her sharp mind analyzing any and all possibilities. "Explain to him that you found the garden, but when you found it, it was already living, and you just took the bracelet because for some reason you couldn't resist. It has a compulsion spell on it; he can't blame you. And true, you have a floral background, but how many other florists are there in the town; it was just a coincidence. If he's as reasonable as I've seen, he'll accept it and leave us alone, he'll continue his search and I can just lay low in the meantime. That way—"
"No, Sakura! You're being ridiculous!" interrupted Ino.
Sakura stopped, staring at Ino. "If you have a better plan, then please, do share!"
"Yes! I do have a better plan, actually! We just stay quiet about this!"
"But if we stay quiet, he'll think—"
"Exactly! Can you imagine what this means for us? It means unimaginable luxury, for me as well as you! Me, as a lady of the court—and you, as a servant of the main castle and as my personal servant!"
"But you're not his Bonded, Ino! What do you think will happen when that gets out—"
(I won't let you lie about this, Mama! What do you think will happen to you once this gets out!
It won't, you stupid child! You never saw this—you never saw anything!)
"If it gets out, Sakura, if it gets out! Which it won't! Who'll be there to deny my story? Certainly not you, Sakura. I haven't even lied about anything in the first place. It's his own fault if he drew his own conclusions!"
"And it's your own fault if you further them!"
"Further what, Sakura?" asked Ino coldly. "I've never heard of this Bonded nonsense. Everyone in Castle Konoha knows it's just fairy tales, after all. All I did see was a sad little garden that ought to be taken care of, and a beautiful bracelet that for some reason I couldn't resist putting on, and suddenly I'm being brought to court. That's it, Sakura, that's all that happened."
Horrified, Sakura took a step back. "Ino—could you live like that, live that lie? Could you live like the court ladies, dependent on the whims of a man?"
Ino looked down, knitting her hands together in the lap of her sunshine-yellow dress. "He's not just any man, Sakura. He's my Bonded."
"For the last time, he is not your Bonded!"
"Then whose Bonded is he? Yours, Sakura? Because if you truly believe that, if you truly believe that, feel free to tell him that. Feel free to take the one spark of luck I've ever had in my whole miserable life away from me!"
"Your life! Your life! You think your life is miserable—wait till you've lived mine!" hissed Sakura. "You selfish, spoiled, amoral—"
"Go to the prince! Go and tell him! See who he'll believe—who's wearing the bracelet, after all?" hissed Ino back, jangling the accursed thing. "Or if you can't even work up the courage to confront him, then leave me! I won't deal with this—this disapproving, righteous bullshit! If I have to choose someone else to accompany me, I will! I don't have to put up with this, Sakura!"
"Oh, look, Ino," sneered Sakura, seeing red, seeking to hurt Ino, to hurt her so badly. "Behaving like a lady already, even though you'll never truly be one, no matter how hard you try!"
Ino reeled back as though slapped. Sakura took in the blonde's utterly betrayed, hurt expression and was furious at herself for the stinging in the back of her eyes. She took another step back before her stiff shoulders collapsed.
Her voice breaking, Sakura admitted, "You're right, though, Ino. You could make me leave, you could choose someone else to accompany you, but I—I couldn't ever leave you. I'd do whatever you told me to do, because you… I don't agree with you for this. I think I might even hate you. This is a hideous, ugly part of you that I've never seen before, and I wish I hadn't ever seen it. But I'll go with you, because of what you did for me."
Ino looked back down at her lap again. "I would say thank you," she whispered, barely audible, "but then you'd hate me even more."
(I would tell him thank you, but a demon brat like him wouldn't even deserve it—)
Sakura stared at the bowed, blonde head. "Yes, I would."
Without looking up, Ino continued, "You're so idealistic, Sakura, so naïve and bright, even after what you've been through. I wish I could live like that, I wish I could be you—but I can't, Sakura. I can't. And this is the way that I choose."
(Oh, Naruto, you're so… idealistic, so pure. How do you live like that?
What are you talking about, Sakura-chan? You're so strange sometimes!)
The pinkette realized her hands were trembling and did her best to steady them. They kept shaking, so she clasped them behind her back. Softly, she asked, "What about Shikamaru, Ino? I thought you—"
"I think maybe I do," admitted Ino. "In time, I would have, without a doubt. But this is now, Sakura, and this is the choice I made, even though perhaps I have no right to make it." She clenched the fabric of her sunshine-yellow dress in her fists, its bright color sharply contrasting with the mood of both girls.
Sakura moved her eyes from Ino's bowed head to her own cherry-blossom slippers, the slippers Ino had worked so hard to give her, the slippers that were far too shabby for even a servant of the main castle, the now useless slippers.
"I wish you hadn't wasted your money on these slippers," said Sakura softly, unable to resist a final jab at the vulnerable girl, knowing Ino would be able to understand exactly what she meant.
Ino flinched, which gave Sakura a sense of sick satisfaction, but replied, "I wished I hadn't either." She looked up finally, her blue eyes meeting Sakura's. They were faintly red, but Sakura was surprised at her own distinct lack of regret for being the cause of such a state for Ino.
They waited in complete silence until the carriage arrived a half-hour later, a luxurious, ebony carriage as dark as their thoughts, and they traveled in complete silence as well.
Uh-oh! Ino and Sakura are having a fight! Well, they had to have one eventually. ;D
You may be happy to know I've finished my outline for the entire story. Now I know exactly where I want to go; the only trouble will be getting there. XD According to the outline, I have seventeen more chapters left to write, but then again I didn't even get half of what I wanted to get into this chapter, so maybe that estimate isn't the most accurate one.
To Nonny and others: Yes, you're right, I've realized that the flashbacks are often times more confusing than useful. I tried to cut down on them this chapter, and I'm considering going back through and editing some unnecessary flashbacks out in the previous chapters.
Review! They make me happy and thus able to update quicker. ;D So, you know, it's like a positive feedback loop: the more you review, the more I update, the more you review, the more I update... XD
For those that didn't know, "All Summer in a Day" is the title of a short story written by Ray Bradbury. It's the story of these classmates on Venus. On Venus, it's so cloudy that the sun only comes out for two hours every seven years. One child, Margot, moved to Venus from Earth a few years ago, and the other children are jealous of her because Margot remembers what the sun looks like. Margot becomes a quiet outcast and has a desperation to see the sun once again. The other children bully her because of their jealousy. On the day when the sun is predicted to come out, William, the class bully, convinces the other children to lock Margot in a dark closet. They forget all about her, even when the teacher lets them out early to enjoy their two hours of sunshine. Two hours later, the sun is back in the clouds, and the children run back inside to class, excited that they finally saw the sun and sad that it went away so quickly. However, one of the children remembers that they didn't free Margot before running outside... And "unable to meet each other's glances", and quiet with shame, the children open the closet to let Margot back out.
Anyways, I thought the story described the betrayed feeling Sakura got from Ino. And if you haven't read it yet, you definitely should. It's one of the best short stories ever. It's online and it's only like, three-ish pages. But those three pages make you feel so, so sad for the longest while!
published 12.29.09