The actual chapter is below this. I have kind of a rant to share with you all. I know it's rather lengthy, but please read it, since I think it has some important messages for some people.

Oh, guys, I feel so bad! A lot of people seemed to think for some reason that I wouldn't update until I reached 400 reviews. It wasn't like that at all! I just thought it would be something cool to brag about if it did happen. I know some authors don't update unless they get a certain number of reviews per chapter, but I would never do that. Honestly, I think it's a little disgusting (no offense to people who do that. Seriously!). It's just that that's not what this is about. This is about writing and having fun while doing it, not about reviews (although yes, that does make up a large part of it!). Anyways, you guys totally bowled me over with your response. Five hundred reviews in total! I never thought I'd get that many reviews! You are all amazing, and thank you to each and every person who reviewed. Chocolate for all!

That being said, some of the reviews and messages I got were totally not okay. I know it's been a long time since I updated, almost three months. But you have to understand, I have a life outside of fanfiction. Those of you that read my other stories know that first, I broke my right arm, which definitely hampered my writing and typing for a while there (understatement, much?). Then, of course, after my arm healed I had a lot of major tests, and on top of that I was moving to a NEW HOUSE (squee! I'm so excited; we used to live in an apartment before!). Anyways, that meant I was busy with packing and stuff. And additionally, I also had a bit of a writer's block, since I realized the last chapter moved in a totally different direction than what I had originally wanted AND I'd left a scene out that I'd wanted to include in that chapter that was important to the plot (that'll teach me not to edit before I put something up). And since I can't really go back and change it (and in doing so reveal the entire plot to everyone), I instead had to spend some time figuring out how to work around that without making some weird plot hole or something. What really irritated me, however, were the messages and reviews I got accusing me of deliberately waiting to put up this chapter so I could milk this story for all the reviews it was worth. That's just unacceptable. It discouraged me. I already said before that that's not what writing is about to me.

That being said, I don't want this to put a damper on everyone. It's just three or four people who did that, compared to the 135 reviews I got for the last chapter (HOLY SHIT). The vast majority of you wrote reviews that made me smile and work even harder to get this chapter out. But I think you'll all agree that still, that was three or four people too many. True, maybe I'm overreacting and being a drama queen. I do that sometimes. I am in drama. (: And maybe I should learn to take accusations like that better. Maybe that's something that happens to all authors once in a while and it's, like, a rite of passage or something. But that doesn't change how it made me feel. So please, before you review—not just this story, but other stories also—just pause for a minute before you submit it. Ask yourself: how would I make this person feel if I said that out loud, to their face? Is it really fair of me to say that? Would that be acceptable in real life? No? Then delete it. Reword it. Something. Reviewers have a duty to be as courteous to authors as authors are to them. Also, I am not your bitch. (: I can update whenever I want to, and so I will update depending on when the inspiration strikes me. That might be five days from now or five months. I might not be able to promise regular updates, but what I can promise is that this story will never be abandoned, which is more than could be said about a lot of stories, so there's no need to freak, yeah?

Lastly, I'd like to emphasize that most of you were just amazing and supportive and everything, and reading your reviews was a pleasure for me. It was just those few people that spoiled the fun for me, as it is with most things that get spoiled. And I'm not saying that I mind friendly pokes to update, not at all! I do it too sometimes with those stories that I really like, and I always thought how it was so flattering that there were people out there (sometimes in different countries, too!) who cared enough about my story to wonder when it would be updated. I'm not hating on you guys at all (of which there were quite a few :P), so if you were feeling bad because of this rant, please don't! :)

So… I hope that rant didn't scare you too much! Review! ;D

The Gate Amidst the Ivy

Chapter Eleven

(Papa, what did you do before you got sick?

It's—difficult to explain, Sakura.

Well, tell me!

I—whenever people were in trouble with the law, I helped them. I spoke for them in court. I debated with the judges. It was intoxicating work, Sakura. I enjoyed it.

Childish awe. Wow, Papa, you did that? I didn't even know there were people who could do that!

Indulgent laughter.

Can you—can you teach me, Papa?

Well, I don't see why not.

Oh, thank you, Papa!)

Something was pulling Ino out of the wonderful gray darkness, those beautiful dreams that relieved the pressure of everything… the pressure of the lies, of the little strands of half-truths and half-silences that were winding around her, winding and winding and winding and strangling her…

It was still dark, that gray dark, but the pressure was back, it was sneaking in through her dreams, she supposed. The one place she escaped was no longer a safe haven… she could feel the pressure now, far more clearly than before… she tried to move away, to swat at the annoyance, to stop that pressure, but she couldn't breathe, she couldn't breathe… She was filled with a sense of alarm, and began to struggle.

"You want it all to stop, don't you?" someone whispered against her ear. Someone unknown. An Other. Not Sakura, she realized with a pang of disappointment. She'd hoped the one watching over her in the night was Sakura. But she didn't deserve Sakura's support anymore. She was disgusting. She was willing to sell her soul, her integrity for a little money, a little modicum of respect and dignity, and gods help her she didn't regret it. But she couldn't breathe. It must be the small weights of all the little white lies, building and building on her chest until she couldn't breathe.

Somewhere in the midst of the hazy semi-darkness Ino opened her mouth to reply, but she couldn't get the air out, all she could do was gasp weakly…

Suddenly the pressure lifted, and Ino took in great gulps of air. Or rather, it was still there, but she could breathe again. She tried to open her eyes, but they were far too heavy… and she was so drowsy… But she needed to say something, didn't she? Wasn't Sasuke's Bonded supposed to be courteous at all times?

"Yes," Ino finally managed, after choking back broken sobs. "Yes—please—I don't want to have to do so much—I don't want to worry about every word I say to everyone anymore—even to Sakura—I just want to go back home—" She knew she wasn't supposed to show weakness, either, but she couldn't help herself. She wasn't strong like Sakura…

"Would you like for me to make it all stop? To take you home?" offered the Other, sweetly, seductively.

"Yes—please," begged Ino. She could feel the tears starting again.

"Then be quiet, dear. Shhhh," soothed the Other. "Just close your eyes and go to sleep, darling, and I promise when you wake up you'll be home again."

Ino obeyed. The thought was wonderful. Could she go back to the simple life, with Sakura and Shikamaru and Tenten? She'd tried the court life. It was horrible. She was so homesick… She felt herself sink into the gray darkness again, and it was blessed relief. For a moment she floated blissfully. But suddenly the pressure started again—the pressure of it all, the burden, piling up and up and up so she couldn't breathe—so much like the feeling of terrible cold hands pressing on her chest—

She spiraled into a deep darkness, darker than even the gray darkness of dreams.

The Other lied, she thought.

But she was so tired of it all, so she didn't struggle.

And at least in the black darkness she couldn't feel any sort of pressure at all. She felt nothing.

(Of course. You see, the Lady Haruno is my Bonded.)

Sakura raised an eyebrow coolly. "What a strange sense of humor you have, my lord."

Inside, her mind was whirling. How did he know? What made him suspect? What shall he do to me? To Ino? What would happen? His knowing would throw everything into chaos, would turn everything inside out and upside down. Her heart beat faster, her palms became sweatier. No, there was only one way to do this, to turn everything right again, and that was to be so confident, so assured, that he would doubt his conclusions. Her father had told her once that the best defense was a good offense. Well, she'd make use of that little pearl of wisdom then, even if she was trembling and sweating and terrified.

Sasuke himself raised an eyebrow in turn. Sakura could almost imagine him saying, Well, my lady, do try to bluff your way out of this. It ought to be amusing. In reaction, Sakura stiffened her shoulders. Well, she would hate to disappoint, then, wouldn't she?

King Itachi turned his blank stare onto her, and she felt herself being sucked into that vacuum. She quickly looked down, for her own safety of mind.

"Are you calling Prince Sasuke a liar, then, Lady Haruno?" interrogated Duke Orochimaru, softly, silkily.

(I'm sick!

No, you're not, Mama!

Are you calling me a liar, then, Sakura?)

"No, of course not," said Sakura with as much sincerity as was possible without looking insincere. Too much sincerity always ruined the effect, her father had coached her. She shrugged carelessly instead, as though the matter had absolutely no importance to her whatsoever. "If Prince Sasuke truly believes that I am to be his Bonded, then who am I to argue?"

She'd learned from her father that the key was to make the opponent's ideas seem vaguely ridiculous, just the slightest bit too far-fetched to be logical, and he would lose his standing with the audience. And oh, he would notice that too, and he would be so disgruntled by that, so unnerved, that he would frantically work to regain his standing in any way possible—and perhaps he would do that by denouncing his ideas altogether, by distancing himself as much as possible from them. And Prince Sasuke—well, he was still human, still prone to error. Though he was deadly in his own right, he was no King Itachi, and Sakura thanked the gods for that.

"You have such unique hair," murmured Sasuke, almost accusatory.

"Yes, Mother always told me that. Have you noticed Ino's hair as well? It is the most intriguing shade. Rather like a wheat field on a sunny day. Even the handmaiden Fumiko—her hair is the deepest, darkest shade of chocolate. I am jealous sometimes of the beauty that surrounds me here day in and day out!"

"Haruno," interrupted King Itachi coldly.

"O-oh, yes," tittered Sakura, drawing out the "oh" and adopting the careless air she had seen on some of those high-and-mighty ladies. "I do go off on tangents sometimes. One of my numerous failings, I know. Well, what you're really interested in was Ino, wasn't it?" she distracted them. "Do my lords suppose that it was a lady? How absolutely terrifying. I don't know how I'm to sleep at night with a—a murderer wandering about. The thought of it fairly makes a cold chill run down my back!"

"I daresay you'd be able to manage," contradicted Sasuke gently, ironically.

"Well," blushed Sakura modestly, "I did have the good doctor's help. Perhaps my lords ought to consider giving the man some sort of recognition for his services done for two ladies of the court."

(Tsunade, they ought to give you some recognition for what you've done!

I daresay I've had enough… recognition to last me two lifetimes, Sakura. I don't need anymore.)

"We will run our court the way we see fit, thank you," hissed Orochimaru archly, rather like a snake opening its hood.

"I apologize for my impertinence," she said quietly. "May I be excused, then?"

"Leave us," ordered King Itachi.

"Oh, before you leave, Lady Haruno," interrupted Orochimaru. "You will be attending the ball, won't you? All the ladies are supposed to."

Sakura remembered what had happened the last time she'd attended a ball, but there was no way to decline without looking suspicious. She nodded affirmatively, and, curtsying, turned her back to them. Sakura could feel Sasuke's eyes on her as she left.

By the time Sakura found the Lady Hideki, she was beginning to feel vaguely annoyed.

The beautiful woman had hidden herself away in her quarters for the whole day, explaining that the stress of the poisoning had led to a particularly bad attack of nerves. Honestly, the lady hadn't even fallen unconscious or given into seizures like Ino had. Sakura had no idea what the Lady Hideki had to be stressed about, since she had demanded so adamantly to Their Majesties that she had no enemies. Sakura was rather disappointed in her too. At the dinner she had noticed that hidden fire in the Lady Hideki's eyes, the determined set of the noble's jaw which was almost masculine in its strength, and had assumed the Lady Hideki was made of sterner stuff than that. Apparently not. The other ladies had found it quite understandable however, and Sakura was filled with a brief flash of disdain. She then contemplated with briefer amusement how the other ladies would react if they'd known she'd cut up cadavers as part of her healer training…

Well, she'd found the Lady Hideki eventually. Ayame was nowhere to be found, and guarding the entrance to the Lady Hideki's chambers in her place was a shy little girl whom Sakura easily intimidated into opening the doors for her. Briefly Sakura felt bad for taking advantage of such an obviously timid, young child, but she needed to know…

She entered through the doors into the lavish sitting room, where ladies often entertained their privileged guests. It was draped with silk throws and ornamental rugs that probably cost more money each than she'd seen in her entire life. Sakura looked around and saw that the door to the Lady Hideki's private suite was open, and she could see her curled up in the large bed, large enough for three people to sleep in and still have space to stretch out.

"May I speak with you?" asked Sakura politely.

"Oh—of course," called out Isabi weakly. "You're a lady now, aren't you? Congratulations. Please, do call me Isabi, Lady…?"

Sakura entered the room. "Haruno. Lady Haruno. You are, of course, free to call me Sakura," offered Sakura perfunctorily.

"Well, I'd be glad to. What is it you wished to speak to me about?" Isabi sat up straighter in the bed. Sakura noticed her voice had lost the quaver that she associated with the patients who attempted to feign illness, to make themselves seem sicker than they really were. Why had the Lady Hideki locked herself away, then, if she hadn't really been sick? Then Sakura realized with a start of bemused annoyance that the current fashion was for ladies to come down with some incurable disease—nothing fatal, of course, but something that weakened them nonetheless. Apparently it was poetic or something ridiculous like that. She remembered now the number of ladies that had suddenly come down with insomnia, with night terrors, with allergies—and with a weakness of nerves. Most likely this was just Hideki's attempt to be fashionable, and there really were few stories as intriguing as a poisoning attempt. Sakura supposed Isabi couldn't be blamed for that.

"I just—have you seen Ino? I can't seem to find her anywhere," asked Sakura ashamedly. She remembered a time when she was the one anyone went to when they had a question about Ino. How Shikamaru had asked her nearly everything about Ino, about her favorite color, her favorite food, what duties she had that day… And now, Sakura was forced to go to someone else. When Ino was her friend. Or used to be. This gods-damned castle had changed all that, of course, and who else was Ino closer to now than to the Lady Hideki?

The Lady Hideki looked at her with something that was close to approaching pity. "Oh, haven't you heard?"

"Heard what? I was in an audience with King Itachi, Prince Sasuke, and Duke Orochimaru this entire morning," frowned Sakura testily.

"Oh, talking to Their Majesties about that terrible poisoning business, yes?" Isabi shuddered delicately, dramatically. "I do feel faint at the very thought of it. Give me a moment, would you?"

"Yes, of course," said Sakura courteously while inwardly rolling her eyes. The flair for the dramatic these ladies had was really quite trying sometimes. She knew that Isabi knew that she knew that Isabi wasn't sick, so why did the woman insist on maintaining her pretense? The only thing strange about her were her slightly reddened eyes and deep, forcedly even breathing, and that was nothing that indicated sickness or an attack of nerves.

Hideki exhaled. "Well, now. You must understand, I learned this from the handmaidens' gossiping, so it won't be terribly accurate, you know. But they told me that the Lady Ino had left! Simply renounced her position and fled from here! Perhaps because of all the stress. I can tell you, it is so very stressful to be a lady—what with the poisoning and everything. Oh." Her eyes fluttered exaggeratedly, and she took another deep bracing breath. "Well. And you ought to know better than I that… well, that Ino wasn't really… happy here. I can't imagine why, though. I suppose an insular little farm-girl-turned-servant-turned-lady like her couldn't understand." Suddenly, she realized to whom she was speaking. "Not that I meant anything by that comment, Sakura dear!" she trilled carefully. "Just meaningless speculation, you understand! I realize now that that was quite inaccurate. I do have the silliest ideas sometimes!"

"It's alright," said Sakura numbly. Ino had left? Why? Hadn't she wanted to be rich, be a lady? Ino had been unhappy here, that much was true, but she had longed the wealth of the nobility enough to put up with a little unhappiness. And true, she had been poisoned, but Ino, once set on a goal, rarely let go of it. This just didn't seem like Ino at all!

(You see, the Lady Haruno is my Bonded.)

Oh! That was it, wasn't it! Sasuke must have done something to her! Oh, Ino must have been terrified—she must have confessed everything to him—that was how he knew Sakura was the one that had brought the garden back to life, not Ino. And angry at being lied to, at being played, at being taken advantage of, Sasuke must have done… something, something horrible—he must have taken her away somewhere. That was why Ino was gone…

"Who—who took her away? Where did she go?" asked Sakura.

"Well, I imagine it was some of the Prince's men. That's what the handmaidens told me. I join in on their gossip sometimes, you know. It gives me a delicious feeling of naughtiness! Servants can be so coarse, Sakura, like you wouldn't even believe. They had no idea where she'd gone though. Probably to some far away castle to hide out the rest of her days in peace. Many ladies are doing it these days; I imagine it's fashionable. Can't say I'm saddened by that, though. With Ino gone, the jealous lady that poisoned her will probably stop. And I hope I'll be able to relax then!"

"I—I need to get dressed—for the ball," broke in Sakura suddenly, dazedly. So Ino was really gone… and she herself was a lady now… what would she do? It all felt so strange… like in a dream.

"Why, then, there's no need to leave my quarters! We can get ready together! In fact, dear, I have the most wonderful sapphire-blue dress that will compliment you perfectly!"

"I thought you had nerves?" Sakura rankled at the realization that Isabi knew Sakura hadn't a dress fancy enough for a ball. If Isabi knew, then who else in the court did?

"Well," said Isabi again, shrugging magnanimously. "I can't really miss this ball, can I? I'm a lady of the court!" She suddenly looked animated, excited, not sickly at all.

Sakura did need a dress, though. As much as she hated it, she really had no choice but to accept Isabi's very generous offer. Before, she had resigned herself to a night of embarrassment, consistently looking slightly shabby next to the magnificent ladies of the court… but now that Isabi had offered, it would be idiotic to refuse, no matter how proud she was.

"Then, that would—I would appreciate that very much," sighed Sakura, ashamed, embarrassed, and suddenly, acutely realizing why Ino had wanted to be rich so very badly.

On her way to the ball, Sakura saw Ayame turn the corner. "Ayame!" she called out. "Ayame! F-Fumiko! Please, come back here!" Lifting her skirts, she started running after the servant girl.

The handmaiden, stopping in the middle of the hallway, turned around. "Oh, Sakura," she sneered. "Looking quite the lady now, aren't you?"

"That's not important right now! Please, just save you snarky comments for once in your life! I just—I heard that Ino—Ino left."

Ayame's mouth opened in surprise. "What do you mean, left?"

"Left, as in packed up her bags and renounced her titles and gone to a faraway land!"

Ayame stared at Sakura in genuine shock. "I—I can't say I've heard anything about that," she said carefully.

Sakura's brow furrowed. "But—the Lady Hideki said she heard it from someone. From a handmaiden. I assumed it was you."

"I—oh. Oh."

"Oh, what, Ayame?"

"Yes—actually, I was the one that told her," revealed Ayame suddenly, and she gave Sakura a look of superior knowledge. "It just—slipped my mind for a moment there."

"How could you have forgotten?" asked Sakura disbelievingly.

"Well, the Lady Ino's absence was hardly the most remarkable thing that's ever happened in the castle. I've had other things to think about today. You can't expect me to remember everything. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have something important to do. You'll be late to your ball if you don't get going soon, my lady," mocked Ayame.

Sakura frowned contemplatively at Ayame's back as the taller girl fairly fled from her.

Sakura caught Isabi's eye from across the ballroom, and smiled awkwardly as the lady winked back at her. She felt completely overdressed, with a mask of makeup lathered on her face at Isabi's insistence, with her hair tied up in an intricate braid, with her body imprisoned in a tight corseted blue gown with a widely flaring skirt that Isabi insisted looked absolutely magnificent on her. Sakura felt ridiculous, like a horse out for show or a peacock strutting about for a mate. But she hadn't gotten any strange looks or disdainful glances, so she supposed the Lady Hideki knew what she was talking about.

The whole time Sakura paid close attention to Sasuke's position in the ballroom, moving out of the way whenever he walked off to mingle with a different crowd. King Itachi and Duke Orochimaru she didn't have to worry about, since they mostly stayed in the back, where the thrones were placed for them. But Sasuke wandered to and fro, complimenting and talking and winning the adoration of the court. He could be surprisingly social when the situation called for it. All in all, he was a very good heir apparent, Sakura realized.

The music began, and the tempo indicated a slow waltz. Sakura moved to a corner of the room, hoping that Sasuke hadn't seen her yet. The disadvantage of being a new lady was that none of the gentlemen knew her, and so none of them wished to dance with her. She wasn't remarkably beautiful, either, especially compared to the other flowers of the night, so no man with philandering ways asked her for a dance either. Well, that was fine with her. She didn't want to be a lady especially much anyways, and the night was beautiful… she could go out to the balcony and try to find each constellation one by one…

"Sakura!" called Prince Sasuke from nearby.

Sakura stiffened and turned around. Apparently he had gotten closer than she had realized in her moment of distraction. She couldn't ignore him or pretend she hadn't heard without raising some eyebrows either, since she had already stiffened at his call. Pasting a smile on her face, she curtsied deeply and asked above the music, "Yes, Your Most Gracious Excellency?"

"Would you have this dance with me?" he asked her silkily.

Sakura stared at him piercingly. She could feel the looks of the other ladies and gentlemen already. Her standing had been greatly elevated in their eyes—if Prince Sasuke saw fit to actually ask her to dance the first dance with him, then there must be something extraordinary about her, they must have thought. Sakura would look an idiot if she refused.

"Of course," she said graciously, and took his hand.

The waltz was easy enough. It was smooth and slow, and Sakura had seen the ladies dance it enough times to be able to passably replicate it. She steadfastly maintained the space between them, allowing no contact besides their hands. She lost herself around him, after all. It was all she could do not to collapse at his feet.

She hoped her palms weren't sweaty.

"I heard the Lady Ino left the castle," began Prince Sasuke conversationally, indifferently.

"Yes, you would know all about that, wouldn't you?" jabbed Sakura acidly before she could help herself.

Sasuke smirked. "Well, I don't usually follow the palace gossip, but such an event was remarkable enough to pique my interest."

Sakura remained silent. So, denying it, was he? "I suppose you'd be disappointed about that. What with her being your Bonded," she clarified.

"Yes, of course," said Sasuke, but by his tone she could tell he wasn't disappointed at all. She suddenly had a horrible, selfish urge to confess everything to Prince Sasuke, to tell him, Yes, I am your Bonded, now let's see where that takes us—but then she remembered Ino was still… gone. Sakura couldn't break either, or else who knew what they would do to Ino if they knew for sure Ino had been lying. Would they arrest her for impersonating a noble? Was that possible?

Sakura noticed that the press, the heat of people suddenly seemed less… "What—" she began, and knew from the glint in his eyes that he had been waiting for her to notice that he was leading her, maneuvering her into the most secluded spot in the ballroom, a small corner behind the lavish, exotic plants brought into the palace for the ball.

"I don't think—" began Sakura rigidly, and she tried to pull away from him. His grip remained tight, and Sakura knew it was too late to release herself without making a commotion. She stared up at him in cautious muteness, but there was a spark of mutiny in her eyes.

"I've been wanting to talk to you privately for some time now," he told her quietly, leaning down so that their noses almost touched. Sakura blushed at their close proximity, at the way her heart sped up and her body welcomed his proximity, how she was suddenly so aware of him. She didn't want to feel this way. She wouldn't be another one of those giggling, tittering ladies.

So she inhaled and murmured to him, "Don't. I don't—I don't want to run."

"Why would you?" he murmured back. His lips were now so close that she wasn't sure if the brushes against her lips were his own lips or his breath. A small guilty part of her hoped it was the former. She stared up at him with unwilling, conflicted eyes.

And then he did something completely unexpected. He leaned back. He retreated when he knew perfectly well that he had her cornered. And despite that sudden acute feeling of loss, of coldness, Sakura could breathe again. Her hands were sweaty, so she let go of his suddenly loose grip and wiped them against the back of her sapphire skirt. She took three steps back, so she could look at him without having to crane her head upwards.

At her retreat, he suddenly smiled indulgently, understandingly. So he hadn't fully retreated from her after all. Sakura was not sure what to do with that abrupt turnabout. "You're afraid of me," he informed her almost tauntingly.

"I'm afraid of this," she replied to him. And yes, of you as well. But she refused to admit that, even though she was fairly certain he knew already.

His smirk deepened as he deliberately brushed past her, pointing to the direction of her escape with a flourish in a mocking impersonation of a gentleman lover. He bowed slightly as well. Holding her head high and stiffening the set of her shoulders, Sakura swept past him and into the sparkling dancing room.

"You walk like a queen," he whispered to her as she passed. "Perhaps you would make a good lady."

And you leant back. Perhaps you might be a good man, thought Sakura for a moment, but then she remembered what he had done to Ino.

Review and you could win a million dollars! Oh, and I changed this chapter up a little bit, writing from Ino's POV as well as Sakura's. ;D