Guys, we're so close to one thousand reviews! Maybe we can reach it with this chapter? Pretty please? It would make me so happy and might facilitate a quicker update! ;D Let me clarify though, I'm not saying that I'm not gonna update until I reach one thousand reviews (of course not!). So it's not like mandatory for you to review. Just saying it might make me very happy... Once again, this chapter is shorter than usual, but I'm still struggling with writer's block. And it won't go away :(
The Gate Amidst the Ivy
Chapter Seventeen
The next day, the future Duke Nara arrived at the castle.
The whole castle was abuzz with the news. How unexpected—the young noble had all but disappeared several years ago, and no one quite knew what had happened to him. There were rumors, of course—he'd run off with a lover, he'd been killed in a coup, he was very ill and had fallen into a coma—but the Nara family was notoriously eccentric, and no one had really thought much of it.
And he hadn't even given notice of his arrival, leaving the servants scrambling to make sure the castle was properly in order upon his arrival. It wouldn't do to antagonize a man as important as him, after all. The Naras had been one of the closest allies of the Uchihas for as long as anyone could remember, serving as important strategists and advisors. So when he had demanded to see Prince Sasuke, the servants had acquiesced despite the unconventional circumstances—even major nobles usually had to schedule meetings with the royals weeks in advance—and taken him to his personal quarters.
And when Prince Sasuke heard that the future Duke of the Nara had arrived, he immediately called off his practice fencing session. The man had been a good, if slightly oddball, friend to him—for the few years Sasuke had known him, before he disappeared off the face of the planet (only to reappear at the most unexpected place). And so, remarkably enough, after waiting for only one hour, the future Duke was able to get a personal meeting with the second-in-line to the throne of Konoha.
The man known as Shikamaru Nara had been born to the head of the Nara family, marking him as the next head. As he grew older, to the pride of his parents, he had displayed an intellect that surpassed any Nara generations past—yet to their dismay, he was lazy, indolent, unmotivated, and uncontrollable. Often he would use his skill to disappear for hours, only to be found lying on the grass, staring up at clouds. His parents despaired but let him be, since even the few hours per week he spent learning with his personal tutors was enough to put him light-years ahead of the other Naras scholastically.
But when he was sixteen, he suddenly disappeared, leaving behind only a note claiming that his duties as heir were getting "far too troublesome and burdensome." His parents searched but were unable to find him, eventually resigning themselves to the hope that perhaps he would just grow up and return soon. Sasuke, when he heard the story, had been mildly amused but unworried, knowing that someone as smart as Shikamaru would be able to find his way in the world, no matter the circumstances.
And when Sasuke visited Castle Konoha and found out that the head gardener was Shikamaru, he'd been even more amused. Who would have suspected the famous—or infamous?—Nara to be a gardener? When he questioned him, Shikamaru had replied that the job was relatively easy and fulfilling—almost as fun as a day of doing nothing except cloud-watching. A fitting answer. And when Sasuke suspected that Shikamaru knew who the girl in the garden was—well, that was just the icing on the cake. Since Shikamaru wasn't harming anyone, and Sasuke had always harbored a soft spot for the man, he let the charade continue, playing the regal, imperious prince to the lowly, humble gardener.
So naturally he was curious about why the Nara had abandoned the charade, as he could think of no apparent reason whatsoever. But it seemed Shikamaru would not be so forthcoming.
"I would like to see the Lady Ino," said Shikamaru cryptically, once they were both in Prince Sasuke's private quarters.
"She is no longer residing in the castle," answered Sasuke. What a strange demand. He'd had suspicions that the two were close from his visit to the castle, and now it seemed they were confirmed.
Shikamaru blinked. "Where is she, then?"
"The stress of the court was too much for her, apparently," Sasuke replied. "She's relocated to another castle."
The Nara frowned. His eyes were troubled, though Sasuke didn't know why. "Do you know if her chosen handmaiden has relocated with her?"
Sasuke seemingly relaxed, leaning back in his seat languidly. But he was always at his most dangerous when he was relaxed. "What relationship have you with the Lady Haruno?"
"Sakura and I were friends at Castle Konoha. I am worried about her."
"Sakura is a traitor to Konoha. She is not at the castle because she has sought asylum with the Hyuugas, after poisoning the Lady Ino with assistance from the Hyuuga heiress." Sasuke's voice was blank, unfeeling, a direct contrast to his feelings of betrayal inside. He'd always thought himself a good judge of character, and he couldn't understand how someone he'd thought was so innocent, so idealistic, could do something like that—but the proof Orochimaru had given him was irrefutable—
Genuine shock registered in Shikamaru's eyes, and he stood up. "No! Sakura would never do that. She must have been framed!"
Sasuke scoffed, and the action hurt him. So Sakura must have been so good an actress that she even fooled the famous Nara genius. He supposed that should make him feel better about himself for being so thoroughly fooled, but it didn't. "The evidence is solid. And her actions practically cement her guilt."
Shikamaru looked truly disturbed—or as disturbed as someone so apathetic could look—and Sasuke took pity on him. "Shikamaru," he began, "I'll have servants set up some quarters for you. And I'll send one of my advisors to fully update you on the political situation at the court. I could use someone of your talents in a time like this."
The Nara nodded, looking almost distant. "Thank you for your courtesy, my lord. But—I must stress this—Sakura would never do any of the things she's been accused of."
Sasuke wished that were true.
Ayame curtsied in front of Duke Orochimaru. She dared a glance up at the serpentlike man, her heart thudding furiously in her chest. Had he discovered—? She cut the thought off mid-sentence, as though fearful the man could somehow read her mind.
She could tell by his face that he was furious. His expression was completely neutral, an expression unnatural on a man who reveled in the fear of his subjects. His slick black hair was held back with a single dark band, and his skin was as inhumanly pale as always.
"Ayame, my sservant," he asked, "did you know about the arrival of Shikamaru Nara?"
Ayame stood from her bowing position. "No, my lord," she murmured submissively, dropping her head again.
"Tell me, Ayame," began Orochimaru softly, "what iss the usse of an informant if that informant failss repeatedly to gather any information of note? Firsst you did not predict Ssakura'ss flight; now you tell me thiss wass an occurencse alsso unknown to you?"
Her palms were sweating. She wiped them discreetly on the back of her dress. She still did not dare make eye contact with him. "I—I'm sorry, my lord. I will strive to serve you better next time."
"Perhapss there will not be a next time, Ayame. Perhapss you will return to being ssimply Temari—poor Temari Ssabaku, daughter of a brute, a whore jusst like her mother—"
"That is no longer my name," contradicted Ayame, her voice steely.
Orochimaru smirked. "You can only ssay that becausse of my generossity. Do not forget your placse, Temari. I will give you one more chancse—take care that you do not fail me."
Ayame curtsied.
"You are far too kind," she said.
When Sakura arrived at the Hyuuga castle, disheveled, alone on horseback, she did not get nearly the same welcome that Duke Nara got at the main castle. Instead, she was met by two blank-eyed Hyuuga guards at the outer gate, who told her stoically to dismount from her horse immediately or be impaled through with arrows. She complied, stumbling momentarily as her legs became accustomed to solid ground rather than the heaving of an exhausted horse.
"What is your business here?" the first guard demanded.
"I am seeking asylum from the Uchihas," Sakura stated bluntly while petting her over-abused horse. He was black, with a white star on his head, and flecks of spit covered his mouth, evidence of his exhaustion. He truly was as fast as Ayame had said. Seeing the guards disbelieving stare, she added, "I am a personal friend of Lady Hinata Hyuuga. My name is Lady Sakura Haruno."
The guards' stares became more incredulous, if anything. They glanced at each other, communicating through some unspoken language, and one of them left, probably to corroborate her story, Sakura decided. But with whom? Hinata was still imprisoned, wasn't she? Sakura worried about what would happen if the Hyuugas didn't believe her, and then decided that she'd simply have to wait and see what happened.
The guard left behind nodded sharply to Sakura. "You will wait by the main entrance until the heiress deigns to see you. Give me your horse; I will lead you there."
Sakura momentarily bristled. Only low servants were told to wait by the main entrance without being shown to any of the inner sitting rooms—though she supposed she didn't look very noble, with her tattered, dirtied dress, mussed hair, and unadorned face. The guards were already being courteous, deciding to confirm her story, rather than kicking her out immediately, so she could accept a little indignity. She nodded and followed obediently behind the guard.
As she was led inside, she noticed that the whole compound was highly traditional. Symmetrical gardens lined either side of the path, and the architecture itself was highly austere, all straight lines and dark stone. It must be quite gloomy on the inside, she thought. The entrance itself was a pair of high stone doors, which stretched into the air and dwarfed both Sakura and the guard. With the ease with which the guard swung them open, the hinges must have been quite well-oiled.
"You will stay here," the guard told her. "Do not make a move. We have branch members and bodyguards watching every angle of the castle."
Sakura nodded, and the guard left her.
Inside, the castle was surprisingly not quite as dreary as it looked from the outside. The wide windows let in bright sunlight, and the furnishings, though not as opulent and lavish as those of the main castle, were clearly well-made.
"S-Sakura?" called out a timid voice, interrupting Sakura from her musings. She started, and looking for the source of the voice, found to her shock that it was Hinata.
"Hinata?"
Hinata laughed in joy at seeing her friend. "Sakura! W-what are you doing here? I—I thought…" she trailed off.
Sakura interrupted, "First, what are you doing here? I thought you were… imprisoned."
Hinata looked down and blushed. "It seems that, before I was allowed to visit the Uchiha castle, some Hyuuga branch members infiltrated the castle staff. They were able to spirit me back home."
Sakura smiled. "Well, I'm glad."
Glancing up in surprise, Hinata asked, "Y-you are? B-but I b-betrayed the Uchihas—"
"Well, they betrayed you first," Sakura said simply.
"Speaking of which," Hinata asked, "wh-why are you here?" She looked down shyly again. "I—I wouldn't h-have thought that Prince Sasuke w-would let you v-visit a Hyuuga."
"Yes, about that…"
Eh, unsatisfied with the ending, but I needed to finish SOMEWHERE. And it just felt like a good place to end it.
So who saw Ayame's real identity coming? :D I hope I made it unexpected! Same thing with Shikamaru. Or should i say, Duke Nara?
Anyways, remember to review!
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edited 11.28.2010 - forgot to add in dividers between different scenes
published 11.28.2010