*Nightingale*
In this story, be prepared to have your first impression twisted to the point where you have no idea what to expect from these characters. I am not very good at fight scenes so please be patient with me. This story is based off of the song Nightingale by Demi Lovato (Check it out! I love this song!). Enjoy!
Normal POV
'How did I end up like this?' That was the thought that continued to run through Sakura's mind as she lay on her back on her bed in the tower with her head in Ruka's lap. Sakura stared blankly at the ceiling above her with tears streaming down her cheeks. Juri sat beside her with her back turned towards her watching the door for any intruders while Ruka stroked the pinkette's hair soothingly humming an old lullaby Sakura's wet-nurse used to sing to her when she was younger.
"Comment suis-je arrivé comme ça, Ruka?" "How did I end up like this, Ruka?" Sakura's dull voice broke through the thick stillness of the room.
"Finir comme ce, princesse?" "End up like what, Princess?" Ruka responded without missing a beat. Of course Ruka knew what she was talking about- they've had this conversation countless times before- but, then again, it's not like Sakura can remember them.
"Un monstre." "A monster." Her voice was barely a whisper as she said the vile disgusting word.
"Vous n'êtes pas un monstre, princesse." "You are not a monster, Princess." Juri firmly declared this time turning around glancing over her shoulder slightly at the pink haired princess.
"J'ai faille-" "I nearly-" Ruka roughly gripped her chin and forcefully tilted her head back to look her in the eye.
"Vous n'êtes pas un monstre, princesse. Qu'est-il arrivé là-bas n'était pas votre faute. Vous savez que vous n'avez pas publié votre esprit dans un moment qui peut vous faire perdre le contrôle de votre corps. Vous n'étiez pas dans le contrôle, la princesse. Vous n'êtes pas un monstre." "You are not a monster, Princess. What ever happened out there was not your fault. You know you haven't released your spirit in a while which can cause you to lose control of your body. You were not in control, Princess. You are not a monster." Ruka's unwavering eyes pierced through Sakura's tear filled ones demanding that she believe the words coming out of her mouth. Sakura merely stared blankly back as if she weren't really seeing Ruka, but rather someone else very far away.
"L'aîné Uchiha garçon est ici." "The elder Uchiha boy is here." Juri steadily announced placing a hand on her lance leaning next to her against the bed. There was a soft knock on the door that went unanswered for five minutes before the door creaked open revealing Itachi Uchiha. The moment the door began to open Juri stood from her position with her lance in hand. The Uchiha merely blinked twice at the woman before he moved his eyes to the princess who was still staring blankly into Ruka's eyes.
"What are you doing here, Uchiha?" Juri growled aiming her lance at the Uchiha's throat.
"You have been selected for a match, Maaka-san." Were the words that left the Uchiha's lips. Juri's glare intensified as she crouched lower in her stance prepared to slice the emotionless bastard's throat, but Sakura's voice forced her to abandon all that's of murdering the Uchiha.
"Go, Juri. The faster you win, the faster you can come back." Juri glanced back to Sakura before a sigh left her lips.
"Regardez comme elle, Ruka." "Watch her, Ruka." She threw Itachi a dirty look before turning back to Ruka. "Si le bâtard tente quelque chose, lui trancher la gorge." "If the bastard tries something, slit his throat." Ruka nodded with a twisted smirk on her face.
"Je ne pense pas que le roi Hishimo appréciera la mort des personnes affectées à protéger la princesse Sakura, mais je pense qu'il va montrer pardon pour cette fois." "I don't think King Hishimo will appreciate the death of the people assigned to protect Princess Sakura, but I think he will show forgiveness this once." Ruka responded back with a sneer on her face aimed at the stoic Uchiha standing before her. Juri nodded before giving the Uchiha one last glare before quickly sweeping out of the room leaving the Uchiha alone with the two foreigners.
"What is it that you want, Itachi-san?" Sakura finally asked in a dull lifeless voice after a few minutes of a long silence. Itachi didn't answer her, but walked closer to the bed. When Ruka tensed- prepared to attack if he became hostile- he slowed his approach and stood silently next to the feet three feet away.
"I was sent here to ask why you nearly murdered a Konoha ninja when we're supposed to be allies." He simply stated. Ruka tensed as her hand slowly reached for her lance lying beside her out of the Uchiha's sight, but Sakura's voice cut her off.
"I was trying to silence the voice in my head." Her hollow voice unease Itachi but he continued to listen regardless. "That blonde haired girl made the voice speak to me again." She turned her void green eyes to Ruka looking her straight in the eye. "I finally figured out why the voice is so familiar Ruka." Ruka's eyes softened as she realized what was coming next- what always comes next.
"What did you find out, Princess?"
"It's my mother's voice. Mommy was telling me how much she didn't love me. How no one can ever love me. How I destroyed countless innocent lives with my existence. How I was a monster." Ruka didn't flinch at the words that left her dear princess's lips. She's heard them so many times that it has desensitized her to them. The only thing she can do now is brace herself for what comes next.
"You know none of that is true, Princess. There are-"
"Please make me forget." The words were so softly spoken that Ruka would of have to strain to hear them if she didn't already know what she wanted, but yet, Sakura didn't know that little fact.
"I don't understand, Princess. What do you want me to-" Sakura shot out of her lap and twirled her body to face her. With tears streaming down her cheeks and a heart wrenching pleading look in her dull eyes.
"Make me forget!" She cried. "I can't take it, Ruka! I can't stand to hear her voice- to hear her say those things! Please, please Ruka, make me forget!" She cried burying her face into Ruka's chest as sobs shook her body to the very core. The only thing Ruka knew she could do in this situation was to comply with her princess's order and erase the voice from her memory. The only thing she can do is follow her given order and wait for the next time that she would receive the same order.
"As you wish, Princess." Ruka raised a hand to the back of Sakura's head and gently stroked her hair before resting it on the top of her head. A light pink fire flickered to light over her hand and slowly sank into the pink haired girl's head. Sakura's body fell slack as the fire was, once again, covering Ruka's hand, but in a darker pink color. A sigh escaped Ruka's lips as she eased Sakura's body off of hers and laid her comfortably on the bed beside her.
"What just happened?" Suppressing a groan, Ruka shifted her gaze to the man standing next to the bed staring at the pink haired princess curiously. Ruka glared at him.
"That is of no concern of yours."
"It is when one of my comrades was almost murder by her. You should have told someone that she was not mentally stable enough to handle the Jonin exams-"
"She is mentally stable." Ruka harshly interjected silencing the Uchiha. "The princess hasn't had her annual treatment. When she misses it, her mind is more vulnerable to play tricks on her like the voices she heard today. You may think of it as a form of post traumatic stress disorder from the treatment the late queen gave to Sakura before her exile." Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion.
"I thought that happened when she was younger. She shouldn't be able to remember it if it happened when she was a toddler." Ruka didn't even spare him a glance. Instead, she looked across the room at the white wall with distant eyes.
"You can never forget betrayal by someone you love and cherish so much." She turned her hard gaze to him. "No matter how young you are." Itachi was about to respond, but a twitch from Sakura brought both of their attention to her.
"Ruka?" She groaned sitting up and rubbing her eyes. She groggily looked around the room before her eyes landed on Itachi. "What's going on?"
"The Uchiha came to congratulate you on your win against the blonde haired girl. Juri will be back shortly from her battle soon." Ruka explained without missing a beat. Sakura nodded turning her attention to Itachi, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Thank you for your praise, Itachi-san. Does this mean I advance to the next round?" Itachi blinked at her. Just a moment ago she looked as if she wanted to go to sleep and never wake up again. Now it's like nothing happened and she's her usual curious self observing her new surroundings in wonder and fascination. What exactly did just happen?
"Yes." He simply stated. "Your family will have received an invitation to the final exam and an invitation to stay at the Uchiha compound during their stay." Sakura's smile faltered slightly as she let out a nervous laugh.
"I don't think your home will have enough space for my family."
"You make it seem like my families home is small."
"No, it's that my family is rather large."
"My family home will accommodate them."
"That might not be a good idea."
"It has already been decided."
"I'm telling you that it might not be enough room."
"How many family members do you think are comeing?" Itachi finally reached his maximum annoyance level. Honestly, does she think his family can't house three or four extra people? Ridiculous.
"Just my siblings and my two elder brother's families are coming."
"That didn't answer my question."
"Well, I have eleven siblings. Cyan is married and has two children and my brother Nagato is married. Including my father that makes sixteen, but that's if you don't count their bodyguards…" her voice trailed off as she started to do the mental calculations of how many people were coming. Meanwhile, Itachi was floored.
"Pardon?" His monotone voice sounded even more so with his disbelief. Sakura glanced momentarily at him before focusing her nervous attention to a spec on the wall above his head.
"I said there's going to be at least sixteen-"
"Sixteen?" Sakura blinked before nodding slowly.
"Yes, sixteen. In our culture, my family would be considered medium sized for the royal family. My father came from a larger family- he was the third eldest of twenty-six siblings." Itachi was, understandably, at a loss for words.
"I will have to speak to my father about the living arrangements then." Clearing his throat to get rid of some of his bewilderment, he turned around and started heading for the door. Before Sakura could let out a sigh, she heard him softly call out. "Sleep well."
Sorry for the lame chapter guys. I promise to make the next one better (considering the next chapter is when Sakura's family comes and the final exam, it will be both a long and (hopefully) funny chapter. Don't forget to review, favorite and follow. I hope you enjoyed!