Chapter 4: The Replacement
Sakura gaped dumbfounded at the white-haired man, both curious and astonished at how he had talked to her. The blue man seemed to be used to the kind of reaction she had and proceeded to clear his throat to bring her thoughts back.
"Please do forgive his crude behavior, miss. It has something to do with his religion, you see." The fish-like man explained. The white-haired man gave him a glare before he turned to her to let his eyes wander up and then down, then doing it again. After his silent assessment of her, he turned to the taller man beside him and gave him a doubtful look, "Are you certain it is her, Kisame?"
She felt uncomfortable with the presence of both men, and they talked to her as if she was an imaginary creature that came to life.
"Excuse me Sirs, might I inquire who exactly are you both looking for at this time of the night?" She spoke, exercising politeness on her tone albeit the rough conduct that the white-haired man had shown her a little while ago. It was seven in the evening, and if they weren't polite and well-dressed thieves, then she had not a clue as to what they may need.
Both men turned to her, the larger and blue one gave her a small smile in as a gesture of returning her politeness, "We are looking for a Doctor-witch, the rumored one who can heal all classes of disease. Would that person happen to be you?"
She smiled back and shook her head. 'So that was why'.
The blue man looked disappointed, "Is that so? Maybe we went to the wrong place. Or maybe the rumor wasn't true." He sighed, "What a shame."
They both turned around to leave, the blue creature leading the white-haired, foul-mouthed man. She smiled and spoke again:
"I did say I was not the one you were looking for. But I did not say she was not here." Sakura's smile widened and she stepped aside waving her hand in the direction of the stairs, which was situated in front of the door, leading up to the second floor where her Master's room is located. "I believe it is my Master you are looking for."
The white-haired man huffed and took the initiative to step inside, "I told you she was not the old hag we were looking for."
The other man seemed happy, and did not make a move to enter, but still replied with all somberness, "Do not insult the healer, Hidan."
Sakura gave a small laugh and an accompanying nod, 'So 'Hidan' is the name.'
"He is right, Mister. Master does not like it when she is being called names, and she also does not like being disrespected. I suggest you practice reverence, or you will be one of the countless witnesses who have had the chance to behold her unimaginable power." She explained in a serious tone, lately, they have been running low on money because of Tsunade's debts with her gambling mates, and also because house repair is slowly increasing its fraction on their necessity list. She could not afford to have another wall or ceiling broken.
The man, Hidan, only gave her an ungraceful snort and crossed his arms in front of his chest as a response. The man was arrogant; she figured that they were either nobles, or exceptional knights.
Speaking of which, she had forgotten to ask for both of their names. It struck her odd, since they were complete strangers and yet she was asking them to enter her home. She turned to the other man, who is obviously more refined and polite, and decided to ask for their identities. "Might I know your names and your reasons for being here, Mister?" She slowly but courteously asked.
Said man seemed astonished with realizing the fact she, herself had only come to apprehend. He grinned broadly, "Forgive us for forgetting our manners," he said as he turned to his companion as if trying to say 'even-if-he-has-none', before he continued, "I am Hoshigaki Kisame, and my friend over here is Lord Hidan who is from the Land of Hot Water. We were sent here by the King by Royal decree to bring your Master to the palace in order to examine and, hopefully, formulate a cure to the Second Prince's sickness."
Sakura nodded. She was right, they are nobles. Lord Hidan is the only child of the Grand Duke and Duchess of the Land of Hot Water. And Lord Kisame is the only living Hoshigaki, a high-rank family that originated from the Land of Mist. And these two, she knew, are members of the King's prized Royal Knights. Through years of nomad-living, Sakura had come to learn various things about noble families, and now, she has two in front of her, asking for help because the Prince is sick.
"I am Sakura; I am the apprentice of the person you are in quest of for." She smiled warmly, eyeing the Royal emblem of the knights that was engraved on the armor of Lord Hoshigaki, confirming the fact that he had just stated and proving that they came with peace and did not intend them any harm.
Still, a tiny hint of a skeptical feeling on the pit of her stomach had resided. Only hopeless people come to them, those people whose loved one is in danger of immediate or almost nearing death. A mother who would lose her newborn child to a particularly strong disease or a father who would lose his only princess if not treated fast, were typically the ones who would find them. The rumors of them being evil, cannibalistic witches who eat people alive when hungry or if not, torture them to death, dismember them, cook them, and then eat them just for the fun of it, was the reason why despite their medical prowess, they were not the most preferred doctor in town.
It only meant that the prince's life is at risk, for the King to send two of his precious knights to fetch her Master and ask for her assistance in his family's dilemma. She was curious as to what kind of ailment the Prince has, for a Royal never gets ill.
A King, when appointed, is supposed to take an oath and accept the blessing of the heavens. By doing so, anyone in his family, and all those who would be a future addition, would be susceptible to aging, illnesses, and any other things that come with the passing of time. Their age is retained as it is during the time when the King had taken the blessing, and they have very fast recuperative abilities from wounds. It is indeed a wonder how the Prince became ill, whatever the disease is, she was sure it was something that would be hard to get rid off and that it would require much efficiency and knowledge such as what her Master possesses.
She could see her Master's face in her imagination, how glad she would be of the amount of compensation she would be able to gain for healing the Prince. All the money she could use to buy her alcohol that would be enough to supply her throughout her whole life, and the remaining which she would definitely use in gambling and living in riches.
Sakura gestured for Lord Hoshigaki to enter, which he did, then proceeded to put down the enormous thing that was strapped on his back. He turned to look at his partner and gave him a look; they stared at each other for a while before Hidan he also grumpily took off the huge item that was covered with cloth and attached on a strap of leather holder.
After watching both men with unhindered amusement spread on her pretty, pale face, she turned towards the long flight of stairs and gained both of their attentions by clearing her throat and speaking, "If you wish to see my Master, then please follow me."
She turned around and led them up, walking with grace and poise as she ascended the staircase, them following behind her.
There was silence, but it made the fact that one of them, the white-haired man namely, does not appreciate peaceful quiet very much. He spoke in an annoyed manner, "So what does your Master look like? Could she really heal anything? How old is she? How did you people end up being in the Land of Fire? Wha-"
He was cut off when Sakura halted on her steps. She did not turn around, and remained facing the top of the stairs when she spoke, calmly and deliberate, but with a detectable alarming wariness and warning, "Lord Hidan," She began, "If you do not wish to lose your head, please refrain from asking too much questions, especially those concerning my Master's history, appearance, and age; particularly about her age. She is not very fond of it."
"Alright, we will try to keep that in mind, Miss Sakura. Please forgive us of our ignorance." Lord Hoshigaki replied for the sake of ending the conversation and saving his albino friend from what trouble might arise lest he disagreed or decided to argue with her further. She gave a curt nod and continued to climb the remaining few steps that led to a higher floor. She understood him for being very courteous, an intelligent knight knew better than to enrage a witch. From what she had observed, this man is very cautious of his actions and words. Either he knew well of what witches can do, have witnessed their power, or have experienced it firsthand.
They came into the end of the stairs, she fisted her beige dress with her right hand, and prayed to the Gods that the meeting will end peacefully, without anyone having anything broken or missing in them, and without having broken or crumbled walls, ceilings, or floors.
She walked to the right and stopped at the third door, the mahogany door was closed. Normally, during this hour, either Tsunade would be asleep or still drinking, or she wished she has not drunk anything more. It will shorten her temper even more, and the two men seemed intent on bringing her to the palace.
She knocked thrice before a loud noise came from behind the doors that beckoned them to enter. She did not know what surprised her more, the urgency, excitement, and happiness on Tsunade's voice, or the fact that she was not intoxicated when they entered.
She was sitting still on her wooden chair, looking at them, at her, then at the men that followed at her back. Tsunade assessed them, and seemed to know what they came here for. She put both of her arms' elbows above the, surprisingly, now clean desk, entwined her fingers, and rested her chin in it. Then she spoke with all sternness Sakura recalled she had only seen back during the times when she had still been training her. "Spare me the pleasantries and explanation, I already am aware of your existence here."
All three people in front of Tsunade furrowed their brows, Sakura voiced their thoughts, "You do? But how, Master?"
Tsunade just gave her a smirk and looked and gave her a 'how-could-you-not-know?' look from under her lashes before answering, "Sakura, we are witches. Does Divination sound familiar to you?"
Sakura colored in embarrassment. How could she have forgotten?
Just when she did not know what to say, the foul-mouthed knight spoke out, "WAIT! Do not tell me you are the rumored Doctor-witch! You can't be!"
Tsunade frowned. Sakura became instantly worried. She wanted so bad to smack the head of the albino Lord upside down. What if he tells her stupid things? Already, she was feeling ill with the man.
"And why is that?" Was Tsunade's response.
Sakura immediately stopped anymore further conversations that will eventually lead them to hell. "Master, you need not to answer Lord Hidan's statement! They came here only to bring you to the palace to cure the Prince of his malady!"
Tsunade raised one of her blonde brows, "I know that Sakura."
There was a tense silence before her Master sighed, "I will not be coming."
Three seconds of complete and thick silence.
3… 2… 1…
All mouths gaped besides Tsunade's.
"P-pardon?" Was all that Lord Hoshigaki could say, even Lord Hidan was speechless by her rejection.
She only shrugged. "You heard me."
Sakura could not believe, her Master throwing away a once in a lifetime chance to have all the money she had ever wanted to have, was just too impossible to believe. "But- why, Master? They need you. The Second prince needs you! Why are you not going to come?"
Tsunade looked at her, then at the two men, and then back at her again. "I said I will not be coming, not that I will not give help."
Sakura blinked. What?
Now she is really confused.
Before she could come up with any other ideas of how her Master, planned to 'help' the Prince, she spoke again, "You will take my place, Sakura. You will be the one to come in the palace."
If it were possible for Sakura to gape even more, she could have. "B-but— why me? Why would you send me instead? Why not send for Shizune?"
Tsunade shook her head, "If there is anyone who knows as much as I do, and who can heal as much as I could, it is not Shizune but you, Sakura. You will come with them. Now prepare for your departure."
Kisame interjected, even though Tsunade's tone and declaration held finality, "Are you sure of this? Can she really cure what has never been cured by anyone else before?"
Her Master just gave a nod, "I am very positive, she could. Although you do not know me, my Lord, I assure you that you can trust my judgment."
Lord Hoshigaki straightened his face, "You know well that if she was not able to, and that if the Prince dies, that the punishment will be Death, do you not?"
Tsunade nodded again, "I am willing to risk my life with my student's medical prowess."
The Lord did not say more. Tsunade dismissed them all and she asked for the two men to wait for her as she packed all the things she might need, herbs, medicinal roots, magic powders, a square cloth with a pentacle drawn in it, some jasmine, lavender, chamomile, and rose oil, preserved roots of Narra and Acacia trees, and some clothes. Lord Kisame reminded her that her stay may be extended, depending on the King's wishes.
When she was done, she bid her Master farewell, and she, along with the two Lords, set out for travel into the night…
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You guys know the drill! Review and I shall update all the more soon!
-Mina